The transition from military to civilian life is a significant event for both the service member and their family.
This process can impact various aspects of life, including finances, career, education, relationships, housing, and health and well-being. These changes can be both positive and negative.
To learn more about the potential benefits and challenges of transition, head to our blog post: Beyond the Uniform: Navigating the Shift of Family Transition
Whether the transition is due to medical reasons, retirement, or personal decisions related to career, lifestyle, or family, every Australian Defence Force (ADF) family will face this journey at some point. Each transition is unique.
While there is considerable support available for service members during, families often report feeling overlooked during and after transition. This is despite having supported their loved one’s service, sometimes at the cost of their own careers, education, health, and personal relationships.
We have compiled a list of available resources below to assist families with the transition process.
Image: DFA 2022 Family Photography Project
How and When Can Families Access Transition Support?
Some of the ADF’s transition programs are accessible during service, others become available once the decision has been made to transition. You can access these supports for up to 24 months after your family member’s transition date (the date of transfer or separation).
During transition make sure you ask your partner about attending Defence transition meetings with them and make time to attend a Transition Seminar. This will give you insight into the process, support available and opportunities to discuss the changes with your partner.
Resources for Transitioning Families
ADF Member and Family Transition Guide
This Guide is designed to help Defence members make an informed decision about whether they want to transition or remain in the ADF. It also provides key contacts and information to prepare for and undertake the transition process. Section 2 of the Guide provides information for “Families in Transition”.
Transition Coaches – Meet Your New Best Friend
A Transition Coach is assigned to members to help them tailor a Transition Plan to work towards their unique post-transition goals.
Families are encouraged to attend these meetings with the member.
Transition Coaching focuses on seven personal security domains as the key areas that you should consider when looking at your preparedness for transition. These are:
1. Social Connectivity
2. Housing and Accommodation
3. Transport
4. Health
5. Education
6. Employment and Meaningful Engagement
7. Finances.
At the initial Transition Planning Session, the coach will discuss your circumstances, and assess the members’ preparedness for transition and post-transition goals. From there they will work with the member to design a Transition Plan that is specific to them.
Depending on your circumstances, Transition Coaching may cover career development, finding employment or meaningful engagement, helping you understand administrative requirements, accessing specialised supports, family support and social connectedness.
Defence Transition Website
The Transition section of the Defence website provides an overview of the support available including access to the ADF Member and Family Transition Guide, seminars and a section on “Transition Support for Families”.
There is also information on transition on the Pay and Conditions website including housing and moving benefits.
ADF Transition Support Video
The ADF Transition Video provides an overview of transition and is a good place to start.
ADF Member and Family Transition Seminars
ADF Member and Family Transition Seminars are available as both a live one-day event, as well as virtually and in static format. They can be attended at any stage of the member’s career, but are mandatory within 12 months of their transition date.
Transition Seminars help both the member and their family to prepare for the member’s transition into civilian life, and therefore families are encouraged to attend.
Seminars include presentations on various topics such as superannuation, employment, and finances, as well as panels with experts and previously transitioned members and families, and a stallholder area where you can talk to stakeholders including Defence, The Department of Veterans’ Affairs, Ex-service organisation, education providers and employers.
If you can’t attend a live seminar, you can access the virtual ‘static environment’ which is available 24/7.
Just like the live seminars, you can watch presentations on superannuation, career, retirement, health, finances and family support – including a “Families in Transition” presentation by DMFS.
You can also view information, videos and documents from stakeholders. These documents can be added to your ‘virtual show bag’ which is pre-loaded with transition information and resources. You can download or email these to yourself for future reference.
ADF families and support people can register their attendance by emailing the Transition Seminar team and including the PMKeyS number of the ADF member they are supporting. Email: transition.seminar@defence.gov.au
ADF Transition Centres
At various times throughout the year ADF Transition Centres run drop-in sessions where members and families can discuss any aspect of transition with a Transition Coach. For further information about the next drop-in session in your area please contact your local Centre.
DMFS
Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) Branch offers a range of programs and services to help Defence families manage the military lifestyle, including transition. DMFS have offices in all states and territories with social workers, education, family, community and military liaison staff to help your family transition to civilian life.
