110.Defence Families of Australia-New Leadership & How DFA advocate for Defence Families - a podcast by Beck Rayner

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to DFA’s newly appointed Defence Family Advocate of Australia Sandi Laaksonen-Sherrin.

 

Sandi and I talk about;

• What her vision is when it comes to stepping into the role of Defence Family Advocate of Australia for DFA (Defence Families of Australia)
• Why it’s important that there is an advocacy group for defence partners and families
• How DFA remains independent of defence and provides frank advice to the Minister
• DFA’s advocacy pillars and what DFA will be pushing hardest on in the immediate future
• How DFA know what to advocate for on behalf of defence partners and families
• Why you don’t need to have personal experience to contact DFA about a defence partner or family issue you would like to bring attention to
• How defence partners and families can have their say on particular topics or issues of concern
• What the next 12 months look like for DFA and advocating for defence partners and families
• DFA’s short term and long-term goals for defence partners and families
• How DFA ensures they are representative of the defence partner and family community
• Why DFA is working on new opportunities to make it easier for defence partners and families to have a voice
• The work DFA have been doing to create an Advocacy Map due to be released in late November 2021
• How the advocacy map will be used as a tool by DFA to empower defence partners and families to get involved
• Some of the key area's DFA has had an impact on in recent times thanks to their advocacy
• DFA’s involvement when it comes to the Royal Commission into Veteran suicide and why it is important to provide a voice for defence families and veterans
• Her thoughts on whether it’s time family policy, support & services undergo a review
• