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Changing Schools or moving to a new location - Contact the EDLO
Education Liaison Officers
Education Liaison Officers (EDLOs) provide an education advisory service for Defence families to:
- inform families about local schools and education systems
- connecting families with education providers and resources
- work with parents, children and teachers to manage the transition to a new school
- working with schools to ensure a supportive educational environment
- provide advice on Defence financial assistance.
EDLOs have extensive knowledge about the differences in the way states, territories and individual schools deliver education. They also understand the unique needs of Defence children.
Contact the Defence Member and Family Helpline to access EDLO support.
Moving School Checklist for Defence families.
Childcare
Defence families can face challenges securing childcare when posting to a new location or changing work or care arrangements.
Defence offers a number of options to support families to access suitable.
Education Assistance Scheme
Our ADF recognises some children experience disruption to their education each time they move for a posting.
Financial support is available to help minimise the disruption to education caused by posting.
Defence may provide assistance when a posting means that a child needs to:
- change schools
- study at a school not in the posting location
- study at a tertiary institution away from home.
Financial support available under the Education Assistance Scheme includes:
- tutoring
- tuition and boarding school allowance
- tertiary accommodation
- loss of scholarship compensation
- reunion travel.
The ADF Pay and Conditions Manual provides further details on Education assistance.
For help with your application email education.supportprograms@defence.gov.au.
Defence School Mentor Program
The Defence School Mentor Program is delivered in partnership with schools to support the wellbeing of children of ADF members.
The program connects children with their school community and enhances the schools ability to address the impacts of the military lifestyle.
Defence provides funding to eligible schools to assist with the employment of Defence School Mentors (DSMs).
The program has 4 objectives:
- Provide families with information about the school environment and the support available relevant to their child's development needs.
- Support children to access school based social and emotional support, aligned to school policies.
- Facilitate opportunities for children to build relationships and connections through events and other initiatives.
- Raise awareness amongst the school community about the impacts of the Defence lifestyle on children and families.
For more information email dsm.program@defence.gov.au.
For a list of schools in Australia with Defence Mentors, please click on the image below:
ADF Equip Program
The ADF Equip – Children’s Group Resilience Program is a suite of facilitated workshop style sessions designed to support the social and emotional resilience and wellbeing of Defence children.
Children and young people learn age-appropriate strategies to support them to better manage the challenges associated with Defence family life through:
- activities to get to know other Defence children
- activities to improve social and emotional wellbeing
- discussion on how children and parents can access other relevant support.
The program is delivered by area office staff across Australia and sessions are tailored to 3 age groups:
- 5 – 8 year-olds
- 9 – 12 year-olds
- 13 – 18 year-olds.
There are unique programs covering 2 key topics.
- Parental Absence
- Relocation.
Session timing and frequency will vary by region. Families wanting to access the program should submit an expression of interest form.
Education Assistance Scheme
Defence families may have financial support available to them to help minimise the disruption to education, when your child needs to:
- change schools
- study at a school not in the posting location
- study away from home.
See the Defence educational assistance scheme for further information or email education.supportprograms@defence.gov.au.
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Veteran and their family's education programs.