Partner Employment Assistance Program
The PEAP program is administered by Defence Member and Family Support and aims to improve employability of eligible Defence partners through support and funding.
Eligibility applies to partners of members who are transitioning for medical reasons.
Support includes the reimbursement of professional re-registration fees, as well as Job Search Preparation workshops which are of no cost.
PEAP funding also includes up to $1,500 per posting for recognised ADF partners who are/have relocated due to an ADF posting which can be used for employment services including:
📄 development of a personalised resume and/or resume coaching
🤝 employment options and job placement advice
🔍 job search techniques and strategies
💻 development of an online employment profile
☑️ application and selection criteria coaching, and
👩💻 preparation and presentation coaching for interviews
Financial Support
The ADF Financial Services Consumer Centre is Defence’s independent financial education service for members and their families.
They offer a range of educational material and links to trusted sources to assist with financial decisions including superannuation, insurance, and online tools and information for budgeting, savings, investing and more.
Here’s a great article specifically on transition to get you started: https://adfconsumer.gov.au/transition/
For those who need it, Defence provides a financial contribution to members for professional financial advice to assist them with financial decisions.
Members can access up to $1,000 towards financial advisor fees. A list of Fee for Service financial advisors can be found on the ADF Financial Services Consumer Centre website.
The financial advice contribution remains accessible for up to 24 months post transition.
Bravery Trust
Bravery Trust is a national military charity which provides current and ex-serving members of the Australian Defence Force with financial aid, financial education and financial counselling.
They aim to reduce and avoid the trauma of hardship for veterans and their families by providing:
financial support in times of crisis
veteran-specific financial counselling
preventative financial literacy programs
Carers Australia Defence and Veteran Carers Network
The Carers Australia Defence and Veteran Carers Network provides access to resources and funding for veteran carers and their families.
Carers Australia recognises the vital role that carers play in supporting Defence members, as well as the Australian Defence Force (ADF) members who provide unpaid care.
Following the findings of the 2019 ADF Families Survey, the Department of Defence’s Family Support Funding Program funded Carers Australia to provide information and support to current and former ADF members and their families, where the current or ex-serving member is a carer, is being cared for, or has been impacted by the caring role.
The aim of the hub is to connect individuals, families and communities to support and resources, and provide an advocacy platform for this unique group of carers.
Transition Employment Portal
The Transition Employment Portal (TEP) connects veterans and their families with employers who value the unique skills they bring.
Created by RSL WA in collaboration with Working Spirit LTD, this free resource includes assistance for partners and children aged 15+ to assist with finding employment opportunities tailored to your skills and experiences.
Buddy Up Australia
Buddy Up Australia offers free or subsidised fitness events, social activities, volunteering opportunities and expedition style events for current and ex-serving personnel and their families.
Australian Kookaburra Kids Foundation
The Kookaburra Kids Foundation delivers a Defence Kids Program across Australia for young people aged 8-18.
The program includes camps, activity days and age-appropriate mental health education focusing on coping skills and resilience, while allowing children to bond with peers who are facing similar challenges.
Ongoing Service
For many members transition is not just about changing careers, it is also changing a way of life. The strong sense of commitment, purpose and belonging that comes from life in the ADF can be greatly missed when beginning a new life.
Transition doesn’t have to be the end for contributing to the ADF. In fact, all of our current team who have experienced transition are still tied to Defence in some way. For some that is continuing to serve as a Reservist and for others it is contributing to Defence members’ well-being, which has in turn benefited their own mental health.
We also carry with us the lifelong skills, friendships and experiences that came with being a family member of someone in Defence.
Maintaining your connections to the ADF, through Reserve service or Ex-Service Organisations can also help as you can learn from the experiences of other transitioned ADF members.
We acknowledge that while for most families, transition goes well and is a positive change, for some transition can present challenges. If you or a family member needs wellbeing support at any time during the transition process, you can access support and assistance from:
- Defence All Hours Support Line: 1800 628 036
- Defence Member and Family Helpline: 1800 624 608
- Open Arms: 1800 011 046
*Before you access any benefits, please note there may be fringe benefit tax (FBT) implications. Please refer to the program website and investigate if this may suit your circumstances.