What DVA can help with
When you have a clinical need, your podiatrist can arrange three kinds of help through DVA:
- Orthotics: inserts that go inside your shoes to support your feet or take pressure off painful areas
- Footwear modifications: changes to shoes you already own, such as adding depth or adjusting the sole
- Medical grade footwear: special shoes for feet that everyday footwear can't fit
What medical grade footwear is
Medical grade footwear is for people with a foot or ankle deformity, such as severe bunions, clawed toes or changes after surgery or arthritis, where everyday shoes can't fit or be modified to fit. It comes in two types:
- Ready-made: extra-depth or extra-width shoes from DVA's approved range
- Custom-made: shoes made to fit the shape of your feet and ankles
It doesn't include everyday shoes you can buy in a shop, such as sneakers or casual shoes, or slippers, slip-ons, open-toed shoes or high heels. It also can't be prescribed only to make room for orthotics.
Who's eligible
- Gold Card holders who have been assessed as having a deformity of the foot, ankle or both
- White Card holders when the footwear is to treat an accepted condition
How it works
- Get a referral to podiatry. Usually from your GP, using the D904 form. A specialist or hospital discharge planner can also refer you.
- Assessment at home. We check your feet, ankles, walking and current shoes, and work out whether orthotics, modifications or medical grade footwear will help most.
- Prescription. If you need medical grade footwear, we complete DVA's prescription form and send it to a DVA-contracted footwear supplier. The supplier gets DVA's approval where it's needed, for example for custom-made shoes.
- Fitting. The supplier makes or sources your shoes and works with us to get the fit right.
- Review. Within one to two months we check the fit, comfort and wear, and sort out any problems with the supplier.
How many pairs
Eligible veterans can have up to two pairs of medical grade footwear at a time. If you play a sport such as bowls or golf, you may also be able to get a recreational pair once you already have your everyday medical grade footwear.
Getting used to new footwear and orthotics
New shoes and orthotics take time to get used to. Start by wearing them for an hour or two a day and build up over a week or two. Check your feet for red marks or blisters each time you take them off, especially if you have diabetes or reduced feeling in your feet, and tell us about anything that rubs. Read more about footwear and orthotics.
Source: DVA, Medical grade footwear and DVA, Podiatry services (checked November 2026).