A helping hand

See you soon: The families of deployed personnel are often in need of NWCC’s support. Photo by AB Joanne Edwards, NIU-W

MORE than five years since its inception, the National Welfare Coordination Centre is still supporting the families of deployed personnel.

NWCC was founded in September 1999 to provide support to the families of ADF members who were deployed to East Timor.

The number of ADF personnel on deployed operations continued to expand and it was quickly realised that the service provided by the NWCC filled an important niche in helping service families cope with the experience of being separated from their loved ones.

NWCC is a direct command unit of Joint Operations Headquarters (HQJOC).

While its core business is the coordination of family support to the families of Defence personnel on operations and exercises commanded by HQJOC, NWCC also provides support to the families of Defence personnel who are away from their normal command and domestic support systems, such as Defence cooperation and overseas exercises.

Another important aspect to the service is the provision of family in-formation packages that contain information on coping with separation and some information on the area where the member will be deployed (except classified operations).

The pack includes a children’s activity book and a fridge magnet with NWCC’s 24-hour free phone help line number. NWCC’s objective is to ensure that families have someone to turn to while their loved ones are away.

NWCC handles more than 10,000 calls a year, proving the worth of the service provided to Defence families. All calls are dealt with in-con.dence. The one-stop-shop principle used by NWCC means that families only need remember one telephone number.

NWCC can put your families in contact with family support agencies who can provide assistance when help is needed.

If you are deployed away from home, NWCC is available to your family any time day or night on free call 1800 801 026.