The Defence Family Forum
The Defence Family Forum was held at Darling Harbour in Sydney over 30 April to 2 May 2012.
During the event—attended by around 300 Defence families, senior military personnel and Defence support organisations—Defence families explored the military way of life, the future of family support, and Defence families’ role in leading and shaping the wider Australian community.
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About the Forum
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Action Items
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Your questions
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Photos
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Videos
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Evaluation
About the Defence Family Forum
The Defence Family Forum was held at Darling Harbour in Sydney 30 April to 2 May 2012. During the event, attended by around 300 Defence families, senior military personnel and Defence support organisations, Defence families explored the military way of life, the future of family support, and Defence families’ role in leading and shaping the wider Australian community.
Defence will use the thoughts, ideas and information gathered at the Forum to engage Defence and civilian community organisations in collective support of Defence families.
Action items from the Defence Family Forum
On Wednesday, the final day of the Forum, attendees participated in a three-hour Open Space session. At the start of the workshop, Forum participants set 41 agenda items for discussion. Then, throughout the workshop, participants freely joined in discussions, deciding on action items and drafting project plans.
Defence Family Forum Action Items (PDF, 204K)
Nearly thirty initiatives were identified by Defence families during the Open Space session. These initiatives are currently being developed and implemented by local Defence communities in partnership with the Defence Community Organisation.
What is Open Space?
An Open Space workshop is a participant-driven, self-organising method of collaborating on and examining issues of interest. Open Space can help groups to quickly bring forth emerging issues and opportunities, build mutual understandings, and agree on actions.
Open Space acknowledges that everyone has knowledge and experience that is inherently valuable to the overall discussion. It is a non-linear method of collaboration that allows participants to jump quickly from familiar ways of thinking into innovation and action.
Your questions answered
During the Forum, we asked attendees to write down any questions they had about the support provided by the Department of Defence. Here are your questions and our answers:
Can you explain how the Defence Family Helpline (1800 number) will provide personal face to face support to Defence families?
The Defence Family Helpline works in tandem with DCO Area Offices, which continue to be the local face of DCO.
Defence families are welcome to drop into a DCO Area Office during normal working hours, to have a chat or find out more about our services. The Helpline is a centralised intake point, so those who would like to formally access our support services must do so by contacting the Helpline. This can be done from a DCO Area Office if required.
The Defence Family Helpline enables Defence to provide on-call support to Defence families 24–7. It also frees up our regional staff to deliver more on-the-ground support to the Defence community.
How will you better educate new families (wives especially) about their entitlements e.g. death of a member in service, PEEP, Child Tutoring?
In August 2012 the DCO website was refined to improve the clarity of information provided to Defence families. Specifically, the new Managing in times of difficulty section provides detailed information on emergency and crisis support, including the death of an ADF member. Additionally, there are now a series of printable handouts available that provide detailed information on bereavement, emergency and crisis management and services for injured and ill ADF members.
The new website has a section for partners, parents and families that provides information on support mechanisms available to family members, including education and employment, childcare and kids' education, and resilience training workshops. Partners can also receive on-call support from the Defence Family Helpline at DefenceFamilyHelpline@defence.gov.au or by calling 1800 624 608.
'Liking DCO's Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/defencecommunityorganisation, is a good way of receiving updates and information from DCO regarding support available to Defence families.
What do you see as the most important aspect for the Defence family to belong in a community?
We believe that Defence families are strongest when they are connected with their local community. DCO provides a number of support and information services to help Defence families to connect with and contribute to their communities, and to engage the wider civilian community in support of Defence families.
The Community connection section of the DCO website provides information and resources to help Defence families:
- access existing support mechanisms in place in the community,
- create new support networks,
- become informed about local resources, services and goings-on,
- get oriented more quickly and smoothly,
- find people with like interests or experiences, and
- get involved with community organisations and events.
Can support for families who have either no children or older children be provided?
All partners of ADF members, regardless of family circumstance, can access a range of support services. This includes education and employment funding, deployment support, help connecting with community supports and resources, access to the SMART resilience-building programs, and the all-hours Defence Family Helpline.
Older children who are undertaking high school or tertiary education may be eligible for education assistance - visit the Support for children's education section of our website for details.
What programmes/policies exist to support families in need and/or crisis?
DCO provides a range of practical and emotional support for families facing emergency or crisis. Detailed information can be found in our Managing in times of difficulty section.
Families can seek support, advice or help any time from the all-hours Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608. The Helpline is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists, who can provide callers with assessment, assistance or referral.
