In this week's podcast episode, I talk to RAAF spouse Katie about being posted to Tindal, the location at the bottom of her preference sheet. Katie and I also talk about; Having no knowledge of defence life and going into the relationship blind Moving out of home in NSW to relocating to WA on her first posting with her military member Finding her feet in WA and why it is where Katie and her Husband would love to end up Why Katie embraces being able to move around the country and live in differen...
Mar 17, 2021•22 min•Ep. 86
Today's podcast episode is on a topic that isn't often spoken about- Miscarriage. 1 in 4 women will experience a miscarriage. The vast majority of miscarriages will happen in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy, often at a time when the exciting and happy news has only been shared with a few friends and family members if any. It can be a lonely time. There is often no answers as to why you experience a miscarriage or anything you can do to prevent one. Today seven brave spouses are sharing their jou...
Mar 03, 2021•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 85
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Belinda Wilson, CEO of Veteran and Family financial support organisation Bravery Trust. Belinda and I talk about; The support Bravery Trust offer Veterans who have a physical injury or mental illness as a result of their service Why Bravery Trust offers financial support to Veterans and their families during and after their service When a Veteran or Spouse should put their hand up for financial assistance Why financial problems often hinder a Veterans re...
Feb 24, 2021•22 min•Ep. 84
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Army couple Julia and Jai about why good communication is key. We also talk about; what happened when they met each other just 10 days before Jai was due to deploy some of the things a defence member thinks about before getting into a relationship how they used email to build a strong foundation before Jai returned from deployment an unexpected injury for Jai, the 9 month rehab and why there was a silver lining another deployment, planning a wedding, and...
Feb 17, 2021•42 min•Ep. 83
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to spouse Kim about being adaptable and being ok with "going with the flow." Kim and I also talk about; what happens when defence suddenly becomes part of your plan a not-so-great first move and why Kim didn't let it set the tone for spouse life her husband deploying a month into their first posting how Kim used that first deployment to establish a friend network navigating finding work as a spouse in an area where jobs are scarce how their family cope with...
Feb 10, 2021•27 min•Ep. 82
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to spouse Ash about buying a business and the isolation of working from home. Ash and I also talk about; why having a friendship before dating her now-husband created a great foundation how working on base gave Ash an understanding of how military works going from working on base with her husband to being a stay at home mum and business owner why Ash decided to buy a business and the huge changes working for yourself brings their next posting and looking fo...
Feb 03, 2021•27 min•Ep. 81
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to spouse Bianca about infertility and defence life. Bianca and I also talk about; coping with all that comes with IVF when your Husband is away why it took multiple rounds of IVF, surgeries and 3 doctors to try something out of the box the conversation with a long lost friend that would be the reason she would finally fall pregnant how she kept faith for 12 years before eventually becoming a Mum why she feels being a defence kid herself will give her a dee...
Jan 28, 2021•27 min•Ep. 80
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to spouse Sarah about being a blended family and the military lifestyle. Sarah and I also talk about; The injuries that have kept her Husband home for the majority of their relationship Why having support from her husband's rehab unit made all the difference Waiting on their next posting and what it might mean for their blended family Why choosing to live separated may be their only and best option in the future The positive impact Open Arms has had on thei...
Jan 20, 2021•32 min•Ep. 79
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Army spouse Mel about a service dog called Maxx and how he saved her husband. Mel and I also talk 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 The Defence Community Dog program and the support the Defence Bank Foundation gives the program The impact Maxx has had on her Husband's everyday life and ...
Jan 14, 2021•31 min•Ep. 78
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Air Force spouse Renee about what it's like when your Husband is Military Police, her struggles when it comes to finding employment and why following your passion is so important. Renee and I also talk about; How she and her husband met, by chance, at a swing dance class Why her husband wanting to apply for the Air Force was a joint decision The stability defence offered their family at a time of uncertainty Why her husband joined as a reservist and then...
Dec 16, 2020•22 min•Ep. 77
In this week's podcast episode, I talk to National Music Director of the Australian Military Wives Choir Cath Parsons about her journey as a spouse and where the idea for the AMWChoir came from. Cath and I also talk about; How the choir went from being a handful of people in Canberra to 12 locations around Australia Why the Choir is about what we do as spouses rather than what our military partners do at work How the choir creates a safe space for spouses and why all singing abilities are welcom...
