Why does Defence invest in support for
serving members and families?
GIBBS:
In Defence, we have highly
skilled people who do a range of really
complex roles. It is not unusual for people
to be away from home for weeks or months
at a time, whether that is for training or
deployment. In cases of international
posting, they can even be away from family
support for a year or two.
Managing this comes down to thinking
about what it takes to maintain people’s
capabilities and work performance.
A crucial component of capacity building
is to help families prepare for that separation.
The role of the Defence Community
Organisation is to contribute to that by
assisting families to be more resilient.
DEFENCE FORCE Q&A:
Managing absence from home
Preparing serving members and their families for time apart is something the
Australian Defence Force considers a major responsibility and critical to its success.
Resource People
recently sat down with the Defence Community Organisation’s
Northern Territory manager Paul Gibbs and family liaison officer Tree Malyan to
discover what resource employers with FIFO workforces can learn.
How does Defence prepare members
and families for time apart?
MALYAN:
We offer a range of briefings,
programs and services to help Defence
families learn skills to manage their time apart
and form a support network for each other.
One of the key resources that we work
with Defence members and families to
complete is a Member and Family Care
Plan, which is essentially a comprehensive
document that will guide them through
any situation that may occur.
The care plan includes important
information such as wills, medical details
and financial planning. But it also covers
all the silly inconveniences such as who to
call if the washing machine breaks down
or what the car insurance details are.
We also have school-based aids and
mentors working with Defence children to
help them during parental absence.
Underpinning all of this is a 24-hour
Defence Family Helpline that is staffed
by qualified professionals including social
workers and psychologists who support
families during time apart.
What does this offer the Defence
member while they are away?
GIBBS:
Having a completed absence
away from home plan really means that
the Defence member can go about their
tasks knowing their families are prepared
for anything that may happen at home.
MALYAN:
It is important for the families
to be resilient and handle a situation
on their own, but if there is a crisis, it is
natural that the person you want to speak
to is your partner.
So if it is possible for the family to speak
to the serving member and they can talk
about the care plan together, it allows the
member to be a calming influence and
still feel like they are helping their partner
even though they are away.
Many resource employers offer support
programs to their FIFO employees,
however, some people won’t seek help
when they need it. Has Defence made a
deliberate effort to build a culture where
there is no shame in seeking support?
GIBBS:
Yes, and it has taken quite some
time to refine but it is now something
that Defence does really well. We’ve got
the systems in place and we really pay
attention to the detail.
MALYAN:
We always reiterate to
Defence members and families that there
is support available and there is no shame
in seeking that support, especially when
they have been deployed.
RP
Tree Malyan with
commander Ben Favell
at a family event.
Defence
Community
Organisation
NT manager
Paul Gibbs
RESOURCE
PEOPLE
SUMMER 2014-15
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OHS & WELLBEING
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