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ADF’s support base expands
Volume 50, No. 17, September 20, 2007 |
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Serving and former Australian Defence Force members and their families should benefit from the new ADF Integrated People Support Strategy.
An innovative project aimed at enhancing support structures, it is a new whole-of-government service that will give past and present ADF members and their families consistent and ready access to high-quality, accurate, and timely professional advice, information and support.
The strategy was launched on August 27 by the Minister Assisting the Minister for Defence, Bruce Billson.
Defence and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) have worked in close co-operation on the project over the past year and one of the key initiatives is the ADF Integrated People Support Model.
That will incorporate and strengthen existing support services — internal and external — to Defence.
Pilots of the whole-of-government service delivery model will begin at two Defence sites on October 2.
The sites are Fleet Base West in Western Australia and RAAF base Edinburgh in South Australia.
“This initiative reinforces Defence’s commitment to working with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, other government bodies and family support agencies to provide through-life support to our ADF members, former members and their families,” Mr Billson said.
The support strategy has four themes: Through Service Support, Separation Ready, Separation Reconciliation and Separation Review.
The goals for these themes are:
- Through Service Support: ensuring ADF members are informed about and encouraged to access available physical and emotional wellness, injury remediation and impairment support available through their unit, regiment, service or Tri-service and also DVA programs to assist in achieving and sustaining optimal well-being and work-place performance.
- Separation Ready: ensuring all reasonable assistance and support is available and utilised by ADF members preparing for civilian life.
- Separation Reconciliation: ensuring all Defence-related matters are resolved before separation, with a formal reconciliation confirmation to the satisfaction of the commanding officer.
- Separation Review: that we revisit key Separation Ready and Separation Reconciliation themes and offers of support 3-6 months after actual separation.
Mr Billson said the project also continued to recognise the vital role ex-service organisations play in the support continuum.
“The initiative follows the recent announcements of significant additional funding for Defence family support projects and new resources to assist ADF members and families make financial decisions,” Mr Billson said.
“This support strategy is just one of a range of measures the Government is putting in place to ensure that Australia’s Defence community has access to the highest quality services and advice.” |
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