Defence Community Organisation

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Defence Community Organisation
(Personnel Services Division, Defence Support
Group)
Michael Callan Director General May 2008
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Australia and Canada
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DCOs role

• To contribute to the operational effectiveness of
  the ADF by providing a range of services and
  programs that enhance the wellbeing of ADF
  personnel, their families and communities

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Disposition
WEST Adelaide Tasmania Albury/Wodonga Canberra
(2) Wagga Wagga Melbourne Frankston Sale Puckapuny
al Rockingham Darwin Tindal
EAST Sydney Liverpool Richmond Nowra Singleton
Brisbane Amberley Toowoomba Townsville
Williamtown Cairns
Approximately 181 staff across 24 sites
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A Shared Responsibility

• Commanders
• Are responsible for the welfare of ADF Members
  and their families
• Have primacy in decision making
• ADF members have responsibility for the welfare
  of their families Shared responsibility
• DCO provides professional advice and programs to
  support commanders, ADF members and families

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A Multi-disciplinary Approach

• Defence Organisations involved include
• Command
• DCO
• Chaplains
• Psychology
• Defence policy areas (eg. Directorate of
  Entitlements)
• The ADF member

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HQDCO
Area Team Structure
Regional Directors x 2 (East West)
RD-West located in Canberra RD-East located in
Brisbane
Area Manager EL1
Defence Social Workers APS 4 to 6
Military Support Officers CPO LCDR (E)
Regional Education Liaison Officers APS6
Office Administrators APS2 - 4
Family Liaison Officers APS3
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Statistics for 2008
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National Programs

• Employment Support (SWAPP SELECT)
• Special Needs
• Childcare
• Education
• Family Support Funding (FSFP)
• Emergency Support (ESFS)

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Local Programs

• Family fun days
• Information sessions
• Deployment support functions
• Newsletters
• Community and family events
• Activities with local Units

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SWAPP SELECT

• Transition to work and job placement services
• Training required to secure an immediate job
  offer
• Resume preparation
• Childcare
• Remote locality assistance
• Professional registration and mandatory
  qualification upgrade costs

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Dependents with Special Needs

• 1427 ADF members formally recognised as having
  DWSN with approximately 2679 actual DWSN (May 08)
  
• DWSN recognition
• Access to personal care, respite and therapy
  services
• Housing modifications
• Pre-posting visits
• Assistance with costs of hiring special equipment

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Childcare

• Providing care options
• Facilitating priority of access for mobile
  families
• From 19 to 37 long day care centres since Jul 05
• Approximately 2500 places (150 increase since
  Jul 05)
• 1 800 booking service
• Family day care
• Out of Hours School Care
• Occasional care

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Education

• Regional Education Liaison Officers (REDLO)
• Defence School Transition Aide Program (DSTA and
  Mentors)
• Teacher resource kits, digital portfolios,
  student passports
• Scholarships
• Education Assistance Scheme

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Family Support Funding Program

• Grants to groups working on projects that help
  local ADF families
• Approximately 1M PA (non recurrent grants)
• Support to volunteer groups

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Emergency Support for Families Scheme

• Emergency support in the members absence
• Short term
• Examples
• Dependant care service
• Housekeeping services
• Child care services
• Premised on professional assessment in
  consultation with unit command

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Critical Incidents

• Fatalities
• Bereavement support
• Practical support in arranging funeral
• Injuries
• Emotional support for family members
• AUSDIL scheme

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Defence Support to the Injured and their Families
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The AUSDIL scheme

• To allow seriously ill/injured members to be
  supported by family/friends
• During the most serious time of their illness
• Upon the guidance of the presiding medical
  officer
• Travel and accommodation provided for approved
  family members/friends
• Emotional support provided before, during and
  after the critical time of illness

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Care for injured soldiers and families

• Sergeant Michael Lyddiard
• SGT Lyddiards wife and parents brought to
  Germany to support him (AUSDIL scheme)
• Extensive and ongoing social work support was
  provided to the Sergeant and for his wife, his
  parents, extended family and members of his Unit
  to assist with the emotional impact of the injury
• This even included support for family pets

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Organisational Change
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Developments Since Dec 07
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Developments Since Dec 07
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Additional Activities

• Increased connection with external community
  resources at strategic level
• Community House Review
• Family Needs Analysis
• Refunding of DSTA/SWAPP/ESFS

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Next Steps

• Partnerships with Community groups
• Improved online advice for commanders
• Rewrites of policy series
• Consistent definitions
• Linked outcomes
• Standard models

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Next Steps

• Family Support Trial with VVCS
• Review of entire family support system
• Development of a Family Health monitoring system

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Questions?