200.ADF Grants & Entitlements when Buying a Home
Military Life
So, you've decided that now is the right time to start saving for or look at buying a house....yay, go you! If you're like me, you have so many questions (so many) and need answers STAT about the potential homebuyer grants, and ADF schemes and entitlements you and your military member may be able to apply for. But…. those answers need to be explained in plain old non-military speak, which is why Defence Bank's Regional Manager for Lending Distribution, Ashley Wills, and I talk you through ALL.THE.THINGS when it comes to saving for and buying a house. In this episode, Ashley and I talk...
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199.Overseas Posting Update with Nicole PART TWO
Military Life
On this week’s Military Life podcast episode, Defence Partner Nicole, who is currently posted in the USA with her ADF member and two children, comes back on the podcast (for PART TWO) to give us an update and answer more of our overseas posting questions. Listen in to last week’s episode for Part One of my chat with Nicole. If you would like to listen to my first episode with Nicole on the topic of overseas postings, where we discussed preparing for an overseas posting, arriving, and settling in, check out episode 173.
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198.Overseas Posting Update with Nicole PART ONE
Military Life
On this week’s Military Life podcast episode, Defence Partner Nicole, who is currently posted in the USA with her ADF member and two children, comes back on the podcast to give us an update and answer more of our overseas posting questions. Stay tuned next week for Part Two of my chat with Nicole. If you would like to listen to my previous episode with Nicole, where we discussed preparing for an overseas posting, arriving, and settling in overseas, check out episode 173.
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197.Defence Member Family Support PART TWO
Military Life
This week on the Military Life Podcast, Part Two of my chat with Director General of Defence Member and Family Support Libby Cremen. We talk all things DMFS, including; -The Partner Employment Assistance Program and the recent changes to PEAP -The ADF Families Survey and how DMFS uses the data to improve programs & support -The importance of engaging with a range of Defence families to ensure representation of a diverse community -The new Defence Families Portal (to be launched soon) that will streamline access to information, support and services -Changes to the Family Support Funding...
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196.Defence Member Family Support PART ONE
Military Life
This week on the Military Life Podcast, Part One of my chat with Director General of Defence Member and Family Support Libby Cremen. We talk all things DMFS, including; -Who DMFS are and the support and services they provide for Defence Families -Connecting with Defence Families early so that they “know us before they need us” -The 24-hour DMFS helpline and when and why to contact the helpline -Defence Social Workers, Family Liaison Officers, Education Liaison Officers, and Military Support Officers explained -The significance of the introduction of the Defence Member and Family...
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195.Mental & Physical Clutter and Defence Life PART TWO
Military Life
On this week’s Military Life Podcast episode and as the Defence Community start to receive news of postings and possible moves, I re-release PART TWO of my chat with Defence Partner and Declutter Expert Tara Tuttle. Tara knows the challenges of Defence Life and moving and packing and unpacking and all the things! Tara also knows the challenges Defence Families can face when it comes to organisation, clutter, holding onto things, feeling overwhelmed and how physical and mental clutter are often connected. In PART TWO, Tara and I talk about; -Just in case items and...
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194.Mental & Physical Clutter and Defence Life PART ONE
Military Life
On this week’s Military Life Podcast episode, and as the Defence Community start to receive news of postings and possible moves, I re-release PART ONE of my chat with Defence Partner and Declutter Expert Tara Tuttle. Tara knows the challenges of Defence Life and moving and packing and unpacking and all the things! Tara also knows the challenges Defence Families can face when it comes to organisation, clutter, holding onto things, feeling overwhelmed, and how physical and mental clutter are often connected. Tara and I talk about; -The two types of people when it...
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193.Intro to Defence Life for New Spouses PART FOUR
Military Life
This week on the Military Life Podcast, you’ve got me, or should I say, I’ve got you! I thought I would put together another episode for the new Defence Partners. The ones who are trying to get their heads around all things Defence life. The ones who are finding their feet when it comes to figuring out the good bits, the not-so-good bits and the…what the bits. In PART FOUR, I talk all about; -Remote Postings -Deployments and ROCL (Relief Out of Country Leave) -Overseas Postings -Financial Support -Relationship Breakdown -Defence Special Needs Support Group -DEFGLIS (Defence Gay...
