Relocation

Welcome spirit alive for defence families in Brisbane Catholic Education

John* has moved more times than he can remember. The Year 8 student at Mt Maria College Mitchelton says he has finally found a school community where he feels like he belongs.

“My dad is in the Defence Force and we move around a lot,” said John. “Due to his postings around the COVID-19 pandemic, I have hardly seen him this year. It’s hard but it helps to have people who understand, and support from my teachers and my school’s Defence School Mentor.”

John is part of Mt Maria’s Defence School Mentor program put in place for Defence families. Located close to the Gallipoli Barracks at Enoggera, Mt Maria College provides Defence students and their families a safe environment to learn and thrive.

Sally Lawler, who has been the college’s Defence School Mentor for seven years, works with more than 70 students from Defence and Veteran families.

She supports students right from the start with enrolment transition from interstate or international schools and continues her care, particularly through times of parental absence.

“We are hands-on, right from the get-go,” says Ms Lawler. “It’s crucial we make our families feel welcome right from the start.

“We partner students up with a ‘buddy’ for orientation to ensure they feel supported and connected. We ‘walk along the path’ with students

Sally Lawler, Defence School Mentor, Mt Maria College Mitchelton with Defence students.

and families until they feel ready and comfortable,” she added.

Ms Lawler supports students through the challenges they may face, such as friendship, peer groups, social and emotional wellbeing, and disruptions to learning.

“Essentially, I raise awareness of the unique needs of the defence families due to their military lifestyle. My main aim is to provide unity for Defence and Veteran families to feel connected with other families within our school community. ‘Family Spirit’ is one of our school’s charisms and that’s how we want everyone to feel at Mt Maria – part of a family.”

Ms Lawler, who is from a military family herself, says community-building is essential for Defence families, and the whole school community benefits greatly from the program.

“These students have lived in incredible parts of the world and have had experiences other students haven’t. We try to build on these successes and put these students in leadership roles, and the rewards are two-fold.

“Last year I watched a group of senior students who started the program in 2016 grow into incredible young adults and become mentors to their younger peers. It was a really proud moment to see them excel in their leadership capabilities and shine.

“If we can alleviate the challenges that our families have, where the whole family feels connected, our job as a school is done. Having this program in place helps strengthen our small and caring community at Mt Maria.”

Brisbane Catholic Education schools proudly participate in the Defence School Mentor (DSM) Program and are committed to providing a range of services and support assisting children of Australian Defence Force (ADF) families make the smooth transition to a new Catholic school, form friendships and feel connected.

Brisbane Catholic Education (BCE) schools from Ipswich to Mitchelton work closely with both the RAAF Base at Amberley, and the Australian Army Barracks at Enoggera, to provide care for Defence families moving to Queensland. Currently, nine BCE schools have a Defence School Mentor role to support and assist many Defence families successfully transition into their respective school communities.

For more information about enrolling at Brisbane Catholic Education schools, or to find a school near you, visit www.bne.catholic.edu.au. *name has been changed.

Relocating

At this time of year, many ADF members and their families will be relocating. This means many additional tasks to fit into an already busy time of year. Making a ‘To-do’ list can help you plan what needs to be done and keep track of your progress. Here are some tips to make the move a bit smoother.

Entitlements

The first step to a successful move is to know what your entitlements are. The Toll Defence Relocation Guide and the DHA Tenant Handbook will help you navigate this process and alert you to helpful services like fast disconnection and reconnection services for your utilities.

Reconnaissance

You, or your spouse, may be entitled to a house hunting trip to visit the new posting location to find a Service residence or home for which rent allowance is payable. An advance visit also gives you a chance to check out schools, recreation and other local facilities. Be aware that if, after receiving a house hunting allowance, you reject a reasonable offer of service residence or rented home, you must repay any money received for the house-hunting trip.

Moving out costs

Defence will cover the cost of packing and moving your household contents and larger items like motor vehicles. Running down things like food, cleaning products and toiletries means you’ll have less to move and less wastage. Any money you save could be put towards restocking at the other end. The property you’re leaving, including gardens and other outdoor areas, must be left clean and in an acceptable condition. It’s up to you whether you do this yourself or pay someone to help you. If the DHA property has carpet, you will be charged for carpet cleaning after you move out. You may also be charged for things like repainting and garden maintenance for issues not considered fair wear and tear. If you disagree with an assessment DHA has a complaints resolution process, see the DHA Tenant Handbook for details.

