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Families on site
By Cpl Corinne Boer
Edition 1169, June 28, 2007 |
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Announcement: Lt-Gen Peter Leahy and Brig Paul Symon at the launch of the new family-focused Army website.
Photo by Corinne Boer |
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| Screen shot: The new website provides soldiers and their families with a range of ways to participate as part of the Army family. |
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A NEW website aimed at Defence families, which features a discounted loan, was launched in Canberra on June 21.
The Army Relief Trust Fund (ARTF) has increased the loan cap from $5000 to $6000 and reduced the fee from 4 per cent to 2 per cent.
Although the subsidised loan is currently for ARA and ARes personnel on CFTS, it is being reviewed for possible extension to part-time soldiers.
The loan features on the new website, which was created because of the operational tempo of the ADF and to mark ARTF’s 60th birthday. The organisation has provided almost $40 million to members since its inception.
Brig Paul Symon said the ARTF had stuck to the core business of loans, which members could now access quicker through the website.
“The website is all about responding to the changing needs of the Australian Army community and particularly seeks to give Army families and children an opportunity to be part of the broader army community,” he said.
The site is teeming with activities and information that offers practical advice, ideas and resources for families during the different stages of deployment.
Discussion forums are featured in several areas of the site and there is a section dealing with sensitive and personal issues for children and teenagers that contains suggestions for exam techniques, bullying and depression.
The website also contains deals for holidays, pampering, entertainment and fun for children and teenagers, including competitions.
CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy launched the site and encouraged all members to spread the word.
“Talk to families and talk to the kids, invite them to be involved in the competitions, invite them to post messages to their fathers and mothers on operations,” he said.
“This website in many ways captures the efforts being made by the trustees to reach out to the communities, to communicate with deployed partners or their mothers or fathers, to provide a space for Defence children to interact with each other, to encourage family activities, to encourage pampering, to encourage a spirit of looking at the small things that can be done to enrich family life and I applaud the trustees for taking this broad approach.”
To access the ARTF website visit www.armyrtf.com.au or www.artf.com.au |
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