Dr Thomas Perkins — Expert DVA Doctor
Founding doctor of the Veterans Health Centre in Ipswich, Queensland, and one of Australia's most experienced practitioners in veterans' medicolegal medicine.
More than thirteen years working exclusively with current and former ADF members. Over 100,000 DVA claims submitted and more than 2,000 Permanent Impairment Assessments completed.
At a glance
- QualificationsMBBS, FRACGP
- Impairment trainingNSW SIRA
- Years with ADF members13+
- DVA claims submitted100,000+
- Impairment assessments2,000+
Who is Dr Thomas Perkins?
Dr Thomas Perkins is an Australian general practitioner and the founding doctor of the Veterans Health Centre, a medicolegal practice at Suites 5/6, 77 East Street, Ipswich, Queensland 4305. He holds an MBBS and is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, and has completed the NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority impairment assessor training. A former Royal Australian Air Force aviation medical officer, he has worked exclusively with current and former Australian Defence Force members for more than thirteen years, personally overseeing every chart review, diagnostic assessment, impairment rating and appeal that leaves the clinic.
From the Air Force to the clinic.
Dr Perkins served as an aviation medical officer in the Royal Australian Air Force, with unit and deployment service including 3 Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, 2 Expeditionary Health Squadron, Operation Okra and HMAS Choules. That background is the reason the reports read the way they do: the language of the service record, the medical employment classifications, the injuries that never got reported, and the culture that made not reporting them normal are all familiar rather than foreign.
After leaving the Air Force he built a practice around a single problem — that veterans' claims were being decided on medical documents written by people who did not understand either the legislation or the service. The Veterans Health Centre exists to close that gap.
- MBBS; Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
- Registered medical practitioner (AHPRA)
- NSW SIRA trained permanent impairment assessor
- Former RAAF aviation medical officer
- 13+ years working exclusively with ADF members
- 100,000+ DVA claims submitted; 2,000+ impairment assessments
What Dr Perkins writes.
DVA claims
Chart Reviews, Diagnostic Assessments and diagnosis forms under the MRCA, with every Statement of Principles factor argued and referenced. DVA claims →
Permanent impairment
GARP M and GARP V impairment and lifestyle ratings for every accepted condition, physical and psychiatric. Permanent impairment →
Appeals
Determination analyses and appeal evidence for refused or under-rated claims, prepared for lodgement. Appeals →
CSC work
Retrospective medical discharge evidence and invalidity class appeals for the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation. Retrospective discharge →
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr Perkins a registered medical practitioner?
Yes. Dr Perkins holds an MBBS, is a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. He has also completed the NSW SIRA impairment assessor training.
Does Dr Perkins write every report personally?
Every chart review, diagnostic assessment, impairment rating and appeal document that leaves the clinic is personally overseen by Dr Perkins. There is no template, no locum and no hand-off.
Where is the clinic?
Suites 5/6, 77 East Street, Ipswich, Queensland 4305. Records work is done wherever you are in Australia, and consultations are arranged in person or by telehealth.
Does he still serve in the ADF?
No. Dr Perkins is a former Royal Australian Air Force aviation medical officer and now works exclusively in veterans' medicine as a civilian practitioner.
How do I speak to him?
Call 0429 146 039 or email reception@vhc.org.au to arrange a no-obligation consult.
Ready to speak to the doctor who writes the reports?
Contact us for more information.