Moving in costs

The cost of living in your new location may be higher or lower than your current location, especially if you are moving between a capital city and a regional area, in or out of Darwin or other remote area. If you are moving into somewhere particularly hot or cold, consider the impact cooling or heating will have on your utility costs. Now might be a good time to reassess your current budget and make adjustments so that you are better prepared financially for the move. If you’ve had items in storage that are moving with you, chances are they’ll need a good clean. Furniture like lounges or mattresses may benefit from a professional clean. Houses come in different sizes and layouts so you may need to buy new furniture to better fit the space. Consider selling what you don’t need and using the money to purchase items you do need. Restocking your pantry, cleaning supplies and other things will increase your costs initially, however a larder allowance is available to help with these costs.

Family

Arriving in a new location means finding new healthcare providers. If you have private health insurance your insurer may have lists of appropriate providers in the new area. If you have children with special needs or health conditions, talk to the new school to make sure care or health plans are in place. If you’re travelling with your family, you’ll need to factor in additional costs of food while you’re on the road. You’ll receive an allowance, but staying within that allowance can be hard if you haven’t planned ahead. Also consider the cost of posting Christmas presents to family and friends. It may be more cost effective to shop online and have items delivered directly.

Pets

If you have pets, find out the registration requirements in the state you’re moving to. Be aware of any additional costs you may incur above your entitlement for things like extra kennelling or quarantine. Be aware also of state restrictions on pet ownership, e.g. some suburbs have cat containment areas and rabbits are not allowed as pets in Queensland.

Cars

If you move states and take motor vehicles with you, you’ll need to register them in the new state. In some states this will require a roadworthy certificate. If you are driving an older vehicle it may actually be cheaper to sell your current vehicle and buy another one when you reach your destination. Research your options before making any decisions.

Insurance

You’ll need to notify your car and home contents insurer(s) that the location of your insured possessions has changed. Your insurance premium may go up or down as a result of the move. If it goes up you will have to pay extra. If your premium goes down, you should get a refund.

Connect

Defence Families Australia is a community of people who understand, and have experience, of what Defence families go through. Connect with other families in your new posting location to share your experiences and get tips from others to make resettling a little easier on you and your family. Good luck with the move!

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Coping with military life

The Australian Defence Force has special requirements that are accepted by ADF members as conditions of service, but families are also directly affected by the challenges of military lifestyle and increased deployment commitments. Defence knows these military commitments sometimes impact as much on the family as they do on the serving member. Some of these expectations include: • Conforming to a regulated lifestyle • Being physically and medically fit • Adhering to the military structure • Being trained and qualified for the job • Being ready to serve anywhere, anytime • Abiding by military law and regulations Separation and relocation are key features of a military lifestyle. Defence knows that members perform at their best when they are confident that life at home will run smoothly while they are away. The best way to achieve this is by planning ahead about family requirements during separations and relocations, and having access to appropriate support services. Family readiness is just as important for single members. Informing and involving parents, siblings, friends and other people who are important to you when preparing for relocations, separations and the unique demands of military service, are critical to sustaining these relationships. Without the emotional and practical support of their families, ADF members simply could not do the job they are required to do. An ADF member has to be confident that their family is healthy and happy before they can wholeheartedly commit to doing their job well. A series of group programs that help Defence families manage stressful situations such as deployment, parental absence from home, and moving house have been developed. FamilySMART is a series of group programs designed to help the partners of ADF members identify and build on their strengths, learn techniques to cope with the stressors and challenges of the military lifestyle, and become more resilient, self-reliant and proactive. The programs target challenging aspects of Defence life such as deployment, relocations, partner absence from home, or reuniting with a partner who is returning after a long time away. TeenSMART workshops are for Defence teenagers to help them manage issues arising from deployment and relocation. During the workshops, Defence teenagers can meet and share their stories about being part of a military family. They can also learn some ideas and tactics to help them stay connected to their parents while they are away on deployment, and meet new friends when they move to a new posting location. The workshop will also cover other things, like managing change and coping when feeling stressed out. There will be some tips and hints for handling emotions, and some great relaxation techniques, too. KidSMART comprises a set of fourweek programs for primary aged kids to help them manage issues arising from posting, relocation and deployment. The KidSMART mascots, Tyler Turtle and Sam Super, will help kids learn how to manage change, stay connected with friends and meet new people. The workshops will also cover other things, like helping children to cope when feeling stressed or anxious, particularly during times of parental absence and deployment. Kids can learn some techniques for handling emotions and relaxation, too. Sessions are once a week for 1 to 1.5 hours per session and all children receive a story book to take home. Contact the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608 for more information or to sign up for a program.

