Index

• Regional Education Liaison Officers
• The Education Assistance Scheme
• Defence School Transition Aides and Mentors
• Defence Scholarship Program
• Resources Available
• Linking with Government
• Educational Changes

Regional Education Liaison Officers(REDLOS)

Regional Education Liaison Officers (REDLOs) are professionally trained teachers who understand both the different State and Territory education systems and the Defence lifestyle.  They can advise Defence families and children on education issues, particularly related to relocating.  REDLOs can assist with changing schools between the various State and Territory primary, secondary and tertiary education systems.

REDLOs provide the key link for families to access the type of support that meets the needs of their particular child.  REDLOs are also linked to schools and education systems, working to raise the issues that affect Defence families and ensure that equity of educational opportunity is available to all mobile Defence children.

You can contact your REDLO through your local DCO Area Office or on the following numbers:

Education Assistance Scheme

The Education Assistance Scheme

The Education Assistance Scheme (EAS) provides a range of financial support measures to mobile Defence children, addressing the impact of mobility on education. For further information on any of the initiatives below, contact your Regional Education Liaison Officer through your local DCO Area Office

Tutoring

If a member moves to a new location and has school aged children, they may be entitled to 14 weeks of tutoring in any subject that has been identified by the school as representing a gap in the child’s learning.

Boarding School Allowance

When a member’s dependent is in the critical years of schooling (years 9-12) and the member is relocated, the family may be eligible for financial assistance for the dependent to go to boarding school.  This helps prevent disruption to education.

Defence School Transition Aide Program

The Defence Transition Aide program provides support to the children and families of ADF members, particularly when moving in and out of a school on posting or when a parent is absent from home.

Defence School Transition Aides (DSTAs) are located in primary schools throughout Australia where there are significant numbers of ADF families. Their role is to:

• Assist ADF parents and children to become familiar with the school and its facilities
• Co-ordinate appropriate welcoming and farewelling activities for ADF children involving the school community
• Monitor ADF children’s personal issues such as friendship, peer groups and classroom difficulties
• Contribute items of interest to the school newsletter
• Provide opportunities for ADF families to meet other ADF families within the school community
• Maintain contact with ADF families who are enrolled in the school

Defence School Transition Mentors (DSTMs) are located in secondary schools across Australia where there are significant numbers of ADF families.  Their role is to:

• Assist young people from Australian Defence Force families integrate into the school community.
• Co-ordinate appropriate welcoming and farewelling strategies for young people of Australian Defence Force families.
• Support students to develop their self-confidence and resilience.
• Encourage young people to explore options and make the most of opportunities.
• Assist young people manage the challenges of transitions.
• Refer students where necessary to appropriate student support services.
• Identify the issues and needs of individual students.
• Develop and implement programs and resources that address issues and needs.
• Monitor students’ day to day social and emotional well-being.
• Support young people at school during times of parental absence from home for service requirements.
• Facilitate student participation in cultural, sporting, academic and personal development programs.
• Link students to school and community programs.
• Raise awareness of Defence related issues facing students such as parental absence due to service requirements.

For information about which schools employ DSTAs and DSTMs, contact your local REDLO,or you can download the list of Primary Schools (PDF, 16k)and Secondary Schools (PDF, 12k).

Parents should contact their child’s school to discuss their move to the new school or if they require additional information to take to the next school.

Defence Scholarship Program

The Defence Scholarship program has provided an opportunity for a number of years for dependants of Navy, Army, Royal Australian Air Force and civilian members to travel and live overseas for a year.

Whilst seen as a positive initiative, due to the requirement for efficiencies, Defence’s sponsorship of eight scholarships will not be continuing for the foreseeable future.

Resources Available

To assist families meet the challenges of a mobile lifestyle, DCO has developed a range of resources including books and brochures.

Education Books

The Education Books have been prepared by the Regional Education Liaison Officers (REDLOS) to provide a brief overview of education in the States and Territories. These books address many issues and questions raised by ADF families.

An Education Book for Tasmania will be included at a later date.

Please click on the links below to download the books

ACT -- NSW -- QLD -- NT -- VIC -- SA -- WA

Books

DCO’s range of books contain ideas about how:

• A parent absent from home on duty can remain connected with the family;

• The parent who remains at home can manage in the absence of the other parent; and
• Parents can deal with issues of moving with teenagers.

Brochures

DCO brochures include the following titles: “REDLO”, “Education Assistance”, “Helpful Hints When Choosing a Tutor”, Changing Schools Checklist” and “Assistance for ADF Families with Special Needs”. 

Other Resources

Other resources DCO has developed to assist families move schools include the School Passport and the Digital Student Portfolio.

The School Passport has been designed for children to keep a record of their school history.

The Digital Student Portfolio is an interactive multimedia program designed to capture the academic, sporting and social history of a child over each year of their schooling.

For copies of all these resources contact your local DCO Area Office

Linking with Government

The Manager Education Policy and Special needs (MEPSN) contributes to National and State/Territory education debates and forums in the interests of Defence parents and the education of their children.  MEPSN raises awareness of the challenges of the mobile lifestyle and the impact of mobility on educational outcomes.

Educational Changes

• A National Literacy and Numeracy Testing program will be conducted for the first time in 2008.  All students across Australia will undertake the same test on the same day.
• A National Starting Age will be introduced by 2010.
• In the future A National Transfer Note will be mandatory for schools to complete when a student transfers to another school.