181.A Focus on the Wellbeing of Army Families

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 chat).

What can I say? The conversation was flowing.

And you know what my conversations with Lieutenant General Stuart all had in common? It was a feeling that he had all the time in the world to speak with me and hear from all of you and that discussing defence families was as important to him as what it is to all of us.

Each conversation with Lieutenant General Stuart has been genuine and insightful with someone who, in his own words, isn’t interested in “legacy” but is committed to real and actual practical changes for Army families so that they can continue to thrive and choose to serve.

In episode 181 we discuss;

-Why focusing on purpose and people takes priority

-Achieving as part of a team, and the team that should matter most is your family

-Recognising that a defence members service is a collective effort and the vital role families play

-Creating more opportunities for Army families to have agency over their lives through a variety of initiatives

-Acknowledging that housing and where defence families live impacts so many other areas of our lives

-The importance of staying in touch and engaged with the everyday experiences of Army families

-How data-informed changes to policies that are flexible create more choice and better support for families

-Being able to change policy quickly enough to have a real and tangible impact on the current challenges Army families are facing

-Understanding the changing set of considerations, circumstances and priorities defence families have at different points of service life

-The introduction of an Army Families Handbook and why it will be an evolving resource

-What are capability bricks and why designing a health and well-being brick will help connect families

-Why Lieutenant General Stuart's focus is not on leaving a legacy but rather on building an inheritance for defence members and families

 

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