Defence’s in-school Aides and Mentors are positioned in schools across Australia to provide support to the children of mobile Defence families. Aides are positioned in primary schools and Mentors in secondary schools. Aides and Mentors are funded by Defence but are employed by the local state or territory department of education. The Aides and Mentors’ activities include: • Assisting children and families to integrate into the new school and local community. • Coordinating welcome and farewell community activities for relocating families. • Smoothing the transition between schools and different education systems (including minimising the impact of relocation on children’s learning outcomes). • Monitoring the social, emotional and academic wellbeing of Defence students. • Helping students develop selfconfidence, self-reliance and resilience • Directing students to programs, services or opportunities that suit their needs. • Enhancing awareness and appreciation of the unique Defence lifestyle in schools and communities • Providing support to children during times of parental absence. The Aides and Mentors can provide extensive support to Defence children but are not teachers and do not work with one child on a long-term basis. To find out which schools have inschool Aides or Mentors in place, visit the DCO website at www.defenc4e. gov.au/dco or contact the all-hours Helpline on 1800 624 608.

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Overcoming the challenges of frequent relocation

Australian Defence Force (ADF) families often have to relocate every few years, which can be both an exciting and a daunting prospect – some big decisions need to be made, the most important one being where you’re going to live. Children’s education, distance to work for both the member and spouse/partner, home insurance and lifestyle preferences are all factors to be considered.

RAAF partner for more than 20 years, Michelle Hoare believes that Defence families need to be well informed and should try to plan their move. ‘Our first move was a bit of a blur for me,’ she says. ‘Luckily my husband grew up in a military family and knew how to manage it all. Once we had children, it added more complexity than when we moved as a couple.’ Planning and being organised weeks prior to moving decreases the anxiety associated with the many deadlines looming. Michelle suggests starting to run your fridge and pantry down to avoid wasting food in the final packing at the end.

‘The less you have to move, the less you have to unpack. We have a bit of a rule that if you haven’t used it in the last posting it’s time to let it go. ‘The hardest moves for us were when our daughters were younger. Long travelling days often create very tired children. And adults. Ensuring everyone remained well fed was key to happy children in unfamiliar surroundings. I’d collect small toys and card games to provide the girls with entertainment on short notice.’

ADF partners face a number of challenges balancing their careers with the demands of military life. A recent survey of ADF families reported 58% of civilian partners found it difficult to re-establish their own employment following relocation. ‘With frequent relocations, sometimes the resume of an ADF partner can be lengthy and varied. I think it’s good to consider the transferable skills gained from managing relocations. Skills such as versatility, resourcefulness and adaptability make ADF partners effective project managers. These types of skills are invaluable to a potential employer.’ Over the years, Michelle has learnt the art of balancing career with the demands of frequent relocation. ‘I managed to secure a job in Sale, Victoria and then we were reposted to Canberra. Assuming my employer would decline my request, I asked to work remotely. But she agreed and we trialled working remotely for three months. It pays to think outside the box because I ended up working for that organisation from Canberra, Townsville and Canberra again for eight years.’

So what is the easiest part of the move?

‘Updating our insurance policies’, says Michelle. ‘Before we discovered DSH Insurance, we were with a few other providers over the years. After a discussion with my father-in-law (who is a Vietnam veteran), we discovered that DSH Insurance was also available to us. It’s now a lot easier just to change our address with the same organisation each time we move.

Moving home?

Getting your home and contents insurance sorted can be stressful – DSH Insurance is here to assist dsh@dva.gov.au | 1300 552 662.

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Providing a simpler posting experience

PostingConnect is an on-line platform designed by Defence to streamline the posting process for ADF members and their families.

It is available for eligible ADF members and families to assist them with their domestic postings. It connects to a range of other posting services, including Toll and Defence Housing Australia (DHA), and allows families to manage all their posting requirements from a central location. After going through several rounds of testing and feedback, the PostingConnect platform has been improved and new features added to better serve members and their families. Following a pilot of the platform with a small group of posting members, it’s now being progressively rolled out to Defence members undertaking postings. Serving member Alex Vella was involved in the initial pilot and feedback sessions. “Since I have only been posted a couple of times, it’s all a bit daunting trying to figure out what to do and who to contact,” said Alex. “PostingConnect is a user-friendly system that will make the posting process more efficient—it’s definitely made it easier for me. It provides a checklist and allows me to tick tasks off and make sure that I’m not missing anything along the way.” Having seen the platform evolve through its multiple iterations, Alex acknowledged the numerous improvements that had been made. “The new tasks and information is great, especially for families and partners who may not understand the process or language used within Defence.” The refinement of the platform and the introduction of new features were also noticed by other participants who provided valuable feedback. “I can see the changes made based on all the feedback I originally gave, which is great,” said Alex. PostingConnect is being progressively released to posting members. Eligible members will receive an email on the Defence intranet inviting them to use the online platform for their posting, shortly after their posting order is issued. ext.defence.gov.au/ postingconnect