Defence publications
Defence produces a variety of publications which may be of interest to Defence families.
defence family matters
DCO produces a free tri-annual lifestyle magazine for Defence families, defence family matters or dfm.
In dfm you can find articles celebrating Defence families (from new baby arrivals to community achievements), advice and tips for dealing with common challenges like relocating and deployment, information on family support services available from Defence or the community, and news about changes in the Defence environment that might affect families.
Area Office newsletters
DCO Area Offices regularly produce newsletters to keep local Defence families informed about support programs and services available to them as well as events and groups in their area.
Defence magazine
Defence magazine covers a broad range of information about the Department of Defence and the ADF.
Service newspapers
Navy, Army and Air Force each publish newspapers every fortnight. These Service newspapers contain informative and entertaining material for both members and their families.
Service newspapers are available to view online, or distributed free through member’s units. Alternatively, you can subscribe by calling 02 6265 1304 to have them home-delivered for a small fee.
The Hamilton Report
The 1986 Hamilton report: Supporting Service Families, the first clear articulation of Defence family support that underpins DCO's work to this day.
The 2009 ADF Families Survey
The ADF Families Survey was first conducted in 2009, and based on information gathered DCO has introduced various initiatives to improve support to families.
The Defence Family Helpline provides a 24-7 support service to families, while the FamilySMART range of programs help Defence families to manage the challenges of military life, like deployment, parental absence from home, moving house, or a partner returning after a long time away. Support for partners' education and employment has also been increased, and late last year DCO released the Deployment Support Booklet to provide families with a go-to resource to assist them during times of deployment.
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