The Defence School Mentor Program provides support to secondary students of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families, particularly during their transition into and out of a school on posting or during parental absences due to deployment, exercises or courses.
Defence families can change location sometimes up to every 2-3 years and due to differences in curriculum, subject selections and intake age requirements there can be considerable differences in their educational program from one school to the next, and particularly from one state to another.
Additional to these pressures, the Defence family is also required to re-establish community connections and create new friendships and support networks every time they are relocated. The move can also impact the spouse as they may have to change jobs/careers each time they relocate, with possible financial pressures adding to the stresses already placed on the family.
So this program was implemented by the Department of Defence, through the Defence Community Organisation, as a commitment to support its members and their families. They recognize that the education of Defence dependants may be negatively impacted by their mobile lifestyle and so have sought to provide this innovative resource to facilitate a more supportive educational environment for mobile ADF families.
The Defence School Mentor Program provides support to secondary students of Australian Defence Force (ADF) members and their families, particularly during their transition into and out of a school on posting or during parental absences due to deployment, exercises or courses.
Defence families can change location sometimes up to every 2-3 years and due to differences in curriculum, subject selections and intake age requirements there can be considerable differences in their educational program from one school to the next, and particularly from one state to another.
Additional to these pressures, the Defence family is also required to re-establish community connections and create new friendships and support networks every time they are relocated. The move can also impact the spouse as they may have to change jobs/careers each time they relocate, with possible financial pressures adding to the stresses already placed on the family.
So this program was implemented by the Department of Defence, through the Defence Community Organisation, as a commitment to support its members and their families. They recognize that the education of Defence dependants may be negatively impacted by their mobile lifestyle and so have sought to provide this innovative resource to facilitate a more supportive educational environment for mobile ADF families
No.
The school must have at least 35 students from Defence families to be eligible for program support. A Primary School only needs to have 25 defence students.
Comet Bay College currently has approximately 60 students from defence families.
A Defence School Mentor provides assistance to students and their families. This may include:
The DMFS office is open from 8.30am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday.
DMFS Rockingham Contact Details:
PHONE (08) 9529 8842
EMAIL DMFS.WA@defence.gov.au
ADDRESS 23 Chalgrove Avenue, ROCKINGHAM WA 6168
WEBSITE www.defence.gov.au/members-families/
Defence Member and Family Helpline 1800 624 608
The Defence Member and Family Helpline is your first point of call for support, information and connection with your community, including your local DMFS team. The Helpline is available 24-7 and is staffed by qualified human services professionals including social workers and psychologists. They can also provide advice on mailing addresses and postal regulations for overseas deployments, and can facilitate the passing of urgent messages to deployed personnel.
You can also email the Helpline on memberandfamilyhelpline@defence.gov.au
The DMFS website provides ready access to information for Defence families on a broad range of ADF member and family topics.
All requests for emergency DMFS assistance outside these hours and on public holidays should be directed to the National Welfare Coordination Centre on 1800 801 026
Regional Education Liaison Officers (REDLOs) are professionally trained teachers who understand both the different State and Territory education systems and the Defence lifestyle. They can advise Defence families and children on education issues, particularly related to relocating. REDLOs can assist with changing schools between the various State and Territory primary, secondary and tertiary education systems.
The Western Australian REDLO is Lorraine Van Haeften. You can reach her on lorraine.vanhaeften@defence.gov.au
REDLOs provide the key link for families to access the type of support that meets the needs of their particular child. REDLOs are also linked to schools and education systems, working to raise the issues that affect Defence families and ensure that equity of educational opportunity is available to all mobile Defence children.
Here is a link to a Defence produced Deployment Support Booklet, for more information and practical tips
Deployment & Time Apart Support Information
If you are being deployed or will be absent from home for an extended period of time, it may be helpful to advise the Defence Transition Mentor, Claire Hunt, so she can make an extra effort to keep an eye on your child and offer support.
Excursions, incursions and lunchtime activities are organised throughout the year for our defence students. This aims to encourage relationships to develop and to foster a supportive network amongst their peers and our Defence Transition Mentor, Claire Hunt.
Some of the activities they participate in are Team Building Games, Lip-Sync Music Video creation, Photoshoots, morning teas and involvement in external run defence events such as the Walk to Work Day at Garden Island and Welcome to the West in Fremantle.
Participation is not compulsory, but encouraged.
If you have any questions, or suggestions for future activities please contact Claire Hunt
The RESILIENCE AWARD has been very generously sponsored since 2009 by Paul Papalia CSC, MLA (Member for Warnbro)
Minister for Tourism; Racing and Gaming; Small Business; Defence Issues; Citizenship and Multicultural Interests
Candidate Selection Criteria
It is recognised that students whose parents or guardians work within the Australian Defence Force may have unique educational needs due in part to their mobile lifestyle and long absences of a parent due to deployment and training. Resiliency is therefore a particularly attractive attribute to encourage and foster within this student group.
Resilient young people have a positive attitude toward their environment, hold a strong sense of purpose and develop internal strengths that enable them to see life’s obstacles as challenges that can be overcome.
All candidates demonstrate in school and/or in the community those characteristics listed below:
1. Demonstrates excellence in social responsibility and school community involvement
2. The student continually strives to ‘seek excellence’ to the limits of his or her abilities, to achieve their own personal academic goals.
3. Shows Leadership qualities and provide a positive role model for their peers
4. The student is courteous, helpful and caring in his or her relationships with other students and adults.
2020 - Lachlan O’Hehir
2019 - Ashlin Crawford
2018 - Marli-Jay Robertson
2017 - Tyron Powles
2016 - Lachlan Hope
2015 - Chelsea Calderbank
2014 - Chloe Jacobs
2013 - Montgomery Davison
2012 - Brendan Tingey
2011 - Hayley Caldwell
2010 - Chloe Forster
2009 - Casey Jelley
Comet Bay College maintains a strong connection with the defence community and deeply values their contribution for the benefit of all Australians.
Our Anzac Service, commemorative activities and morning tea aims to honour past and present service men and women. Student displays fill the foyer of the college and our new Military History Museum. Handmade poppies with messages of gratitude fill the grassy field in front of our gymnasium and our cadets march with pride during the service.
Comet Bay College displays a permanent Honour Wall in our Australian Military History Museum. It is a collection of photos of ex-students, parents, extended family, staff & community members who are present or past members of the Australian Defence Force.
We wish to show our appreciation to all defence members and their families for the sacrifices and contributions they make on behalf of all Australians
We add to the Honour Wall each year and we would appreciate your support.
If you are interested in participating, kindly email a photo of your family defence member who is affiliated with a current student at Comet Bay College.
Photos can be emailed to Claire.Hunt@education.wa.edu.au
Students at Comet Bay College are encouraged to participate in extra-curricular activities, sports, the arts and hobbies in their spare time. One activity that offers development of a large range of new skills, leadership opportunities and a positive ethos of teamwork is the Australian Defence Force Cadets.
If your child is affiliated with a local cadet unit, please see Claire Hunt on 0430336419 so that they can be included in our college Anzac Service and other defence related events.
Building a strong peer support group and sense of community is an important part of settling in to a new school. With high student mobility rates due to defence postings, our Defence Transition Mentor is keen to support you and your child to build new and positive connections here at Comet Bay College.
Please feel free to contact Claire Hunt for more information or support. She is only too happy to help.
Here are links to photo galleries from some of the events that our
defence students, college and/or our Defence Transition Mentor has been involved with in the past.
