Feature on Defence

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DEFENCE FAMILY

If a culture is defined by possessing distinctive knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, language, customs, and capabilities, then Defence families can be described as a cultural group. At first glance, however, they are not easily recognisable. You cannot recognise a Defence family or Defence child purely by appearance. There are, however, some distinctive experiences and lifestyle challenges that create this unique culture.

Defence families are a strong unit; they move, they change, they are presented opportunities to experience new things, they are flexible, and they are resilient. They can also be lonely, without a home, and continually wondering what will be next.

Constant comings and goings of parents causing family disruptions coupled with long deployments can all increase family stress and feelings of isolation. On return, parents and children can face heightened anxiety created by reunion and reintegration.

Student mobility can be concerning and can contribute to difficulties in school engagement and lower achievement. Some children may experience interruptions in their academics each time they move for a posting. Frequent moves, long periods of separation, isolation from extended family support networks, and deployments affect education, health, and wellbeing. Therefore, having positive supports to help students develop resilience and coping strategies for mobility and parental absences plays an immense and integral role in childrens’ development.

Educators who have strong relationships with students or constantly communicate with the family are more likely to identify times of need and may be able to extend extra support during this vulnerable stage. The School values genuine partnerships between families and educators to achieve the best learning outcomes for students and values the efforts and collaborative decision-making.

Enter the Defence School Mentor! School Defence Mentors work with schools to help the staff understand and minimise the impact of mobility on education and to build the capability of the school in supporting Defence students and their families. Defence School Mentors also enhance awareness and appreciation of the unique Defence lifestyle. There is a large Defence family population at CGS, and the School is highly committed to supporting them. Defence School Mentors can also serve as a point of contact for families.

CGS WELCOMES NEW DEFENCE SCHOOL MENTOR

Ms Alison Larwill joined the School in March 2020 as the Defence School Mentor. Defence School Mentors help schools to understand and minimise the impact of mobility on education and to build the capability of the school in supporting Defence students and their families.

THE RIGHT FIT FOR DEFENCE FAMILIES

When Mal and Jo Brick were considering a school for their son Sean, they knew they had to find somewhere that ticked a lot of boxes. As a Defence family, they had more boxes to consider; with Mal in the Army and Jo in the Air Force, they needed to find an institution that would understand the complexities of their home life, as well as allow Sean to flourish in the areas of his choice.

Sean Brick has attended Canberra Grammar School since he was in Year 3; he is now a Senior School student in Year 7, where he’s developed a strong passion for IT. He is looking forward to joining the Code Cadets and, like his parents, he appreciates having everything co-curricular in one place. One of the defining features of CGS is the exceptional number of co-curricular opportunities available on campus. There is no need to sign up for local clubs, as the CGS programmes are world-class. Moreover, CGS has a Defence School Mentor whose sole responsibility is providing support and pastoral care to Defence students and their families.

Dinner time for Sean means conversations littered with acronyms and big words; having both parents in Defence means that his family also has to move frequently, manage deployments, and juggle one or both parents being away at varying times, which can create some challenges.

‘Canberra Grammar School has been incredibly welcoming, and knowing that the School has other Defence kids going through the same thing is comforting. Working in Defence can have its challenges, such as the level of uncertainty around this time of year as you don’t know where you are going to be the following year,’ said Colonel Mal Brick, ‘but CGS has everything we need as parents and Sean desires as a student. We couldn’t be happier’. A Defence student may experience frequent moves, long periods of separation from one or both parents, and alienation from extended family support networks – all of which affect the student’s education, health, and wellbeing. The staff who interact with Defence students must remain aware of the changes and challenges in these students’ lives. Such information can help to understand what is happening in a student’s life and allows the School to provide positive support if the student requires it. Mal and Jo have also noticed Sean flourishing during his time thus far at CGS. Sean is a self-proclaimed ‘quirky kid’ and has loved expanding his knowledge in all things IT, from audio-visual features to the promise of programming, coding, and drone flying with the Code Cadets. He has enjoyed making lifelong friends and taking part in new and exciting Co-curricular activities.

Apart from creating amazing Co-curricular opportunities, CGS also offers a terrific boarding programme, and its facilities are of incredible interest to the Brick family.

‘If we were posted overseas, Sean could move seamlessly into boarding and continue his studies during our time away – it’s a terrific benefit’ said Group Captain Jo Brick.

This peace of mind is just another benefit CGS offers the Brick family, who were immediately impressed when the first attending a CGS Open Day five years ago.

‘We were immediately impressed by the students who took us for the tour around the beautiful CGS campus. Their level of leadership and the feeling of community and care we experienced was something that stood out to us and made us certain of our decision that CGS is the right place for

Sean’ said Jo. Parents can also contact the Defence School Mentor to discuss a student’s transition into the School or to obtain information if they are relocating.

The wellbeing and education of students is our utmost priority, and with the help of the Defence School Mentor, Defence students have the additional support they need to succeed.