The Defence Community Organisation (DCO) is the key Defence agency that supports Commanders in meeting their formal responsibilities for the welfare and morale of their people.
In delivering professional social work and allied support services to Commanders, members and their families the DCO aims to:
DCO employs 33 Military Support Officers (MSO) who are located at all DCO offices Australia wide. These officers and senior NCO's, from the rank of WO2 to MAJ (equivalent), come from all three Services and form part of the DCO Service Delivery Team.
MSO are a vital and integral part of the DCO Area Teams. They are the uniformed ADF representatives, and are the focal point for advice and support on all matters pertaining to the military.
Through the DCO Area Manager, the MSO's primary role is to respond to local command in all respects. Specifically, to coordinate interaction and feedback between units, DCO offices, the National Welfare Coordination Centre (NWCC), chaplains, medical staff, families and other civilian and military agencies as applicable.
The MSO, in conjunction with local military command staff, develops and coordinates support for local welfare support plans, especially in preparation for deployments and major exercises.
The MSO can assist with the identification for unit welfare training requirements and will develop training programs as required. The MSO also conducts welfare support conferences and briefings, including pre-deployment briefings, to military staff.
The MSO, working closely with commanders or their representatives, acts as part of a case management team in the case of all fatalities, including the coordination of funerals, support to families, and deceased estates administration.
In other cases, MSO also advise on, and where necessary coordinate arrangements for, AUSDIL and Compassionate Returns to Australia (CRTA).
The MSO undertakes duties in the DCO out of hours emergency organisation, and responds and provides after hours advice to Duty officers, Officers of the Day and other authorities, on member and family support matters.
Family Liaison Services
Family Liaison Officers (FLOs) provide community based information, support and assistance to individual members, partners, families and Defence sponsored groups. These services are available at any time, however FLOs are particularly proactive in regard to welcome activities in relation to a new posting and settling in to a new area, or during the deployment of ADF members.
Other DCO Services Provided
In addition to the above services, the local DCO Area Teams provide:
DCO also provides tailored services in support of deployed operations. Families of deployed members can access a wide range of support services through their local DCO office including:
- Organised pre/post deployment briefings (also provided to members).
- Information on how to contact a member.
- Assistance to access local support groups.
- Access to sources of emergency financial assistance.
- Case management of members seriously ill, injured or killed.
- Compassionate Returns to Australia.
- Contact numbers and details for Out of Hours 24/7 Emergency Support should a personal or family crisis occur.
Social Support Activities
In addition to the range of social work, family liaison and other support services provided, and in concert with Units, DCO also sponsors and supports social gatherings amongst families of deployed members, which promotes networking and reinforces the valuable role of spouses and other next-of-kin in support of operations.
For any operational deployment, unit, divisional and admin officers work closely with DCO staff to ensure that an appropriate program of support is offered to members and their families. All units hold their own functions and information sessions and DCO is represented at the majority of these. Functions can include regular morning teas, information sessions, drinks nights, weekend activities and Christmas functions.
Next-of-Kin telephone contacts
In addition to the social and group activities outlined above, a great deal of support is provided to individuals by the DCO staff. The Family Liaison Officers endeavour to phone the next-of-kin of all deployed members at intervals during a deployment, and letters are sent out detailing DCO support networks. The phone calls are seen as essential in showing support for the member's families. In addition, the calls can also alert DCO staff to anyone who may require assistance. DCO also provides a 24 Hour on call service.
The DCO intention has always been to develop a pro-active model that well prepares ADF members and their families for the pressures of deployment. The DCO recognises the need for appropriate support before, during, and after deployment, and in offering that support DCO staff liaise closely with all military personnel and with other support services.
Further information and detail on Deployment Support
Please go to the Deployments and Time Away from Home section to access more detailed information on:
- Deployment Support activities provided by the DCO
- The Family Care Plan document
- The NWCC Family Registration Form
- Information concerning the 'Emotional Cycle of Deployment'
Along with the DCO out of hours emergency response system, the National Welfare Coordination Centre (NWCC) also provides a 24 hour, 7 day a week point of contact for families and next-of-kin of ADF personnel who are away from home.
The NWCC is a call-in centre, but do not provide specific family care. They do provide timely, accurate information, reassurance and referral to other family support agencies.
NWCC and the DCO work closely together to provide appropriate support to ADF members and their families. The NWCC, as a welfare and family support referral service, is part of the wider Defence family support network.
For further information contact them via:
All Hours Telephone: 1800 801 026
E-mail: nwcc.australia@defence.gov.au
Procedure
With the appropriate clearance to be absent from the workplace, members can self-refer to the DCO for an appointment/interview at any time, during normal business hours. Alternatively, supervising seniors or commanding officers can refer on behalf of the member.
Contacts
The local DCO Area Team can be contacted by phone, email, fax or signal to refer (with their concurrence) individual members and/or their partners and families.
Form AC698 accessible on the Defence Intranet web forms site is available to facilitate the referral process for administrative matters and can be sent by e-mail, or faxed to the local DCO Area office for the Duty Officer or Area Manager's attention. The more information and detail that can be provided at the initial referral stage, the greater the likelihood that a quick 'turn-around' response can be made.
Confidential Casework And Counselling Services
Counselling services, delivered by DCO Defence Social Workers (DSW's) are available to all members of the ADF. The content and detail of any discussion with a DCO DSW will be kept private and confidential.
You can refer members to the DCO Area Team for information and advice or assistance on personal, family or service related matters.
E-mail, fax or phone your local DCO Area Team and speak to the duty officer to make an appointment for yourself or any of your subordinates.
Please go to the Casework and Counselling page for further information on these services.
There can be occasions in Service life when an unusual circumstance, a crisis or an emergency can develop in the life and work of members or their families. Supervisors or Commanding Officers may be required to exercise compassionate consideration in these instances.
Serious illness, accident, and injury including the death of a family member are all considered a crisis or emergency that may require urgent compassionate consideration.
Whilst some circumstances and emergencies are well defined, others can be complex and may need the assessment and recommending support of a helping professional. Defence Social Workers, Psychologists, Medical Officers, or Chaplains are able to provide you, the decision maker, with as much information as possible, in order to make the best decision for all parties.
Compassionate Leave and Travel Provisions
Under such circumstances there are special provisions that can enable members, or their partners, or recognised spouses to access assistance to 'Compassionate Leave and Compassionate travel' entitlements.
Details on all leave provisions and entitlements can be found in the PACMAN. See Chapter 5 Part 7, Division 2 for policy on Compassionate Leave. Further information is included on the Compassionate Issues page.
