The Beginning
In 1985, Sue Hamilton, an executive in the Office of the Status of Women, was tasked by the Defence Minister, the Hon Kim Beazley AC, to investigate the impact of service life on families, identify problems and deliver practical suggestions for solving them. The report, officially known as “Supporting Service Families” but more commonly known as “The Hamilton Report” was the genesis of ADF family support as we know it.
Ms Hamilton identified that “employment presents a problem” for family members primarily due to the location of bases, the frequency of postings, and the reluctance of employers to employ people they know will be moving on in a couple of years. The report describes that spouses who do secure work experience great discontinuity in their employment, and have limited opportunities for progression and accrual of benefits. Ms Hamilton stated that “many service families are either reluctant one-income families, with aspirations to a higher standard of living than the serving member’s salary alone can sustain, or at best precarious two-income families”. Her recommendations included that spouse employment officers be appointed to maintain a register of family job seekers, familiarise themselves with the local employment market, and make contact with major employers in local base areas.
The Hamilton Report gave rise to the Australian Defence Families Information and Liaison Staff (ADFILS) in 1987. ADFILS consisted of community development coordinators, community development officers, regional education liaison officers and family liaison officers. Ms Hamilton’s recommendation for employment officers was not implemented. However, partner employment initiatives were implemented. For example, a women’s employment information day was held by ADFILS at Enoggera Barracks in 1989.
Establishment of the Defence Community Organisation (DCO)
In 1994 a further review into family support was conducted. The 1994 Report on the Review of ADF Personnel and Family Support Services (the Pratt Review) recommended the streamlining of support services, and as a result, the Defence Community Organisation was established in 1996 following the amalgamation of single-service support organisations (the Navy Personnel Services Organisation, Army Community Service, and the RAAF Social Worker and Information Service) and the Australian Defence Families Information and Liaison Staff.
DCO Employment Support
Spouse Employment Assistance Program (SEAP) 1997 – 2002
Initiatives under this program included:
- work readiness/job search training – an individually tailored service to develop job search skills and find ongoing employment (including reimbursement of childcare costs when attending)
- inclusion of information regarding local employment agencies and employment checklists in local information packs
- employment information seminars (including reimbursement of childcare costs when attending)
- “Jobs on the Move” – an employment assistance handbook for spouses
- access to the internet via DCO computer facilities
- an employment website (!!!!) where ADF spouses can register as a job seeker, and employers can register a job vacancy.
With respect to the last point, a number of employers and agencies indicated that whilst they may not use the site to advertise vacancies they would use it to look for suitable applicants.
In 2000, following ministerial endorsement, the program utilised the Government contracted Job Network Members for the provision of job search training.
SEAP was the subject of a review in 2002. The review determined that a majority of ADF partners were either working or seeking work, and that the unemployment rate was higher amongst ADF partners than the general population. Improvements to employment initiatives were recommended.
Services Workforce Access Program for Partners (SWAPP) 2003 – 2010
SWAPP was launched as a pilot scheme in October of 2023, aimed at improving retention rates. It involved an agreement with the Department of Employment and Workplace relations and a professional recruitment agency. It also provided up to $500 for assistance in the preparation of a resume. Partners continued to receive financial assistance with the costs of professional registrations, assistance with transition to work and job placement through the Job Network system, assistance with childcare costs associated with job search activities (up to 25 hours of childcare per child, access to DCO computers, . A new training program was introduced, providing up to $2500 for training directly linked to a specific employment opportunity.
SWAPP also underwent an evaluation and review and was enhanced and rebranded as SWAPP Select in 2007. Under the new program partners were able to select a provider of their choice for professional employment assistance and access up to $2500 to access services such as:
- career transition assessment and advice
- job search techniques and strategies
- preparation and presentation for interview
- application and selection criteria preparation
- identifying training options
- identifying job options
Partner Education and Employment Program (PEEP) 2010 – 2017
2010 brought the most significant change in partner employment assistance. The Partner Education and Employment Program (PEEP) extended the SWAPP Select program by introducing and education and employment allowance of up to $12000 over a ten year period (with funding capped at $6000 per posting). The initiatives available under SWAPP Select were still available under PEEP but most of the capped limits (other than childcare) were removed and training could be undertaken across multiple years thereby enabling tertiary education and vocational training. In addition, partners could access funding to seek advice on setting up their own superannuation funds (allowing them to contribute to superannuation regardless of their posting locality). Defence partnered with Open Universities Australia to support partner education.
The PEEP funds were exceeded within only 6 weeks of the program launch and had to close to further applications. In 2011 changes were made in terms of eligibility and funds. Education and training was only approved up to and including first time undergraduate courses. Even after the changes the program was again oversubscribed. It received a $3million injection (effectively doubling the budget) in August of 2011, including funds for a new tier of funding. Beginning in 2012 there were two tiers of support with Tier 2 being an additional one-off education payment of $3000 for the partners of junior personnel.
One of the biggest criticisms of PEEP was its lack of recognition for partners with an existing degree that needed to requalify in another field in order to remain employable. Other shortfalls included the exclusion of partners whose ADF member spouse hadn’t completed four years of service, and that the emphasis on education masked the other employment services that could be funded under the program.
Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP) 2017 – present
PEEP was replace by the Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP) in July 2017. This program more closely resembled the SWAPP Select Program but afforded applicants less funds than that program. The training and education component was removed completely.
When it was introduced, PEAP provided partners with the opportunity to apply for funding up to $1500 to assist with finding employment within 12 months of a relocation (which was later increased to 2 years). Eligible services included development of a professional resume and online employment profile, identification of transferable skills, employment options, job placement advice, interviewing coaching and addressing selection criteria. The funds could also be used to fund mandatory professional re-registration costs when moving between states and territories.
In 2020 changes were made to the program to help support partners through the Covid 19 pandemic. Eligibility linked to relocation was suspended, allowing partners to apply for PEAP funding at any time during the posting cycle and regardless of how long they had been in location.
In 2025 the program underwent further changes. Eligibility was expanded to all recognised ADF partners. Partners can apply for up to $1500 per financial year for employment related services and employment-related training.
Note: historical information is still being gathered. Details of references will be added at a later date.