Dec 09, 2020•28 min•Ep. 76
In this week's podcast episode I talk to Zoe about the first few years of being an Army spouse and the ups and downs of spending 8 out of the last 12 months apart from her military husband. Zoe and I also talk about; Why keeping busy was key while her Husband was away doing his initial training Her first posting experience only a few hours from home Being flexible with her work options & open to posting around Australia Finding out about support & DCO years into her spouse journey A depl...
Dec 02, 2020•32 min•Ep. 75
This week's podcast episode is all about money! Some useful tips on how to spend it, save it and invest it. Defence Bank 's Stuart Payne, Celia Cannavan and Emma Dalglish talk us through; Budgeting and how to work out our money goals How to make use of free helpful resources like https://moneysmart.gov.au/ How to come up with an achievable savings plan Credit Cards and why you should pay more than the minimum Credit scores explained and how using facilities like afterpay can impact it Simple ste...
Nov 26, 2020•12 min•Ep. 74
In this week's podcast episode I talk to spouse Lauren about what it's like to go from being a fulltime defence family to a reserves family and then back to fulltime defence. Lauren and I also talk about; What changes when you're no longer fulltime defence How it works when your partner is now a reservist The freedom and opportunities reserve time brings Why they decided to go back to being a fulltime defence family How COVID played into their decision Why Lauren decided against going MWDU What ...
Nov 19, 2020•24 min•Ep. 73
This week's podcast episode is all about the Kookaburra Kids Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation supporting children aged 8-18 years, living in families affected by mental illness. I talk to Community Engagement Manager, Sarah Hartley about; Why they introduced a program just for defence kids What the Kookaburra Kids Defence Kids Program is all about Why age-appropriate prevention and early intervention mental health services are important Why support for kids living in families affected b...
Nov 11, 2020•18 min•Ep. 72
This week on the podcast, I talk to Morgan about the ups and downs of her first few years as a Military spouse. Morgan and I talk about; The 18 month wait for her partner to leave for initial training The transition from civilian couple to a military couple Her partner leaving for Cerberus and having no contact Morgan's last-minute decision to move with her partner while he completed IET's Not being able to find work and the impact that had on their relationship Their first posting to Sydney and...
Nov 04, 2020•32 min•Ep. 71
This week's podcast episode is all about Open Arms , a FREE counselling service available to spouses, current ADF members, veterans and their families. I talk to National Manager of Open Arms, Dr Stephanie Hodson about; Who can access support and services through Open Arms Why the service changed its name from VVCS to Open Arms What type of support you can access in-person and over the phone When you should reach out for support & some signs to look out for How to access Open Arms support an...
Oct 28, 2020•26 min•Ep. 70
This week on the podcast I talk to British spouse Cheryl about her Australian posting experience. Cheryl and I also talk about; Her military member being sent to Iraq in the first year of their relationship Some of the differences between the British and Australian military Why a lot of military families choose MWDU in the UK What it was like to move to Australia and find her feet in Oz How COVID and living in Victoria during lockdown has impacted their Australian Posting experience Her positive...
Oct 21, 2020•22 min•Ep. 69
After realising studies about Australian defence kids were rare, this week's podcast guest, Dr Marg Rogers from the University of New England, decided to change that. Dr Rogers focused her recent PhD studies on giving 2-5 year old defence kids a voice by centring her research around deployment, separation, how kids in the 2-5 year old age bracket are affected and how they can be best supported. Dr Rogers and I also talk about; Collecting the data from the defence kids using the mosaic approach w...
Oct 07, 2020•37 min•Ep. 68
This week on the podcast I talk to RAAF spouse Jess about her first posting experience and coming to terms with being a defence spouse. Jess and I also talk about; How she went from no connection to defence to being engaged, married with two kids and on a first posting in under 4 years Being naive to the reality of what being a defence spouse would mean because of the "love bubble" effect Still trying to come to terms with the idea of being a defence family even after moving to their first posti...
