Author: defencefamiliesaustralia278598976
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Support Available for Anyone Impacted by Ongoing OSI Investigation
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs has put out the following statement for those who may be affected. Some members of the veteran and Defence community may be concerned by the ongoing investigation by the Australian Federal Police and the Office of the Special Investigator, which was set up in the wake of the Inspector-General of…
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Defence family navigates unfamiliar waters together
In her 14 years as a Defence partner, Alyssa has seen her shares of ups and downs with her sailor, Ben. But like the tides which take him in from and out to sea, the Nowra-based family of five know the uncomfortable moments are part of the ebb and flow. One of those moments was…
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Life is sweet for Townsville Defence family
On their first posting away from their families, new parents Danielle and Adam were a little nervous about how life would play out. With their daughter Lilly, respective careers, three pugs and new town to navigate, it looked like things would be busy. But months into their posting, the Defence family have settled comfortably into…
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Defence housing rights and responsibilities
It is essential to know your rights and responsibilities to make setting up your home – or packing up for your next posting – as painless as possible.
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Defence family focuses on abilities
High school sweethearts Ruth and Dane did not anticipate the curveballs life would throw at them when Dane joined the Army in 2004. Since that time, they have welcomed two children, James and Jarrod. James has a physical disability and is autistic, and Ruth has a disability herself. Combined with Dane’s deployments, courses, living apart as…
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Defence families advisory body launches three-year Strategic Plan
Defence Families of Australia (DFA), the national advisory body for families of current serving ADF members, has published its 2022-2024 Strategic Plan to guide its advocacy work and improve transparency. DFA began its organisational transformation process in 2021 with the appointment of Sandi Laaksonen-Sherrin as the first Defence Family Advocate of Australia, highlighting the growing…
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Defence family life ‘is what you make of it’
A sunny outlook on life, a spirit for adventure and the support of their tight-knit family has made their time as a Defence family a positive one for Natalie and Eric. Despite the challenges which come with being a Defence family, Eric’s Australian Army journey has overall been “a happy experience”. The South African born…
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The Dual Deficit for Defence Family Engagement
This thought paper has been developed by the Defence Families of Australia (DFA) team as a culmination of engagement with over 10,000 families and stakeholders each year. Family feedback on their experiences, perspectives and feelings towards service providers is critical to shaping services that work for the Defence community. The paper also draws on a…
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Recognising the strength and sacrifice of families this Remembrance Day
Families attending commemoration events this Remembrance Day are encouraged to lay a small teddy bear beside their wreath to acknowledge the families of veterans and current serving Australian Defence Force members. Defence Families of Australia (DFA) and Legacy Australia, with the support of RSL Australia, have joined forces on the #RememBEARance campaign to acknowledge and…
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Toddlers, tweens and teens: How to help your kids navigate Defence life
Thank you to Defence Member and Family Support for contributing this article. Life as a Defence family can be challenging – including for the kids! Even the most resilient of children can find the Defence lifestyle tricky at times. Defence offer a range of supports for all members of your family to build resilience through…