Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2004/Looking after families
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Let's take a look at the DFA organisation
By Caragh Waller, National Convenor DFA WHO ARE WE AND WHAT DO WE DO? Defence Families of Australia - formerly NCGSF - was formed in 1986. Since then we have been your official representatives and have worked energetically and voluntarily to improve conditions for all ADF families.
OUR AIMOur aim is simple. DFA is here to improve the quality of life for ADF families by providing a recognised forum for your views. We are families working for and with other Defence families to make a real difference.
These are some of the issues we are working on at the moment:
Remote Localities A significant percentage of Defence families will spend time in a regional or remote locality. Defence is reviewing the way allowances to members serving in remote communities are calculated and delivered.
DFA has visited many remote communities to try to learn direct from the families involved what the issues are and how Defence could better meet their needs.
Have you ever lived in a remote community? Where there any problems that you felt weren't addressed adequately? Do you have any ideas on how to solve them? Please let your local delegate know.
Child Care While everyone recognises that this is a big issue for Defence families, how to resolve it is a bigger one.
A paper is being prepared for consideration by a senior Defence Committee in May on childcare and the extent to which Defence should be involved.
Mobility has impacts on the whole family, and access to appropriate childcare in a reasonable time frame after arriving at your gaining location is increasingly a major mobility issue.
With many partners earning equal to or more than the serving member, it would seem logical to assume that the numbers planning to resume or continue employment is set to increase.
DFA argues that, in areas where the local community is unable to meet the need, some arrangements must be in place to enable the partner, not just the serving member to return to the workforce. The halving of a family income every move is hard enough, but the unknown factor is how long that will remain the case when families regularly wait over one year for childcare spots.
CEILING FANS IN DHA HOMES After several serious incidents where children were injured by ceiling fans in rooms with bunk beds, DFA advocated on behalf of families that Defence pay for the removal of ceiling fans in children's bedrooms, where children were required to share under the GRS.
DFA also sought that the fitting of a guarded oscillating corner fan, to replace the ceiling fan in the bedroom, be paid for by Defence.Both were approved by Defence in December 2003.
Please note that the policy will only cover those families who genuinely have to accommodate two children in the one room.
National DFA Delegates
Call them to register your interest or make a comment:
North Queensland - Debbie Holland (07) 4725 1459
South Queensland - Kylie Hutchins (07) 3869 1120
Central/Northern NSW - Peta Renwick (02) 9771 0910
Victoria/Tas - Ruth Tindale (03) 9974 2080
South Australia - Kathyrn Lewis (08) 8359 4110
Northern Territory - Sue Donnelly (08) 8981 1464
Western Australia - Kate Mathews (08) 9385 6181
ACT/Sthn NSW - Robyn Ritchie (02) 6255 5563
More Information
If you require any further information about DFA and the work we are doing nationally please contact our National Convenor, Caragh Waller on 1800 100 509, email: caragh.waller@defence.gov.au, or on www.defence.gov.au/dpe/dfa
