DVA Tell Your Story: Marcus — Entitlement, Advocacy, and Supporting Veterans
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
Updated: 2 days ago
Episode Overview
In this episode of Tell Your Story, we speak with Marcus, who shares his lived experience and advocacy work supporting veterans through the claims process and broader system navigation.
As a veteran himself and a representative of Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) South Australia, Marcus brings both personal insight and professional understanding to the conversation. This episode focuses on entitlement, advocacy, transition support, and reassurance, helping veterans and families better understand what support is available — and that they do not have to navigate the system alone.
Listen to the conversation
About the organisation or association
Totally and Permanently Incapacitated (TPI) South Australia is a veteran-led organisation that supports former service personnel who have been medically discharged or impacted by service-related injury or illness.
TPI SA plays a critical role in advocating for veterans, providing guidance around entitlements and claims, and fostering connection through peer support and community engagement. The organisation works closely with veterans and their families to ensure individuals understand their rights and can access the support they are entitled to — without unnecessary barriers or cost.
In this episode, Marcus explains the importance of advocacy, early engagement, and accurate information in achieving better outcomes for veterans navigating complex systems.
Key links & resources
Key themes discussed
Veteran entitlement and advocacy
Understanding the claims process
The role of peer-led veteran organisations
Transition support and early engagement
Reducing stress and uncertainty for veterans and families
Key takeaways
Key reflections and insights from this conversation include:
Veteran entitlements exist to support wellbeing and quality of life.
Seeking support is a right, not something that should carry guilt or stigma.
Veterans should not feel pressure to navigate claims and systems alone.
There are trusted, free organisations available to assist with claims and advocacy.
Early engagement with support services often leads to better outcomes.
Clear, accurate information can significantly reduce anxiety during transition.
Peer-led organisations provide understanding that comes from lived experience.
Advocacy plays a vital role in protecting veteran rights and wellbeing.
Selected sound bites
Moments from the conversation that capture key themes and reflections:
“You don’t just get pushed away straight away.”
“It’s about having the right conversations.”
“We are a safe space for that.”
Episode chapters
This episode covers the following topics:
00:00 Introduction to Marcus and TPI South Australia
02:57 Marcus’s journey and advocacy for veterans
05:45 Understanding TPI and its services
08:58 Navigating claims and support systems
11:52 The importance of peer support in veteran care
14:53 Addressing misconceptions about claims
17:58 The role of family in veteran support
20:49 The future of veteran advocacy and support
23:53 Final thoughts and encouragement for veterans
About the Tell Your Story project
Tell Your Story is a Department of Veterans’ Affairs supported storytelling project amplifying lived experience across the veteran community through respectful, recorded conversations.
If this conversation raises difficult topics, support is available through services such as Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (1800 011 046).
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