Defence Member and Family Support

Defence Family Matters Autumn/Winter issue is out now

The latest issue of Defence Family Matters is available. The magazine for ADF members and their families features real stories about real families and how they manage the challenges and opportunities created by military life.

In our cover story, Paula shares the story of her son, and her advocacy for equal health and social care for people with autism and or intellectual disabilities.

In our feature stories Mellissa talks about her experience of home-schooling her 3 young children, while Defence children are celebrated for coping so well while their ADF parent is absent. Gemma shares some of the struggles she’s endured—and triumphed through—as a Defence partner, and we see how a couple works flexibly to care for their 2 young sons.

There is information on maintaining mental wellbeing in difficult times, followed by tips for parents for building your child’s emotional intelligence.

View the online version

Defence Member and Family Helpline

The all-hours Defence Member and Family Helpline is the first port of call for Defence families seeking support, information or connection with their community.

Available 24/7, 365 days a year, it is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists, who can provide assessment, emotional support, crisis intervention services, advice or referral, depending on the member or family’s needs.

Defence Member and Family Support (DMFS) offers a range of programs and services to help Defence members and their families manage the challenges and opportunities of each stage of military life.

Defence COVID-19 testing ACT

For ADF members and families in the ACT. At the direct request of the ACT Government to assist with the overwhelming demand for COVID testing in the ACT, Defence is offering COVID-19 testing to ADF (including SERCAT 3-7), Defence APS, ASD Staff, and their household members (who are immediate family and aged 12 years and over), at the Defence ACT Health Centre (ACTHC), Duntroon Garrison.

This testing follows the same protocols as ACT government testing and reporting, including the normal requirement to isolate following your test until a negative result is received.

There are four reasons you should be getting tested for COVID-19:

• you have been directed by public health authorities, either in a contact tracing interview, or as a result of an extant public health direction/order
• you have COVID-19 symptoms
• surveillance testing as approved by the Surgeon General ADF
• certain travellers prior to undertaking essential Defence business, who have been directed to obtain a test.

Defence must prioritise COVID testing so our people should only present for the above reasons.

Testing will be available Monday – Friday, between 8am and 4pm. Please follow the signs to the testing area at ACT Health Centre Duntroon where you will be able to register your attendance. Follow the directions of staff which may include waiting in your vehicle. We appreciate your patience.

For more information regarding COVID testing, please visit the ACT Health website http://www.covid19.act.gov.au/

CDF message to ADF families

Chief of the Defence Force, General Angus Campbell, has thanked families for their ongoing efforts in supporting the ADF.

Read the letter from General Campbell to ADF families.

ADF partner deploying and not sure what to expect?

Join experienced DMFS experts for our new webinar series 'Deployment: embracing the challenge’. The webinars feature a range of tips, strategies and resources to help partners, parents and kids with a member absent from home, who has recently returned from deployment or are going to deploy soon. It’s also a chance to ask questions.

Follow us on social media, or visit our event calendar below for information about session times, dates and how to get tickets. To see the range of deployment support and resources available, see Deployment and time apart.

Good news for ADF partners looking for employment!

With a difficult employment market and increased numbers of people competing for the available jobs, the eligibility criteria for the Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP) has been changed to support families during COVID-19. Where previously partners who’ve relocated had to apply within two years of moving to a new posting location, you can now apply for up to $1500 for employment services anytime during the posting cycle!

Get all the details and the application form on the Partner employment page. Advice and assistance is always available from the 24/7 Defence Member and Family Helpline on 1800 624 608 or email memberandfamilyhelpline@defence.gov.au.