What began as a single support role in Canberra has grown into one of Air Force’s most impactful initiatives for women and families.

The Maternity and Extended Leave Support (MELS) Program was established as a single position by 28 Squadron to assist pregnant female members, those on associated leave and those returning to work. Since 2023, MELS is national under Air Force Diversity & Inclusion, with four support coordinator positions across Australia.

MELS coordinators provide tailored support to more than 300 female aviators who are pregnant or postpartum, planning families or returning to work. The program now includes comprehensive guidance tools, information sessions and collaboration with Women’s Integrated Networking Groups, reflecting Air Force’s commitment to retaining and empowering its women.

For Squadron Leader Alyce Vernon, MELS Program Manager and Coordinator for ACT and NSW, her inspiration to pursue a position with MELS was personal.

“Returning to work 10 months postpartum, I realised it was exactly the kind of support I had needed 18 months earlier,” she said.

Squadron Leader Vernon transitioned to the reserves in 2021 and now balances service with her civilian role as a fertility nurse; from which she brings clinical knowledge and empathy to the MELS program. After her transition, she secured a position with MELS and soon became the driving force behind the program’s national expansion.

For Squadron Leader Sarah La Rose, a career dedicated to supporting people first drew her to join the Air Force as a personnel capability officer in 2007. After transitioning to the reserves to study midwifery, she saw the MELS Coordinator role across the Northern Territory and North Queensland as the perfect opportunity to bring together her passion for member welfare and women’s health.

She said the remote locations created unique challenges, as Defence families were often living away from their extended families and support networks, but the local ADF communities were committed to supporting one another.

'Defence genuinely provides a strong environment for women to succeed while balancing family life.'

For Squadron Leader La Rose, her greatest success in the MELS role was seeing women gain the confidence to take an active role in their own maternity care and workplace support.

“Supervisors may not always know how to support pregnant or returning mothers, but a well-informed, woman-led conversation can lead to a genuinely positive outcome for both the individual and the workplace,” she said.

As Defence prepares to mark International Women’s Day, Squadron Leader Vernon said the theme of ‘Balance the Scales’ reflects the MELS mission.

“It means keeping opportunities open so women don’t lose career momentum during maternity leave, and normalising flexible work so that having a family isn’t a barrier,” Squadron Leader Vernon said.

“True equity can be achieved when everyone feels they can succeed in Defence without having to choose between their career and their family.”

While policies have evolved, Squadron Leader Vernon believes many of the challenges women encounter are unspoken – assumptions, culture, or not seeing others like you in a role.

“Breaking those barriers starts with leaders applying our policies in a way that genuinely supports women,” she said.

When leaders adopt inclusive behaviours, challenge bias and keep opportunities accessible, women feel more supported and less isolated.

As the number of women joining and remaining in Air Force continues to grow, so too does the program’s commitment to providing the support and education they need throughout their careers.

“Defence genuinely provides a strong environment for women to succeed while balancing family life. We’re continually improving, but the potential for women in the ADF is enormous,” Squadron Leader Vernon said.