Our Executive Staff
National Convenor
Julie Blackburn
It’s a pleasure to be taking over the role of DFA National Convenor. My involvement with Navy life began when I met my husband Guy 15 years and three children ago.
Aside from my personal Defence family experiences, I bring to the role of Convenor a professional background in families and health. Be it physical, mental or social well being – I recognise that the health of the family is often compromised by the ongoing stressors that work and family life balance presents.
Defence families are ordinary people, trying to live ordinary lives, often dealing with extraordinary challenges. In the current climate of reform, we need to ensure that the conditions that impact on our psychosocial needs are not compromised, and indeed remain in focus.
With rising issues in the mental health area, I strive to ensure that Defence has understanding of what this impact is on the entire family unit, and that families have the appropriate resources to empower them with resiliance to support the challenges they face.
I look forward to representing your needs to the Chief of Defence Force, the Minister for Defence Personnel, the Government and Department of Defence. You can contact me by clicking here
National Communications Officer
Amita Tandukar
I am passionate about providing genuinely useful information to Defence Families and am proud to be DFA National Communications Officer during an exciting period of change.
As part of an Army family for almost 10 years, I’ve experienced overseas deployments, living interstate from my partner and several relocations. Most recently, the family has been given a crash course in child development by our two year old daughter. I currently assist the running of a not-for-profit playgroup centre in Canberra and a support network for business mums, which attracts many Defence partners.
My past role as a journalist focused on leadership and people management. Through this work I analysed human resources and family-friendly policies at the country’s top performing government and business organisations. I look forward to working with delegates, executive staff and Defence representatives to further improve Defence policy and communicate changes promptly to Defence Families.
National Policy Officer
Annaliese McCammon
My husband David and I live in Canberra with our two sons. I have been an army spouse for 7 years and this has been our 4th move in the last 4 years.
I am delighted to be involved with the dynamic team of DFA and being able to assist in creating change in areas that are important to Defence families throughout Australia.
I look forward to your correspondence regarding any issues and concerns you have, so that I can keep up to date, raise these topics for discussion on your behalf and help to provide assistance, advocacy and information to Defence families.
National Delegate for the ACT and Southern NSW
Keron Wise
A few years ago living in Sydney, I met a good looking man in uniform and realised we were from the same hometown in Queensland but had never met. Any hesitations I had about dating a Navy man must have been assured as 14 years later, 2 beautiful children, 5 moves, 1 amazing overseas posting and the rest is history.
We are currently posted to Canberra and it was as I was trying to settle into life here, I learnt about DFA and the valuable support it provides to defence families. When the position of delegate became open I had no hesitation to volunteer for the role.
I am proud to be your delegate and excited to accept the challenge to continue the great work that has been done by DFA. My region is all the ACT, Nowra, Jervis Bay to Albury Wodonga and out to Wagga Wagga. I look forward to meeting with everyone as I go around my region and to hearing your stories and your valuable feedback.
National Delegate for Central and Northern NSW
Julie Dryden
I have been a Defence spouse for 14 years and my husband Steve has been in the Navy 22 years. We have a young son who has just had his first day at school, after preschool and childcare.
We live in Sydney and have undergone several removals over the years. We have often endured long separations and the associated challenges and opportunities that it brings. The impacts of defence life is different for each member of the family.
DFA provides a wonderful avenue for issues that affect Defence families to be raised, represented and addressed. I look forward to meeting you and being able to represent you and assist you with any comments, issues or concerns you may have.
National Delegate for Victoria and Tasmania
Kym McKay
Hi, my name is Kym McKay. My husband Phil and I have been married for 7 years and we have a wonderful little boy who is two and a half….need I say more! Phil has been in the Army for 16 years and we are currently living in Puckapunyal. As a spouse married to a Defence Member I am constantly trying to juggle all of the normal things in life that come with being a working mum and wife, along with the challenging aspects of my husband’s work commitments.
DFA is an organisation that’s primary focus is on improving the lives of Defence families and I am proud to be associated with it and also appreciative of all the benefits that we now all take for granted. The future of my son and family is something I feel passionate about and I believe that working with DFA is a way of pursuing positive change for not only my life and the lives of Defence families I know, but for all Defence families. So please, provide your feedback and ideas to DFA. We can all work together to improve the lives of our families.
The Vic/Tas region incorporates RAAF Williams, Fort Queenscliff, Puckapunyal, Simpson Barracks, Macleod, Victoria Barracks Melbourne, RAAF Base East Sale, HMAS Cerberus, Patterson Barracks, Launceston Anglesea Barracks, Hobart Derwent Barracks, Dowsing Point.
National Delegate for Western Australia
Debbie Yates
I have been with my husband, Scott, since high school and when he left Perth to join the Air Force and attend ADFA 17 years ago, I decided to follow him to Canberra and thus begin my life as a Defence spouse.
We have had the opportunity to enjoy two separate postings to Canberra, almost eight years in Adelaide and an amazing 18 months posting to Washington DC, before finally securing a posting to our home town of Perth in December. We have three lovely children, Alyssa (5), who has just started school, Charlotte (2) and Jake (our new baby - born late January this year). Our family, along with my own career and business and a penchant for volunteering keeps our household very busy.