Additionally, DCO provides short-term practical assistance to families facing crisis or emergency when their ADF member is away from home for Service reasons. DCO can provide temporary 'safe house' accommodation for the dependants of ADF members in situations of domestic crisis where the family members cannot remain in the home and have no available alternatives for accommodation.
If an ADF member is hospitalised by serious injury or illness, their unit can request that Defence send a family member or close relative to be with them.
In the event of an ADF member's death, a Bereavement Support Team provides practical and emotional support to the next of kin within 24 hours.
Because the transitions of Army personnel are staggered throughout the year, how can Defence best help families to settle in whatever time of the year they arrive? Especially if children are arriving mid-year for enrolment in school?
DCO provides information, resources and programs to help minimise the disruption to children's education caused by relocation. This support is available at any time of year.
The Children section of the DCO website provides information about the support available to kids who are changing schools. The On the move section provides practical advice and resources to alleviate the effects of relocation on family wellbeing, and the Community connection section helps families engage with their new community.
Regional Education Liaison Officers are teachers and are available to advise Defence families on education issues and the varying schooling and education systems. School-based Aides and Mentors support Defence children through the process of changing schools and during times of parental absence.
How could the military assist non service (partners) to have a career?
DCO's partner education and employment program provides funding to assist recognised partners of ADF members to boost their career development and better position themselves for employment when relocated with their partner. Visit the Partners, parents and families section of the DCO website for details.
Does Defence believe they have a role in pursuing a national education curriculum?
Yes. DCO's Regional Education Liaison Officers are actively involved in pursuing a national education curriculum. Feedback on the draft Australian National Curriculum regarding the education challenges experienced by Defence families has been provided to the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority.
When laterals come to Australia the member gains immediate citizenship - why aren't partners of lateral transfers offered immediate citizenship? What about other programs like Partner Employment and Education Program (PEEP)? (Note: PEEP you need to have been in the ADF for at least four years this is the same for all)
In 2012 legislation was passed to ensure equity for ADF Lateral Transfers and their spouse and dependants. This ensures that spouses and dependants gain citizenship at the same time as the member. It also recognises foreign military service for ADF service purposes. Spouses and dependants of ADF Lateral Transfers who meet eligibility criteria for DCO's national programs of support are able to apply.
How does DCO reach those families that are transitioning?
ADF members planning to leave Defence can attend an ADF Transition Centre to obtain practical guidance and information to help them transition into civilian life.
ADF Transition Centres are located across Australia and can link members and their families into Defence and Australian Government support services. They can also help with the administrative aspects of separation.
Additionally, ADF Transition Seminars are held nationally to help members and their families prepare for separation from Defence. Family members are encouraged to attend these seminars at any time throughout a member's military career.
There is a dedicated website, at www.defence.gov.au/transitions, to provide members and their families with information and advice regarding separating from Defence. From this website members and families can download the ADF Transition Handbook - a one-stop-shop to assist in the separation process - and find out when the next seminar is going to be held.
Additionally, 'liking' the DCO Facebook page at www.facebook.com/defencecommunityorganisation is a good way of receiving news and updates from DCO about support services, including information about transitioning out of the military.
Can Defence provide information on all occasional care and childcare available in posting locations, not just what is available on base?
To find your nearest Defence childcare centre you can contact the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608. Alternatively, you can search for different childcare options in your local area at mychild.gov.au, or call the government-run Childcare Access Hotline on 1800 670 305.
Keep an eye on this page as more questions and their answers will be posted over the coming weeks.
What will be done to assist secondary school age children to cope with the stress and hardship of having to move between schools with different curriculums, especially interstate?
DCO's Regional Education Liaison Officers, or REDLOs, are teachers who provide education support to Defence families as they move around the country. Defence families can contact their local REDLO by calling the all-hours Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608.
In-school Aides and Mentors are positioned in primary and secondary schools around Australia that have a high number of Defence kids. Aides and Mentors help Defence students make a smooth transition between schools, minimise disruption to education outcomes and provide support to children experiencing parental absence due to Service reasons. Defence families can contact their local Aide or Mentor by calling the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608.
What help is there for spouses to obtain jobs?
DCO's provides financial assistance to the partners of ADF members to help them boost their career development and better position themselves for employment when posted with their ADF member. The Partners, parents and families section of DCO's website has detailed information.
What support does Defence provide to Defence families who have gifted and talented dependants?
DCO provides assistance to dependents with special needs. The definition of special needs includes children and adults and covers a wide spectrum of cases including physical, intellectual, sensory, learning or behavioural difficulties or psychiatric illnesses or disorders. It also includes academically gifted or talented children.
