Children of current and former serving ADF members experience a unique set of pressures compared to their civilian peers and education is one of the most significant factors impacted by a parent or guardian’s military service.
Blair Boyer MP
Minister for Education, Training and Skills
Geoff Brock MP
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs
South Australian defence force families will be able to access greater support, following a change in the new enrolment process for public schools.
Parents and carers of students attending a public school will be able to identify themselves as a current or former member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) using a new digital enrolment form.
This change will make it easier for schools to identify kids of ADF parents, put in place additional localised supports, and refer them to Commonwealth Government support services.
Things such as student support services, financial assistance and guidance and counselling will be made more accessible through the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Education Schemes.
The implementation of the additional support identifier by the Malinauskas Labor Government comes as a result of a request advocacy by the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Geoff Brock and organisations including Defence Kidz and Resolute Ready.
Minister Brock approached Minister for Education, Training and Skills Blair Boyer, seeking the change to digital enrolment processes to ensure defence families are captured within the education system.
The change will ensure all entitlements are provided, along with additional support when families are moved, or the defence member is posted away for duty.
The form will be developed this year in consultation with schools, parent associations and other relevant stakeholders.
It is anticipated that the updated Digital Enrolment Form will be introduced in schools from Term 1 next year as part of the rollout of the department’s Education Management System.
Quotes attributable to Blair Boyer
The mental health and wellbeing of our students has been a key focus of mine since becoming Education Minister a year ago, and I am so pleased to have worked with Minister Brock to ensure we are supporting our young people in this way.
With a simple addition to the online student enrolment form, parents will be able to self-identify whether they are a current or previous serving member of the Australian Defence Force.
Under this change, schools will be able to easily identify defence kids and ensure they are accessing the supports needed throughout their schooling.
This provides a significant and positive step to support the health and wellbeing of Defence students and their families when it comes to changing schools, integrating into the school community, and accessing support during parental absences.
Quotes attributable to Geoff Brock
Defence families require a unique set of support systems set up around them and it’s important that we as a community, ensure they are looked after.
I’m pleased that the Department for Education has been able to facilitate this request that will improve the wellbeing of these important families in our community.
Quotes attributable to Veterans SA Director Chantelle Bohan
Children of current and former serving ADF members experience a unique set of pressures compared to their civilian peers and education is one of the most significant factors impacted by a parent or guardian’s military service.
Being able to identify this cohort of children is a fundamental step towards addressing the educational, psychological, and social disadvantage experienced by these children and providing appropriate support mechanisms.
Quotes attributable to Defence Kidz Founder Hayley Boswell
By having children of current and former serving parents identified at the enrolment stage in schooling, it will better enable the teachers to support them and their unique needs especially during times of parental absence.
In addition, by identifying the newly enrolled children, the teacher has the ability to prepare the other children for their arrival, educating them about defence life and making the transition easier and more comfortable.
