The current serving Defence community will benefit from enhanced security of data and information as Defence Families of Australia (DFA) moves its existing ICT systems under the protection of the Defence network.

These changes will occur in stages over the next three months.

This approach will enable DFA to work more effectively and collaboratively with our Defence stakeholders through shared programs, information management systems, and online learning platforms.

After exploring several options, this approach has been identified as the most secure. 

This change will have three key benefits for the DFA team and the families we advocate for:

• Improved data security and information storage.
• Access to fit-for-purpose software will reduce the administrative burden currently placed on the team to maintain manual records.
• Improved reporting will better capture and present data from DFA engagements, and garner insights and themes from the Defence community to support our advocacy work.

At present, DFA uses an external data and information management system.

Under these changes, information collected by DFA will only be accessible by DFA appointees. This level of confidentiality will also apply to historical data. 

DFA will do our best to minimise impacts to families during the transition to Defence’s ICT systems.

The DFA team’s email addresses will be updated to reflect this change at the start of 2025.