In order to receive special needs assistance from Defence you will first need to have your dependant formally recognised by Defence as having special needs. More information on how to do this is available on the Support for dependents with special needs section of the DCO website.
Support available includes assistance with removals and housing, pre-posting visits and help accessing equipment, therapy, respite and education resources when posted to a new location.
Photos from the Forum
Family Forum - Day 1
CDF speaks
Families listen to Minister Snowdon
Minister Snowdon addresses families
Sue Hamilton addresses families
Sue Hamilton addresses families
Linda Hurley addresses families
David Hurley answers questions
Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Professor of Family Studies at Purdue University in Indiana, USA, provides a perspective on resilience in military families.
Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Professor of Family Studies at Purdue University in Indiana, USA, provides a perspective on resilience in military families.
Shelley MacDermid Wadsworth, Professor of Family Studies at Purdue University in Indiana, USA, provides a perspective on resilience in military families.
Family Forum - Day 2
Penny Crofts, Deb Hartman, Dee Brooks and Graeme Stuart from the Family Action Centre, introduce the World Cafe workshops.
Graeme Stuart and Dee Brooks discuss the upcoming workshops.
Defence families learning about the World Cafe method of collaboration.
Defence families in deep discussion during the World Cafe workshops.
Director General DCO, Mick Callan, discusses the ’pieces of gold’ from the first workshop of the day.
Participants present their ’pieces of gold’ to the audience after each workshop.
People participating in the World Cafe Workshops.
Day 3
Families discussing issues together during the Open Space sessions.
Director General DCO closes the Forum
Presentations
Presentation by Patron of the Defence Community, Mrs Linda Hurley
Patron of the Defence Community, Mrs Linda Hurley, provides her perspective of being a Defence family and being married to the Chief of the Defence Force.
Download a PDF transcript.
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Presentation by Jenny Barrett
Jenny Barrett, wife of Rear Admiral Timothy Barrett, describes the challenges of managing changing schools and childcare arrangements in between postings and deployments.
Presentation by Gayle Morrison
Gayle Morrison, wife of Lieutenant General David Morrison, shows her appreciation of resilience and strength of Defence families, and has a wry laugh at use of acronyms in the military.
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Presentation by Louise Hupfeld.
Louise Hupfeld, wife of Air Vice-Marshal Mel Hupfeld, details the challenges she faced as a single mother juggling her career in the Air Force with the needs of her young child.
Shelly Macdermid-Wadsworth
Shelly is a Professor of Family Studies, and a Director at the Center for Families and the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University in Indiana USA. Her expertise lies in the issues surrounding work and family, military families, family stress, job flexibility, and marital quality.
Shelly’s presentation, Celebrating, Supporting, and Learning From Military Families,(PDF 2.5MB) provided a perspective on resilience in military families, building resilient communities, and overcoming challenges faced by each.Sue Hamilton
Sue authored the 1986 Hamilton Report, titled Supporting Service Families (PDF 66kb).
This report examined the main issues facing the partners and families of ADF members and provided a series of recommendations which form the basis of DCO’s business today.
During her presentation at the Forum, Sue provided a retrospective on the Hamilton Report, and considered what she’d do differently if she were brave enough to conduct the review again.
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DCO Area Manager Roslyn Munro
Roslyn provided an overview of the pre-Forum workshops (PDF 173kb)and their outcomes.
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Chief of Defence General David Hurley AC, DSC
Evaluation
DCO surveyed Forum participants and the results are presented below:
79 per cent of attendees were satisfied with accommodation and travel arrangements, Forum sign-in and reception services, and the overall organisation of the Forum including the provided information satchel.
87 per cent of attendees were satisfied with the dinner and networking opportunities provided by the Forum, as well as the event staff, facilities and location.
85 per cent of attendees rated DCO’s Director General Michael Callan as a presenter as good, very good or excellent.
92 per cent of attendees thought Susan Hamilton was a good, very good or excellent presenter.
94 per cent of attendees rated Shelly MacDermid Wadsworth’s presentation as good, very good or excellent.
55 per cent of attendees thought the pre-Forum workshops were useful for setting the scene for the Defence Family Forum, and the same percentage of attendees thought that the workshops during the Forum allowed them to provide Defence with valuable information.
Over 74 per cent of attendees were satisfied with the format of the Defence Family Forum Open Space session, and over 78 per cent of attendees are committed to help action some of the outcomes from the Open Space session.
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