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164.Someone I Love is in Defence-The Spouse business creating resources for ADF Kids

Release Date: 11/09/2023

Military Life

RE-RELEASED EPISODE This week on the Military Life Podcast, I speak with Army spouse Mel about a service dog called Maxx and how he saved her husband Damien. Mel and I also speak about; -What it’s like when your Husband deploys every two years -Her Husband’s decision to be proactive in seeking mental health support -Why a service dog was the right fit for her Husband and their family -Defence Community Dog program and the support the Defence Bank Foundation give the program -The impact Maxx has had on her Husband’s everyday life and their family life -The type of support Maxx provides...

181.A Focus on the Wellbeing of Army Families

Military Life

This week on the Military Life Podcast, I had the privilege of having an authentic, informative, and real defence family-focused conversation with the Chief of Army Australia, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart. I have now met and spoken with Lieutenant General Stuart several times, in various settings, focused on discussing a range of defence family topics. There have been ten-minute conversations at defence events and hour-long conversations in Lieutenant General Stuart's pretty impressive office in Canberra for this podcast episode (even though the recording was supposed to be a 30-minute...

180.PART TWO-Helping Spouses take their Careers to the Next Level!

Military Life

This week on the Military Life podcast, Veteran Spouse Jo returns for PART TWO of her episode. In episode 179/PART ONE, Jo detailed her 15-year Defence Partner journey over 9 postings across New Zealand and Australia, her husband’s transition, and her decision to take her career in a new direction. In PART TWO, Jo and I speak about; -Why she decided to pursue Career Coaching and focus on helping Defence Partners -What a Career Coach does and why it is so much more than helping people with their resumes -The joy and satisfaction Jo gets from helping Defence Partners take their careers...

179.PART ONE-15 year Defence Partner journey over 9 postings

Military Life

On this week’s Military Life podcast episode, Veteran Spouse Jo details her 15 year Defence Partner journey over 9 postings across New Zealand and Australia. In PART ONE, Jo and I speak about; -Embracing support, finding community, and making lifelong friends -Discussing her spouse experience vs that of the 2024 Defence Partner -How she ensured her relationship with her Defence Member stayed strong -Communication, understanding & the mental load a Defence Partner carries -Resilience vs Limits and the point of impact on the Spouse and Defence Kids -Choosing transition, figuring out...

178.Let's CELEBRATE 175 Episodes with Words of Wisdom & Real Talk from Defence Partners PART 2

Military Life

This week on the Military Life Podcast, I have put together a compilation episode with real talk and words of wisdom offered by some of the Defence Partners who have been gracious enough to tell their story on the podcast over the last 5 years! FIVE YEARS…. Can you even believe it? What a huge milestone for all of us to celebrate. Five years of the podcast, 175 episodes and 100,000 downloads. I want to say thank you to all of you for sharing your stories, listening, supporting, connecting, building this community with me, empowering yourselves and each other by accessing and sharing...

177.Let's CELEBRATE 175 Episodes with Words of Wisdom & Real Talk from Defence Partners PART 1

Military Life

176.A Focus on the Wellbeing of Navy Families

Military Life

This week on the Military Life Podcast, I had the privilege of having a genuine, insightful and defence family-focused conversation with Chief of Navy Australia Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. Throughout my time as not only a Defence Partner but also now through my work in the defence family space, I have interacted with people from all services, various ranks, departments, and positions, and you get a feel when someone is genuine. You get a feel when someone wants to listen, wants to understand, wants to acknowledge, and values the defence family perspective. Vice Admiral Hammond is one of those...

175.Buying & Selling-Making your Money and Defence Allowances work for YOU!

Military Life

Posting to a new location is a huge life event. Whether you do it every few years or, like me, have long stretches between moves because you choose to URF (unaccompanied Resident Family), it can be a lot. Throw in selling a property, and the TO DO list can seem overwhelming. It’s understandable that maybe you just want to take a minute between selling in one location and buying in the next so that you can catch your breath, unpack, and explore your new location. Soooo, in the meantime, what do you do with the funds from the sale of your property, and which defence allowances can you access?...

174.PART 2-Posting Overseas-Spouse Nicole's Experience

Military Life

On this week’s Military Life podcast episode, I ask Defence Partner Nicole, who is currently posted in the USA with her ADF member and two children, ALLLL the overseas posting questions you didn’t even know you needed answered! In PART TWO, Nicole and I talk about; - The regret Nicole and her Husband felt about moving overseas once the dust had settled - The impact on her mental health when the reality of being so far from home set in - Feeling like everything is hard and different and figuring out their new normal - Finally settling into living overseas and finding the positives - Being...

173.PART 1-Posting Overseas-Spouse Nicole's Experience

Military Life

On this week’s Military Life podcast episode, I ask Defence Partner Nicole, who is currently posted in the USA with her ADF member and two children, ALLLL the overseas posting questions you didn’t even know you needed answered! In PART ONE, Nicole and I talk about; -Why the timing was right for their family to apply for an overseas posting -What happens once you get the official word your family will be posted overseas -Differences between the overseas posting Nicole and her Husband did 10 years ago and now -The practical stuff like paperwork and appointments that need to get done and STAT...

More Episodes

On this week’s Military Life *Parents Edition* podcast episode, I speak with Spouse and Defence School Mentor Bianca about her new business, ‘Someone I Love is in Defence’.

Bianca and I also spoke about;

• Her journey from being an ADF member herself, transitioning out & finding her feet as a Defence Partner

• Navigating Defence life, starting a family and deciding to take up a role as a Defence School Mentor

• How being a DSM opened her eyes to the need for more and varied resources for Defence Kids

• Deciding to turn her ideas into activity sheets, colouring, activity and storybooks with specific themes for Australian Defence Kids

• Why the support of her Navy husband and FREE entrepreneur courses through the Prince’s Trust and Frontline Labs were key to establishing and launching her business

• The importance of the resources serving a dual purpose- to be entertaining and also facilitate meaningful interactions

• How her activity sheets and books encourage conversations and Defence Kids to ask questions, express emotions, and strengthen their bond with their ADF member

• Focusing on a variety of Defence Life topics like moving, deployment, living apart from your ADF member (URF) and the transition out of Defence

• The importance of co-designing her resources and books with Defence Kids and parents

• How to access free resources via her website and when the activity books and Army, Navy, RAAF books will be available for purchase

Follow Bianca on her ‘Someone I Love is in Defence’ socials via the below links or sign up for her newsletter on her website https://www.someoneiloveisindefence.com.au/ to be the first to know when her colouring, activity and storybooks will be ready to purchase.

Follow along on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/someoneiloveisindefence

Follow along on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/someoneiloveisindefence

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