Note: Post updated 12 December 2023
Thank you to Defence Member and Family Support for contributing this article.
Even the most resilient of children can find the Defence lifestyle tricky at times. Postings, parental absence, new schools and towns mean Defence children gain unique skillsets at an early age, while navigating the other challenges of growing up.
For Defence families with children, Defence offers the support services and programs outlined below.
If you need further assistance or to find out more about the programs offered, contact the Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) Helpline on 1800 624 608.
| Wellbeing and resilience building programs for children | Education | Additional resources and support | |
| Children aged 0-5 | If you are looking for a playgroup, parents group or social activities suitable for young children, Defence funds community groups around Australia providing opportunities for parent-led creative and social play for children aged 0-5. If you are looking for opportunities for your children to connect with other children in the Defence community, DMFS holds events for Defence families such as welcome events, craft sessions, picnics or seasonal activities (Easter egg hunts, Halloween and Christmas parties). If your children require General Practitioner appointments, vaccinations or specialist medical services, the ADF Family Health Program will reimburse Defence families for some medical services to lessen out-of-pocket expenses. | If you have recently posted to a new location and are looking for childcare, ADF families can receive priority access to childcare and early childhood education, comprising of 16 long day care and three out of school hours centres operated by One Tree Community Services nationally. DMFS also provide an individual case management (ICM) service for childcare placement to support ADF families when they move to a new area or change their work or care arrangements. | If you are looking for resources to support family resilience, the Child and Family Resilience Programs are a series of research-based early childhood and school-aged resources, and personalised programs for children from Defence (military), veteran, first responder and remote worker (FIFO & DIDO) families. The online platform includes e-books, activity books and interactive modules for parents, educators and children. All eBooks, interactive eBooks, downloadable (printable) versions of the book, and teaching materials are free. You can learn more and access the program here – https://ecdefenceprograms.com If you are looking for a cute, small item to support your child during parental absence, DMFS have Navy, Army and Air Force plush teddy bears for young children. If your child has special needs, practical assistance is available. |
| Children aged 5-12 | If you are looking for ways to increase your child’s resilience, the ADF Equip Program delivers tailor-made sessions to support resilience and wellbeing of children experiencing the effects of parental absence and frequent relocations. To access the program, please submit an Expression of Interest form here. If you are looking for activities for primary aged children, Defence funds community groups around Australia where you can attend various activities for children. If you are looking for ways to connect with others, DMFS holds events suitable for children, such as welcome events, craft sessions, picnics or seasonal activities. If your child needs a General Practitioner appointment, vaccinations or specialist medical services, the ADF Family Health Program will reimburse Defence families for some medical services to lessen the out-of-pocket expenses. | If your child is changing schools, Defence School Mentors (DSMs) can assist Defence children and their families when integrating into the school community. Mentors provide on-site, direct and flexible assistance to students, parents, teachers and other support services. A list of schools with DSMs funded by DMFS is available on the Defence website. If your child is in primary school, DMFS Education Liaison Officers (EDLOs) can inform you about local schools and education systems. EDLOs link families with education providers, resources or support agencies according to their children’s individual needs (including students with special needs) and work with schools to ensure a supportive educational environment. EDLOs can also provide information about Defence support services including financial assistance entitlements available under the Education Assistance Scheme. If you would like the teachers at your child’s school to better understand the challenges faced by ADF children, teachers can complete a short ADF Aware Program. | If you are looking for items to help your child find relatable content around Defence family experiences, DMFS’s book series, featuring Sapper Pat and Pepper Penguin help children understand the military lifestyle and develop coping strategies for parental absence. Children can follow the adventures of Sapper Pat and Able Seaman Pepper Penguin as they travel the world. The books give young children an easy-to-understand picture of life in the military, and what their parent might be experiencing while they are away from the family on deployments or postings. If your child is moving between schools, the School Posting Passport is available for children. The Passport captures and scrapbooks your child’s experiences, achievements, friends and memories from each school and takes them on to the next. If you are looking for resources to support family resilience, the Child and Family Resilience Programs are a series of research-based early childhood and school-aged resources and personalised programs for children from Defence (military), veteran, first responder and remote worker (FIFO & DIDO) families. If your child has managed a recent relocation, spent time without their ADF member, shown resilience or faced a difficult family situation, DMFS offers the opportunity for children’s sacrifices and efforts to be formally acknowledged via the Child of the ADF Medallion program. Children can be nominated to receive an award when an event is on in their region. Sign up to the Newsletter to find this event in your area, or call 1800 624 608. If your child has special needs, practical assistance is available. |
| Children aged 13-18 | If your child is experiencing parental absence and frequent relocations, The ADF Equip Program delivers tailor-made sessions to support resilience and wellbeing of teenagers experiencing the effects of parental absence and frequent relocations. If your teenager would like to form peer networks within the Defence community, DMFS holds events for Defence families throughout the year, suitable for teenagers. Defence further has community groups around Australia who provide various social activities for teenagers. If your teenager requires General Practitioner appointments, vaccinations and specialist medical services the ADF Family Health Program will reimburse Defence families for some medical services to lessen the out-of-pocket expenses. | If your child is in high school, DMFS Education Liaison Officers (EDLOs) can inform families about local schools and education systems. EDLOs link families with education providers, resources or support agencies according to their children’s individual needs (including students with special needs) and work with schools to ensure a supportive educational environment. EDLOs can also provide information about Defence support services including financial assistance entitlements available under the Education Assistance Scheme. | The Family Support Funding Program (FSFP) provides grants to not-for-profit organisations to deliver programs targeted at Defence teenagers and children across Australia. |
For more information on the supports and programs outlined above, and to order resources, go to the DMFS website or call 1800 624 608.