DCO supports families in recognition of their contribution
to achieving the Defence mission.
Index
- Casework and Counselling Services
- Compassionate Issues
- Emergency Support for Families Scheme
- Recognition of Dependants
- Married With Dependants (Unaccompanied)
- Partner Employment
- Time Apart (Deployments and Training)
- On the Move (Housing and Relocation)
- Positive Parenting
- Child Care
- Education
- Assistance for Dependants With Special Needs
- Defence Families Australia
- Separation and Divorce
- Legal Links and Resources
- Unacceptable Behaviour in the ADF
- Tips on Financial Management
- Products and Services Available
DCO Area Teams include professional Social Workers who are able to provide confidential casework and counselling services to ADF members, their partners and families for a broad range of issues.
Members or their families can contact a Defence Social Worker for a range of reasons including, but not limited to:
- Resilience building
- Relationship issues (couples counselling available)
- Parenting issues (family counselling available)
- Work issues
- Anxiety
- Therapeutic, training and information group sessions
- Grief and loss
- Mental health issues
- Suicide and suicide prevention
For further information on casework and counselling services as well as links to other support agencies, go to the Casework and Counselling page.
Defence provides a number of provisions for members in times of unusual circumstance, crisis or emergency. The DCO provides advice or assessments for members' supervisors or Commanding Officers so that they can exercise compassionate consideration. Approach your local DCO Office for assistance or support at these times.
Leave, travel and posting provisions can be made on compassionate grounds, as outlined on the Compassionate Issues page.
What is it ?
The Emergency Support for Families Scheme (ESFS) has been deveoped to provide short term assistance to an ADF member's dependants in an emergency situation where the member is absent from the dependants location for Service reasons.
More information can be found on the Emergency Support for Families Scheme page.
CDF Recognised Dependants
The Chief of the Defence Force (CDF) can recognise another person as a dependant for exceptional reasons. The CDF must consider all these criteria:
- The relationship of the person to the member.
- The specific reasons the person needs to live with the member.
- The role the person plays in the members household.
- Whether the dependency is permanent.
- The degree of dependency, including any financial, medical or compassionate consideration.
Refer to Chapter 8, Part 1, para 8.1.3 of the Pay and Conditions Manual (PACMAN).
A member may meet the requirements for being recognised as Married With Dependents - Unaccompanied (MWD(U)) if they are unable to live with their dependents at the (new) gaining locality they are posted to. For instance:
- The members spouse is a member and cannot, for service reasons be posted to the gaining locality, or:
- Suitable accommodation for the member and dependants is not available at the gaining locality, or:
- A child of the member is undertaking secondary, or tertiary education, or an apprenticeship at the loosing locality and decides to continue the education at that locality, or:
- The members spouse is in employment at the losing locality and decides to continue employment at that locality.
- Illness or infirmity of a dependant prevents a move
- A dependent has special needs that necessitates them remaining in the losing locality. Or:
- The members spouse is undertaking secondary or tertiary education in the losing locality.
PACMAN Reference
Further details regarding eligibility criteria and the administrative process required to achieve recognition of MWD(U) status can be found at Vol 1 Chap 1 Part 3 Div 2 of the PACMAN.
Defence understands that the partners of ADF members may be hindered in their ability to find suitable employment in a new locality as a result of an ADF relocation. As a result, a range of initiatives have been developed to help ADF partners find suitable employment whatever their location.
For detailed information visit the DCO Partner Employment Assistance page.
Spending time apart from a serving member due to deployments or training, is one of the characteristics of a military lifestyle. Defence offers a range of services and initiatives to help members and their families effectively deal with these periods of separation, and to understand some of the feelings they may experience at these times.
For detailed information visit the DCO Time Apart page.
As a general rule you may be provided with housing assistance throughout your association with Defence. This assistance is subsidized and you will have to pay a contribution towards the cost. The rates of contribution are set so that member's pay the same for a given level of accommodation wherever they are posted, and the Government meets the cost of any regional differences.
Defence posting policy reflects the need to fill current vacancies and to rotate Service men and women through operational, staff and training appointments to develop their skills and experience. Therefore, they are rotaed through various positions, and locations, throughout their careers. Members are given the opportunity to express a preference of the localities to which they would like to be posted, and while Defence will try to fulfil all posting preferences, members may be posted to any locality if there is a Service requirement.
Detailed information about housing and the posting process can be found on the On the Move page.
Parenting: At Home and Away.
