The program, with childcare alongside, provides a unique and welcoming experience for participants to connect with each other, explore work that matters to them most and learn about available resources and services
The South Australian Government supported the Cowork Coplay program for a second consecutive year, this time backed by a $30,000 sponsorship through Veterans SA.
The innovative six-week program supports partners of current- and former-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel to find social connection while advancing their career and study goals.
While partners of ADF members are known to be resilient and adaptable, they face daily challenges, due to the unique nature of military life. These include career disruptions, increased caregiving responsibilities and the loss of social connection.
The Cowork Coplay program recognises the impact that this can have on Defence and veteran partners’ lives and aims to reduce these barriers by providing an inclusive community environment filled with learning and networking opportunities, workshops with mentors, modern coworking facilities and onsite child-minding facilities.
Recognising a need for a program like this, Claire Harris, Strategic Director and Co-founder at Human Quotient Group shared that over the past six-weeks, participants “stepped into their own power.”
“The program, with childcare alongside, provides a unique and welcoming experience for participants to connect with each other, explore work that matters to them most and learn about available resources and services,” she said.
“I continue to be inspired by the resourcefulness and enthusiasm of these amazing humans. They have skills, they’re ambitious and they’re proactively looking at the career opportunities ahead of them.”
The program was hosted by local Defence spouse Pamela Turner, with seven Adelaide-based Defence/ veteran partners participating in the program. Among them was Kimmy Pike who commended the program and was pleased to have time to focus on her career and postgraduate study.
“The workshops with mentors allowed us to have insightful group discussions and think about our own goals and how to get there. The environment was so supportive, and it was comforting to know that everyone had an understanding of the challenges of Defence life,” she said.
Looking to the future, Mrs Pike feels empowered to return to work and continue pursuing her career interests.
“My son had never been out of my care prior to the program, and it’s been great to see that he’s had a wonderful time with the carers each week. I’m now considering returning to work part-time in the near future. Seeing my son thrive has given me the confidence to enrol him in an early learning centre.”
