As far as I’m aware, there are no specific programs for the children of ADF members. And I think that should change. (see note 2) Research shows that effective career development begins in primary school and should be available to people throughout their lives. Career development is essential for people to make good choices about … More Career support for young people in ADF families
The knowledge that career development is good for individuals, families, communities, employers and the economy (and in this context, good for defence and national security) becomes the foundation for identifying and creating a suitable ADF partner career development strategy and framework and designing, developing and investing in suitable career development policies and programs. Rather than a problem-focused … More ADF partner employment: it’s more about asset and opportunity than problem solving
I often use the word employment but it’s not really partner employment I’m interested in – it’s partner career development. It’s understanding and helping people make decisions about their career, and making the context they are making those decisions in as just as possible. And by career I mean the journey through work, learning and … More Partner career development; it’s about paid and unpaid work and career life roles
This article originally appeared on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/partner-employment-military-civilian-transition-amanda-mccue-cf/ Employment is a key feature of military transition programs. Here in Australia we have job search preparation workshops, coaching, supportive employer programs and even an employment awards program at the highest level of government. There is broad understanding that employment is an essential part of veteran wellbeing. According … More Partner employment and military to civilian transition
When it comes to families we generally don’t think that the rank of the member matters. And family support initiatives are tri-service (or purple) in their approach. But when it comes to partner careers it’s more nuanced than that. Because careers are where personal factors meet contextual ones. For ADF partners these contextual factors include where and how much our ADF members work, and how much of the unpaid family work we’re performing as a result. So it’s with interest that I look at the data from the 2019 Defence Census to find out how the ADF workforce is working in terms of service, rank and gender, and what implications it has for partner employment. … More Rank, gender and working arrangements of ADF members: results from the Defence Census and implications for partner employment
One tool used in narrative and solution-focused career counselling is the “magic wand” or “miracle question”. We ask clients if a miracle happened over night and they woke up tomorrow feeling like everything was as it should be – what would that look like? If I woke up tomorrow and a miracle had occurred that … More What my version of military to civilian employment support would look like
The intent and the content of current partner employment programs raises some interesting questions about what partner employment support in Australia should look like. I’m a big fan of the current Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP) but I have written before about how and why it is not enough on its own. What I find … More The confusing message of ADF partner employment support
Without data we won’t know the extent of the impact of Covid 19 on ADF families. I believe it is imperative to establish what impact Covid 19 has had on ADF families. How many partners were able to work remotely? What was that experience like for them and their employers? How many partners lost jobs … More COVID 19 and ADF Partner Employment Part Seven: data collection
One of the main concerns being raised about the disproportionate impact of Covid 19 on women is the longer term financial impact and the risk of poverty in old age. Australian women are already retiring on less superannuation than men mainly due to the fact that they move in and out of paid work more … More COVID 19 and ADF Partner Employment Part Six: financial security
The caring and household responsibilities of ADF partners has long been a concern of mine with respect to career development. Many inequalities that existed prior to Covid19 have been exacerbated by the pandemic, including within ADF families. … More COVID 19 and ADF Partner Employment Part Five: domestic and caring work
