At Tactical Advocacy Group (TAG), we believe that veterans deserve a transparent, stress-free path to accessing the support they’ve earned. As veterans ourselves, we’ve experienced firsthand the complexities of the DVA claims process and know how overwhelming it can be. That’s why we co-founded TAG, to ensure every veteran receives the guidance, respect, and care they deserve.
Our Mission Our mission is simple: to empower veterans by supporting them through the DVA process, educating them about their full entitlements, and advocating for their best interests. We are here to make the process as straightforward and stress-free as possible, standing by you every step of the way.
Our Vision of TAG We saw a real opportunity to improve the advocacy experience for veterans. From our own experiences, we knew the system could be better, more transparent, more supportive, and more empowering. TAG was created to fill this gap, to provide a service that truly aligns with the needs of veterans.
At TAG, we’re not just advocates, we’re partners in your journey. Whether it’s helping you navigate the claims process or educating you about your entitlements, our focus is always on achieving the best outcome possible for you.
You’re Part of Our Community When you work with TAG, you’re not just a client, you’re part of a community that values your service. We’re here to support you, guide you, and ensure you feel empowered every step of the way.
Together, we’ll face the challenges and aim to secure the entitlements you deserve.
Steve & Jonty
Exclusive Claims Support
We don’t bite off more than we can chew. By managing a limited caseload, we ensure that every veteran gets the dedicated attention they deserve, delivering top-notch quality on each claim.
Start-to-End Case Management
At TAG, your case is handled by a dedicated advocate from start to finish. We don’t pass you around between different advocates. From the moment you walk through our door, we stand by your side, offering consistent support throughout your journey. Our approach means we get to know your story and your claims inside out.
Veterans Supporting Veterans
As veterans ourselves, we truly understand the challenges that come with military service and the transition back to civilian life. Our firsthand experience allows us to connect with our clients in a way that others can’t. We’ve been where you are, and we know how to navigate the maze of the DVA system.
Transparency and Honesty
We believe in complete transparency throughout the entire claims process. From the initial consultation to the final outcome, we keep you in the loop at every stage. Honesty is the foundation of our work, ensuring you get accurate advice and realistic expectations about your claim.
Professional and Knowledgeable
Our team is made up of seasoned professionals with a deep understanding of the DVA system. We stay up to date with the latest policies, legislation, and best practices, ensuring that you receive expert guidance tailored to your needs, so you can achieve the best possible outcome. Between us we have managed over 5000 claims with exceptional success rates.
Simplifying the Process
We know how complicated the DVA claims process can be, so we make it our mission to break down the jargon and cut through the red tape. We’ll explain every step in clear terms, ensuring you understand what’s happening and what to expect next, so you never feel overwhelmed.
Personalized Service
Every veteran’s path is unique, and so are their needs. That’s why we offer a personalized approach, taking the time to understand your specific situation. We tailor our strategies to secure the best results for you, focusing on what truly matters in your claim.
Commitment to Your Well-Being
We’re about more than just claims—we’re committed to your overall well-being and mental health. Our holistic approach means considering your mental, emotional, and financial health, ensuring that you have the support you need during your transition from military to civilian life.
Integrity at Our Core
Trust and integrity are the cornerstones of our service. We put your interests first, with no hidden agendas or false promises—just honest, straightforward support for what’s best for you.
We’ve Walked in Your Boots and Shoes
We’ve faced the same challenges you may have dealt with—we’ve worn the same boots and walked the tough path of understanding the DVA system. That’s why we’re dedicated to making your journey smoother, using our firsthand experience to manage your claim.
Jonty Origin Story
I joined the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in April 2016 as an Aircraft Technician. Throughout my service, I had the opportunity to participate in multiple domestic deployments and a few international missions, contributing to the maintenance and technical operations of aircraft. Alongside my technical duties, I was honored to represent the RAAF in Rugby Union and Australian Defence in Rugby 7’s, a personal passion that allowed me to engage with others and represent the force in a competitive environment.
After five years of service, I decided to discharge in June 2021, seeking new opportunities beyond the military. It was during this transition that I found my calling in helping fellow veterans. Navigating the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) processes, I realized that simplifying this often complex system could significantly improve the lives of veterans. I became deeply passionate about advocating for veterans, particularly in ensuring their mental well-being and easing their transition to civilian life. Today, I dedicate my time to supporting veterans through these challenges, making their journey smoother and more manageable.
“Navigating the DVA system was a confusing and daunting experience for me, especially without proper guidance. I had to educate myself to make it through, but even then, I encountered numerous obstacles when trying to gather the evidence I needed—it often felt like I was on trial, having to prove my innocence. I even had to represent myself at the VRB to challenge a decision. This experience fuelled my determination to help future veterans navigate the process with the support and guidance I lacked, ensuring they don’t have to face it alone.”
