21/09/2025
Bold Ideas for Defence: Supporting Families Over the Next Five Years
At the recent DVA Families Forum, one message came through loud and clear: when we strengthen our Defence families, we strengthen Defence itself.
A bold idea for the next five years?
➡️ Home services for deployed families – practical, on-the-ground support to ease the daily load when a parent is away on service.
What does this look like in practice? 🤔
👧 Childcare relief when a spouse is working late or is unwell, ensuring children are cared for safely without the stress of finding last-minute help.
🪴 Gardening or home maintenance so families aren’t left to cope with everything from mowing to unexpected repairs alone.
🏡 In-home support when there are multiple young children and the parent at home is isolated in a new posting location—someone who can step in to supervise the kids so mum or dad can attend an appointment, rest, or simply take a breath.
One family recently shared , when their partner deployed, illness swept through the house. With no relatives nearby and no one to watch the other children, even a doctor’s visit became impossible.
A simple service—trusted in-home care—would have transformed that crisis into a manageable moment.
This is not just about convenience—it’s about operational readiness and retention. 💪
Investing in the home front is investing in national security.
Families are the silent strength behind every uniform.
⏰ It’s time policy and funding caught up with that reality.
Let’s make the next five years about action: support families so together we thrive. 🙌
What’s your “bold” idea?