For a life in the ADF, sometimes the battles hardest fought are by the families on the home front.

Which is why, at a recent ceremony at Sydney’s Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park, more than 120 children of serving ADF members gathered to recognise the significant contribution that Defence families make to Defence capability.

Each child received a Child of the ADF Medallion, a symbol of recognition for the strength, resilience and sacrifices made by Defence families.

For Amelia Sutherland, having the opportunity to receive the award with her younger sisters, Lucy and Matilda, in front of their parents was a moment of immense pride.

“It makes me feel that we are recognised for going through hard stuff as well as Defence members,” Amelia said.

She explained while each of her father’s deployments meant new cities, schools and sporting teams, these changes all paled in comparison to the toughest challenge Amelia and her sisters face.

“Dad plays a big role in our family, and he helps a lot around the house. We learn to adapt when he’s not there,” Amelia said.

Her mother, Debbie Sutherland feels recognition like this is important for families, because when a parent is in the ADF, it’s more than just a job.

“From the very start, every decision is made as a family. Where we are moving, what we are doing. Even though James is in the ADF, we make a lot of decisions together along the way, because we do it as a family,” Debbie said.

Following his father’s footsteps into Navy, Senior Chaplain James Sutherland said he was thrilled families were being recognised in new ways.

“Our kids, collectively in Defence, can teach us a lot of things about what service life is about,” Senior Chaplain Sutherland said.

'It makes me feel that we are recognised for going through hard stuff as well as Defence members.'

Senior Chaplain Sutherland reflected on his own childhood and the grit and determination he needed to move interstate and start over at a new school.

He sees the same trials now being faced by his own children establishing new friend groups with what he describes as “cheerfulness in the face of adversity”.

“It’s wonderful to see children and families being recognised for the collective service they give to our nation. They might not wear a uniform, but they serve just as much as we do,” he said.

The Janes family also attended the ceremony, with Defence spouse Caitlyn explaining how her three young boys were receiving the award in Sydney, while their father was serving in a different hemisphere.

“I think this has made a big difference for the boys, feeling recognised for their hard work with their dad being away. It’s not easy without him,” Caitlyn said.

Caitlyn said her children were already beaming with pride to show their “hard-earned” medallions to their father, a chief petty officer on board HMAS Brisbane.

“The boys have had to be quite resilient over the past year, with their father being away on two deployments. I am so proud of our boys, they have done so well managing it. They are all so proud of their dad.”

Their eldest son, William, described how he has viewed his father’s example of service as one of the most important influences in his life, one he and his brothers, Lucas and George, aspire to live by every day.

“We all try to be good for Mum and we help out as much as we can. We need someone big and strong in the family to look after us. As the biggest, I try to help out with the dishes and I mow the lawn when needed. We miss him very much,” William said.

The Child of the ADF Medallions are awarded nationally by Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS). The medallions are one of the many ways DMFS support ADF families, through connection to community, support services and bespoke programs.   

To learn more about the Child of the ADF Medallion Program, including how to register for events, head to Child of the ADF Medallion Program | ADF Members & Families | Defence.