Steve’s Origin Story
After finishing school in 2004, I signed up with the Australian Army, keen as mustard to dive into something bigger than myself and follow in my families footsteps. My first gig was with the 1st Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (1 RAR) up in Townsville. It wasn’t long before I got my first deployment, heading off to Timor-Leste in 2007. That trip was an eye-opener, setting the stage for what would become over a decade of service—a time filled with challenges, brotherhood, and plenty of good and hard times.
Those ten-plus years in the Army gave me mates for life—blokes you’d go through hell for and who’d do the same for you. But like many diggers, my service wasn’t without its fair share of rough patches. My last years in uniform was in 5th Aviation Regiment (5 AVN), and they were some of the toughest. I took it hard after losing my best mate during a Green on Blue incident in Afghanistan. That loss cut deep, and the pain only got worse after a pack march where I buggered my foot and ankle entirely.
The strain—both on my body and on my mind—became too much to handle. And with some individuals labeling me a “linga,” I felt the time had come to pull the pin. The Army had been my life, but it was time to swap the Cams for civvy life.
But stepping out of the Army and into the civilian world was like being hit with a bucket of cold water. I thought I had a job lined up, but that fell through before I could even settle in. I found myself lost, with no clue how to navigate the civilian system, let alone deal with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA). I didn’t even know where to begin when it came to putting in claims. It felt like I was in the middle of an entirely new battle, but this time there was no training and no mates at my side.
I eventually landed a job in the mines, giving it a good crack for a few years. But the niggling pain in my foot never went away. I thought it was just the old “sprain” the RAP said I’d copped back on that pack march. Every day, I strapped up my foot, ankle, and leg just to keep going, figuring it was “just a sprain”.
It wasn’t until over eight years later that things changed. I ended up hiring an old Sgt from my Army days to work for me in the mines. He saw me struggling with the pain and strapping my foot, angle and calf daily just to walk and said, “Mate, I reckon the Army stuffed up that diagnosis. Have you looked into DVA? You should get it checked out.” That was all it took to send me down a rabbit hole that changed my life.
Turns out he was spot on. What I trusted was a simple sprain was actually a full-on rupture of ligaments and tendons. The dodgy diagnosis meant I’d spent years overcompensating and, as a result, knackered most of my lower limbs on both sides, back and even shoulders. The realization was a kick in the guts, but it was just the beginning of a long frustrating battle with DVA.
Being green, I assumed DVA was there to help guide me through the process and the DVA Delegates where on my side and they would let me know everything I was entitled too. But I couldn’t have been more wrong. What followed was years of jumping through hoops, red tape, and what felt like a deliberate effort to grind me down. The process was a nightmare—bureaucratic and adversarial. It took many appeals, mountains of paperwork, and hours of poring over the DVA’s own policies before I finally got the compensation I deserved. And with it, the surgery I should’ve had a decade earlier.
But even after that win, my struggles with DVA didn’t end. I made the mistake of trusting them to sort out my claims while I recovered from surgery, which had me stuck in a wheelchair for almost a year. They left me high and dry—promising transport from an appointment they organized that never showed up, leaving me stranded in a dodgy town 60km from home. To top it off, they wouldn’t even cover my wages from my civilian job during my recovery, blaming their own staff that had resigned giving me misinformation and even going as far to conveniently have a phone recording system outage hour the same hour and day of that interaction.
The final insult came when they questioned my integrity, implying I was making things up while I was literally stuck in a wheelchair, alone on the side of the road of an appointment they themselves told me I had to attend. That experience was a wake-up call. If I was going to beat this system, I’d have to get to know it better than the back of my hand.
Unable to work, I put my time into digging through every SOP, the GARP, and even the training material used by DVA staff themselves. I studied everything I could get my hands on, learning their rules inside out, using their own policies to fight back. It turned into a bit of a personal mission I had gained a passion for, not just to sort out my own claims, but to make sure other veterans didn’t have to go through the same crap I did in the future.
With this newfound knowledge, I began to win every appeal, flipping the script on a system that had once seemed unbeatable. It sparked a passion in me, and I went on to earn experience in case management. Before long, I found myself working as a veteran support team leader. I joined up with an external service organization, using my skills to help hundreds of fellow veterans navigate their own claims and get the compensation they deserved.
Now, with my mate Jonty (he’s a RAAFie, but we won’t hold that against him) we’ve processed over 5000 claimable conditions, with a success rate that speaks for itself. We’re on a mission to help our brothers and sisters in arms understand exactly what they’re entitled to and make sure they get the compensation they deserve. Our message is simple: we don’t want you to get dragged through the DVA ringer like we did. We’re here to fight the fight for you, and if the DVA wants to throw up barriers, we’ll be there to knock them down. We want to use our knowledge of the acceptance factors and experience of managing DVA CSOs and Delegate to ensure your claims get sorted and to maximize your compensation.
“We don’t want you to get dragged through the DVA ringer like we did. We’re here to fight the fight for you, and if the DVA wants to throw up barriers, we’ll be there to knock them down in every way we can. Our mission is to use our hard-won knowledge and experience to ensure your claims are sorted, and you get the compensation and support you deserve.”