Sep 30, 2020•26 min•Ep. 67
This week on the podcast I talk to current Patron of the Defence Community Organisation Belinda Johnston about the ups and downs of being a spouse and her role as DCO Patron. Belinda and I also talk about; How she juggles career, family and separation alongside her husband David's role as Vice Chief of the Defence Force What being Patron of the Defence Community Organisation involves and why she looks forward to connecting with more spouses and families Acknowledging the various types of ADF fam...
Sep 23, 2020•29 min•Ep. 66
This week on the podcast I talk to Army spouse Kelly about her Husband's PTSD and the impact it has had on their relationship. Kelly and I also talk about; Going from being a child of a military member to a military spouse and the huge difference Bringing four kids into the relationship and how they all coped Working out how to communicate with each other and work as a family unit Being a spouse, finding the information you need and building a support network PTSD, her Husband's first symptoms a...
Sep 16, 2020•34 min•Ep. 65
So you've decided that now is the right time to look at buying a house....yay, go you! But if you're like me, you have so many questions (so many) and a military member who isn't really down for providing ALL of the answers! Sometime's you just need it explained in plain old non-military speak which is why Defence Bank's Kym Bowles and I talk you through all of the potential grants and ADF schemes you (aka your military member) may be able to apply for when it comes to buying a house. In this ep...
Sep 09, 2020•17 min•Ep. 64
This week I talk to new spouse Jade about the transition from civilian couple to a Defence couple at a young age. Jade and I also talk about; What the lead up to your partner joining Defence is like What happens when they leave for recruits How to cope with feeling like "just" the girlfriend Where to find information and access support services The strength she found while her partner was away How to, as a couple, stay on the same page What happens when your partner graduates recruits Coming bac...
Sep 02, 2020•51 min•Ep. 63
Today's podcast guest is someone who has undoubtedly had an impact on all of our lives. Spouses and Defence members. Past and present. She isn't a spouse. She, at the time, had no prior connection to Defence but what she would go on to do in the Defence space, back in the 1980's, would result in so many of the services and conditions provided for all of us today. Her name is Sue Hamilton and she is the author of what would go on to be known as the Hamilton Report. A report that was the first of ...
Aug 27, 2020•39 min•Ep. 62
This week I talk with Jasmine Cooper Sutton, Director of charity Prince's Trust Australia. Prince's Trust Australia run FREE programs that support and inspire veterans and their families to explore or continue on the entrepreneurship and self-employment path. Jasmine and I talk about; Why providing ADF spouses with access to their programs is important How connecting with like-minded people can help you overcome business blocks How the Prince's Trust programs can help you find a way forward with...
Aug 19, 2020•23 min•Ep. 61
This week I talk with RAAF spouse Annabel about what it's like to do an overseas posting to the UK and experiencing lock down while being so far from home. We also talk about; The process of posting overseas The importance of open communication Acknowledging the lived experience of the military member and the spouse will always be different How to stay on the same page as a couple Making looking after your mental health a priority The uncertainty of moving back to Victoria during COVID & loc...
Aug 13, 2020•31 min•Ep. 60
This week on the Podcast I talk to General Manager of the Defence Special Needs Support Group Kim Collins. Kim talks about the support and programs available for defence families with a dependent or spouse with special needs and how to access that support and those programs. Kim also talks about some of the challenges defence families with special needs face and what area's DSNSG are pushing for change and improvements in. If you would like support in becoming recognised as a defence family with...
Aug 05, 2020•27 min•Ep. 59
This week on the podcast I talk to Navy couple Courtney and Jay about defence life, how they nurture their relationship and Jay's recent 6 month deployment. Spouse Courtney came on the podcast a few months back on episode 47 to talk about first postings, moving and managing her chronic illness. Courtney also talked about navigating defence life knowing her husbands job will take him away a lot and her decision to move to be closer to family and friend supports while he was deployed. TRIGGER WARN...
Jul 29, 2020•47 min•Ep. 58
This week I talk with Minister For Defence Personnel & Minister for Veterans' Affairs Darren Chester about the important role partners and families play for ADF members, veterans and the defence force overall. We also have an open and real conversation about: Why ADF members, on average, only stay in defence for 8 years Minister Chester's take on the typical 2020 defence partner & family The key issues ADF partners & families face and areas in need of improvement Access to flexible w...
Jul 22, 2020•29 min•Ep. 57
