The Defence Family Career Comeback Course was a new initiative in 2022 to support Defence and veteran family members realise their full career potential following time away from the workforce or their preferred career path. See the report here.

Helen Austin’s new book, Like Shadows in the Corner, is now available in print form due to popular demand.

The book explores how wives coped while their soldier was fighting the war in Vietnam. Wives were invisible to the Armed Services and the community during this time and Helen’s book demonstrates these wives’ courage, tenacity and unending ability to manage under enormous pressure while they raised their children alone and went to work, waking up each morning not knowing if their husband would make it through his day. These women are strong and resilient.

DVA has commissioned the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) to conduct new research exploring relationship education and its suitability for current and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their partners.

The research will explore how relationship education programs could best meet the needs of military and veteran couples, and assist them to navigate the military lifestyle and transition to civilian life.

AIFS will be conducting focus groups with current and ex-serving ADF members and/or their partners (including former partners), to gain insight into how best to strengthen and protect military and veteran couples’ relationships, and the factors to consider in designing preventative programs for this cohort.

Participation in the focus groups will be voluntary. AIFS will not provide information to DVA, Defence or any other agency about who has or has not attended. As far as is possible within a group setting, anonymity and confidentiality will be maintained.

Focus groups will start in March 2023. If you are interested in being part of a focus group, please contact the Defence and Veteran Research Team at the AIFS: sdvcr@aifs.gov.au.

 APOD has provided businesses of all sizes with a way to recognise the service and sacrifice of Australian military families by delivering exclusive benefits on a secure, closed member website.

Check out the benefits you can gain by becoming an APOD member here.