In recent years it has become more and more common for one or other parent, more often the father, to have to spend time away from home in relation to their work. Fast and easy travel means that new opportunities have opened up for people in the work force. This means there are also new challenges for parents to maintain their family and parenting relationships. (Introduction to Parenting: At Home and Away, The Early Childhood Association inc.)
Written with the assistance of families and staff from the ADF, where working away from home, or on deployment, is part of the expectations of the job, 'Parenting: At Home and Away' provides a broad range of helpful information, advice and guidance on Parenting issues, especially as they impact upon ADF members and their families. To obtain a copy please contact your local DCO Area Team or the Early Childhood Australia Inc.
The publications:
- Home Is Where The Family Is: Moving House With Children also by Early Childhood Association Inc. and,
- Moving School: A Guide For Families, Employers, and Schools published by Curriculum Corporation both provide helpful information on Parenting issues.
To obtain more information about these publications, please go to the Moving with Children section on the On the Move page.
Three Golden Rules For Successful Positive Parenting
A summary of the advice provided by many Child Behaviour / Child Management and Parenting experts agree that difficulties arise in contexts where one or more of the following 'golden rules' are missing.
- Set fair and age appropriate expectations and boundaries on behaviour.
- Consistently apply and enforce these boundaries, with consequences for breaches.
- Be 'together' and united as parents with regard to the above.
Other Resources
As part of the DCO's Casework and Counselling services, and in their work with volunteer Community Groups and other agencies in the local community Defence Social Workers are available to members and partners to discuss and consult with on Parenting and other family issues.
DCO Regional Education Liaison Officers (REDLO's) and our Defence School Transition Aides (DSTA's) can also be useful points of contact in regard to school related issues concerning children and parents.
Links To Resources and Information for Partners about to Become Parents
The Relationships Australia website. It provides sound and reliable advice and information for new parents to consider, as well as more general information.
The Victorian Government Better Health website which has general advice on the stages associated with becoming parents.
The Australian Governments Health Institute website which provides information worth book marking for a general resource and reference guide in relation to issues surrounding sexuality
The Royal Childrens Hospital in Melbourne provides this resource for parents on a huge variety of topica and with links to many other resources.
More Positive Parenting Links
Australian Childhood Foundation site. Extensive links section and useful information for parents.
Child, Youth and Womens Health (S.A. Govt) site. Detailed information. From babies to young adults.
Families and Community Services . Provides comprehensive information for parents.
Child, Youth and Women's Health Services ( S.A. Govt) site . Provides links and information on mental health issues for children all age ranges.
Vic Govt sponsored website provides parent friendly links to a wide range of information and resources.
Australias now world famous Positive Parenting Program website. Try the 'Top Ten Tips' section for a quick and very reliable guide to parenting success.
Information on the Defence Child Care Program can be found on the Child Care page.
Defence provides a comprehensive package of advice and support measures to help minimise any negative impacts on childrens' education as a result of the mobile Defence lifestyle.
Details of initiatives available and who to contact to access them can be found on the Education Assistance page.
Some Australian Defence Force families have a dependant with special needs, such as a physical, intellectual, or behavioural disability, or a psychiatric illness. Defence provides Special Needs Assitance to help these dependants with special needs manage the additional challenges placed on them by the mobile Defence lifestyle.
Defence Families of Australia (DFA) was formed in 1986 (originally as the National Consultative Group of Service Families) to represent the views of ADF families. Since then DFA have been the official representatives of Defence families and have worked energetically and voluntarily, to improve conditions for all ADF families.
DFA Aim
DFA's role is to improve the quality of life for ADF families by providing a recognised forum for the views of Defence families, and influencing policy that directly affects families.
How DFA Operates
ADF families can contact DFA to represent them regarding an individual situation or to advocate an issue concerning many families. The Convenor and Delegates work directly with Regional Managers and local Commanding Officers to clarify or resolve issues affecting local families.
Major issues affecting families nationally are taken to Canberra by the National Delegates and presented during the DFA annual conference. At the conference, the views and concerns of ADF families are discussed with senior ADF personnel.
The Convenor meets regularly with the Minister responsible for Defence Personnel, the Chief of the Defence Force, and the Head of Defence Personnel Executive to report and make recommendations on behalf of ADF families.
The DFA group is made up of:
- a National Convenor in Canberra;
- 9 National Delegates representing a State or Territory;
- 40 Senior Representatives assisting the Delegates;
- a National Communications Officer;
- a Family Network Co-ordinator; and
- over 450 members of our ADF Family Network around Australia.
