Publication:Sea Talk Winter 2004/On the road again

Making your transition easier

The posting period is no easy time but a new service from Toll Transitions and the Services Workforce Access Program for Partners, should make removals less difficult than previously.

If you moved this posting cycle, a representative of the Toll Transitions company may well have visited you.

A Toll Transitions spokesman said the firm had always attempted to visit members when they were undergoing a removal and this January and February it began a project known as Defence Relocation Partners.

The firm's aim was to attend as many deliveries as possible to help Defence members at that difficult time when they were trying to establish themselves in a new location.

After 10 years in the Australian Army, Jonathan Ryan, Defence Account Manager at Toll Transitions, understands the pressures on Defence families during relocation.

" We really wanted to be present at the delivery as this is where Defence members are often experiencing difficulty, not just in managing the removalist, but with so many issues when trying to get settled in a new location," he said."The last thing people need is additional stress associated with the delivery of their personal possessions."

The Defence Relocation Partners have been present at deliveries to keep an eye on the performance of the removalist and to inform Defence members about the roles of the different parties involved in their removal.

"Having had a number of Defence moves myself, I know there is a learning process. I learnt a little more every time I moved," Mr Ryan said.

"Our aim was to be there with the Defence member or spouse to provide as much information as they need and accelerate that learning curve.

"The Defence Relocation Partner project taped into the Defence spouse employment program, Services Workforce Access Programme for Partners (SWAPP), which is sponsored by DCO.

Karen Lange, DCO SWAPP Project Manager said: "We had really only just begun the scheme and Toll Transitions wanted to be involved to source people for their Defence Relocation Partner Project.

"It has been great to be able not only to assist Defence spouses to gain employment, but in the case of Toll Transitions, to know those spouses are now assisting Defence members when they move."

Jonathan Ryan said: "We have been very interested in participating in the SWAPP Program, not just because we thought Defence spouses would be ideal for the role of Defence Relocation Partners, but because we understand the impacts Defence life can have on Defence families, particularly on finding employment for spouses with the constant requirement to relocate."

Toll is a company that employs more than 13,000 people around Australia and knowing the quality of Defence people, we felt it was simply in Toll's interest to participate."We have Defence Relocation Partners operating in all the capitals and regional centres where Defence has a presence," he said.

For further information, telephone Toll Transitions on Freecall 1800 819 167.