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192.Intro to Defence Life for New Spouses PART THREE
Military Life
This week on the Military Life Podcast, you’ve got me, or should I say, I’ve got you! I thought I would put together another episode for the new Defence Partners. The ones who are trying to get their heads around all things Defence life. The ones who are finding their feet when it comes to figuring out the good bits, the not-so-good bits and the…what the bits. In PART THREE, I talk all about; -Partner employment assistance program (PEAP) -The ADF Family Health Program -Mental health support via Open Arms and ADF Chaplains -Help with sourcing childcare for Defence children...
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191.Intro to Defence Life for New Spouses PART TWO
Military Life
This week on the Military Life Podcast, you’ve got me, or should I say, I’ve got you! I thought I would put together another episode for the new Defence Partners. The ones who are trying to get their heads around all things Defence life. The ones who are finding their feet when it comes to figuring out the good bits, the not-so-good bits and the…what the bits. On PART TWO, I talk all about two big Defence Life topics; -Housing options and Defence Housing Australia (DHA) -TOLL the organisation tasked with moving us to and from our posting locations We also hear from a handful of Defence...
info_outlineThis week on the Military Life Podcast, you’ve got me, or should I say, I’ve got you!
I thought I would put together another episode for the new Defence Partners. The ones who are trying to get their heads around all things Defence life. The ones who are finding their feet when it comes to figuring out the good bits, the not-so-good bits and the…what the bits.
In PART THREE, I talk all about;
-Partner employment assistance program (PEAP)
-The ADF Family Health Program
-Mental health support via Open Arms and ADF Chaplains
-Help with sourcing childcare for Defence children
-Education Liaison Officers (EDLOs
-Defence School Mentors, the ADF Equip & ADF Aware programs
-The Education Assistance Scheme
-Education assistance for children with additional needs
-The various organisations that provide Defence kid-specific programs and resources
We also hear from a handful of Defence Partners who have previously detailed their spouse journey with us on past episodes.
As you will hear, our experiences are all unique yet have so many common threads that run so deep and connect us.
On the next episode of the Military Life Podcast, we’ll talk about remote postings, deployments, overseas postings, where to turn when your family is experiencing financial hardship, the support available when there is a relationship breakdown and so much more.
Below are all the links and resources discussed in this episode of the podcast.
Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP)
Defence Provider (Busy Group)
https://www.defence.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/BUSYPEAPflyer.pdf
https://www.busyatwork.com.au/adf-transition-support-services/
Soldier On
https://soldieron.org.au/supporting-you/employment/
RSL Queensland
https://rslqld.org/find-help/employment
Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs
NSW Veterans Employment Program
https://www.vep.veterans.nsw.gov.au/jobseekers/
Veterans SA
https://veteranssa.sa.gov.au/programs-events/
Cowork Coplay
Frontline Labs
https://www.frontlinelabs.org.au/
The Kings Trust Australia
https://www.kingstrust.org.au/enterprise
ADF Family Health Program
ADF Family Health Program- Fringe Benefits
https://adffamilyhealth.com/fringe-benefits-tax/
Open Arms
Open Arms Programs & Workshops
https://www.openarms.gov.au/get-support/treatment-programs-and-workshops
ADF Chaplains Podcast Episode
https://militarylife.com.au/podcast/#episode117
Help with Childcare
Education Liaison Officers (EDLOs)
Defence School Mentor Program
ADF Equip Program
ADF Aware Program
Education Assistance Scheme
Education assistance for Children with Additional Needs
Defence Special Needs Support Group
Kookaburra Kids
https://kookaburrakids.org.au/defence-program/
Child and Family Resilience Programs
https://ecdefenceprograms.com/
Someone I love is in Defence