All our members are volunteers who are family members or spouses of full time serving personnel. They are interested in actively improving family life in the Defence Force.
For more detailed information about DFA and contact details for volunteers, please visit the DFA web site.
There is wide agreement by experts in the field that many relationship breakdowns are avoidable, preventable, or recoverable. Services are available if you need to talk about your relationship, or require support during relationship difficulties. Assistance can be provided by:
- Defence Chaplains
- Psychologists
- DCO Social Workers
- DCO Military Support Officers
The above are all able to provide wide range of information and various forms of assistance, support and referral, to all members in the area of relationships.
DCO Area Offices often run group sessions on improving or maintaining relationships, and couples counselling is also available. Contact your local DCO Office find out what sessions may be offered or to make an appointment with a suitable professional.
Sometimes, however, relationship difficulties are irreconcilable. Some information and services to assist during separation and divorce are listed below.
Information and Links
Detailed policy advice and guidance on the provision of entitlements and services for members and their partners can be found in Volume2, Chapter 8, part 6 of the PACMAN.
The Family Law Courts provides initial advice and information on the Separation phase of divorce proceedings.
The Family Court of Australia provides a Step by step guide to proceedings in the Family Court.
Centrelink provides individuals a listing of services and programs for those separating and divorcing.
Family Relationships Online web site provides information and advice on 'Coping with Divorce' and 'Parenting after Separation'
Relationships Australia provide a 'self help quiz for separated parents.
The Law Council of Australia provides general information and guidance.
The Federal Magistrates Court of Australia provides access to their new brochure, Achieving positive outcomes through Separation and Divorce.
The Child Suppport Agency has produced a range of free publications offering practical advice, tips and hints for separated parents. CSA has also designed a range of services to support separated parents, such as regular Community Information Sessions. A comprehensive, online Community Services Directory provides information about organisations offering services to assist parents, including separation and grief counselling, parenting guidance and legal advice.
The Family Court of Australia web site provides a step by step guide to legal processes in the Court along with advice on legal matters.
The Legal Information Access Centre web site provides links to numerous agencies across Australia covering a wide range of legal topics and subjects.
The Australian Government web site Australia Law On Line provides a wide rang of links on legal matters on a variety of subjects, and areas.
The National Association of Community Legal Centres web site provides a link to all Community Legal Centres across Australia.
Information on Defences 'Unacceptable Behaviour' policy in regard to unacceptable behaviour and prohibited substances can be found on the Joining the ADF page.
Preparing a budget is an easy way of managing your finances, and can be the key to financial security. A budget is a simple financial plan that shows individuals or families where their income is being spent. By monitoring the flow of money through a household, it is easier to accomplish short term and long term goals and to take some control of the financial future. For couples, it is better if the budget is worked out together so that it is understood and agreed to by both partners.
Below are some basic steps to creating your own budget.
- Figure out your income. Include basic pay, incentive or special pay and any allowances. Be sure to include any other source of income, including part-time employment and interest earned on property and bank accounts.
Remember that your allowances are only going to be temporary and will only last for the period of the deployment or activity that they are for. - Keep track of your expenses. Expenses fall into two categories - 'fixed' such as rent or mortgage and 'variable' such as groceries, telephone, entertainment etc. List your daily expenses for a month. Include everything you spend money on - small purchases add up! Include work lunches, vending machine purchases, parking, video rentals, haircuts etc.
- List your debts. Write down the monthly payments on your home loan, car loan, credit cards, personal loans etc.
- List your assets. Make a list of the things you own and their value. Your removals inventory is a good start for this. Remember however that value is based on what you could sell them for today (not what they cost when you bought them).
- Keep your budget in balance. Your budget is balanced when your income matches or exceeds your expenses and savings. A balanced budget gives you control over your finances - and the cash you need to reach your goals.
- Review your spending habits. If you consistently spend more than you make, it is time to consider ways to:
- Lower your living expenses;
- Reduce the amount of money you owe; or
- Increase your income.
A financial planner can help prepare a budget and assist with financial issues. Most banks and building societies have financial advisers available free of charge. Conversely, for further information about financial planning and to access a budget worksheet, visit the following Defence Internet and Defence Intranet websites.
Defence is recognised as one of the largest employers in Australia. In recognition of Defence's contribution to the Nation numerous suppliers of products and services provide tailored products to Defence personnel as a goodwill gesture.
Products and services are available to Defence members including, ADF members, Defence civilians, and Defence contractors. Some products are available to Retired ADF members and Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) Gold and White Card recipients. Details can be found in the Products and Services section of the DCO website.
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