I have really enjoyed all of our postings and have experienced many of the ups and downs that come with being a Defence spouse and part of a Defence family. I think the role that DFA performs is very important and am enjoying being part of the organisation. I look forward to being actively involved in the WA Defence community during my time as National Delegate and please get in touch if I can be of any assistance at all.
National Delegate for South Australia
Jacqui Bennett
I have been married to a RAAFie forever. We have five children – all boys – ranging from 16 years to 20 months. I have over 20 years experience in Customer Service and feel that I have much to offer both DFA and the wider Defence Family community. I have worked in superannuation, been a property manager for over 300 properties, worked in the building industry and suffered through many long-term absences.
We have lived in Adelaide for the past 3 years. We have absolutely no family living near us, nor did we have anyone that we even remotely knew when we arrived. This in itself is very daunting, as you have to rely on each other so much during that initial time of relocation. It’s only when the member returns to work that it really hits you, you are totally on your own in a strange place. This is where DFA provides an avenue for information and direction which has been developed over many years with many real life experiences shaping what we can offer today.
DFA has been a fantastic avenue for me in being able to find out where I can go for help and guidance and sometimes even for a chat when things just seem too much. A smiling voice on the end of the phone is sometimes all it takes.
DFA is here to help and support other services provided by Defence such as DCO. I look forward to assisting other Defence Families.
National Delegate for South Queensland
Jillian Macey
Welcome to sunny South East Queensland. My husband Steve and I have beena Defence family for 15 years with the Army and we have 3 lovely children, Bethany-11, Shaun-9 and Erin-8. We are currently living in Ipswich, which has a long RAAF history and, as a result of Army relocating here, will soon become a ‘super base’ with a very diverse range of Defence families.
I believe that whilst we all share challenges such as; postings (we have had 6 up till now), the different school curriculums in each state, and finding new work and friends, everybody has their own unique experiences due to family dynamics and other influences, it is important that everyone have the opportunity to collect and share relevant information that allows us all to improve and enrich our family lives and that’s why by joining an energetic team such as DFA, I hope to be able to offer support, provide assistance and raise issues for discussion on your behalf.
Please feel free to drop me an email or give me a call, so that we can help make a difference, not just for your and my families, but for all Defence families.
National Delegate for North Queensland
Dannii Khan
My warmest greeting to all in tropical Queensland. My name is Dannii Khan; I am your new National Delegate for North Queensland.
I posted to Townsville at the beginning of the year, after 2 years in Wagga Wagga NSW, with 2 postings prior to that since getting married 4 years ago.
By meeting monthly with such representatives as the local Defence Relocations and Housing Manager, DHA, DCO, Toll, Commanding Officers and local Community Groups I hope to alleviate many issues affecting the defence community in northern Qld.
I come to you from a vast military back ground. I am very proud of my father who served 34 years and is a Vietnam Veteran. I served for 6 years in the Army Reserves mostly on fulltime duty and then became an Army wife to my wonderful husband. Now all that is left is to be an Army mum, but that may be a few years away with my 10 year old and almost 3 year old.
I do hope that with my background, everyone’s thoughts and ideas we can feed lots of poignant information directly back to Defence and the Government.
National Delegate for the Northern Territory and Kimberley
Marion Donohue
My name is Marion Donohue and I was introduced to the Defence Force 12 years ago when I met my husband Craig, who was a Captain with the 25th / 49th Battalion at Enoggera. Never having had any exposure to the Defence Force or Defence Members, my journey began from scratch. Twelve years on, three beautiful healthy children, six postings, numerous deployments, many life long friends, frustration, isolation and life changing experiences, here I am representing the NT and Kimberley region as a voice for Defence Families.
Prior to returning to Darwin at the start of this year, my family and I spent the last three years in Canberra. While Craig was posted to Army HQ I renewed my own career after a break of five years as a full time mum. The challenges of working, studying, raising my family and being pregnant highlighted to me just some of the issues facing modern Defence Families. Knowing many Defence Families have to achieve all this, while a loved one is deployed inspired me to volunteer for this important role.
My aim is ensure Defence Families know they have a representative who can advise and support their family with the ability to raise their concerns to the local and national level. I see this opportunity as allowing Defence Families to make the most out of their posting to the Top End.
I would encourage any Defence families to use the support of DFA and contact me if they have any questions or queries about how we can best represent you.
Lateral Recruit Officer
Camilla Kerr-Ruston
Having been married to Stephen and the British Army for almost 16 years a move to Australia was going to be just another move. Well it was and it wasn't, and there were and still are moments of complete culture shock! Once I was here I met more Lateral Transfer Families and they had so much knowledge about intricacies of moving to Australia that I wished I knew about before leaving the UK.
They provided invaluable advice once I was here on everything from 'fly buys" to what to put on jellyfish stings to hanging your darks out at night to dry to prevent fading. I also found out that Laterals Transfer Families have extra limitations placed upon them in regards to jobs, education and citizenship and this is what led me to contact DFA so we could work together in helping lateral recruit families. This resulted in the creation of 'Lateral Recruit Officer' position and I feel very privileged to be given this opportunity not only to assist Lateral Transfer Families but all ADF families.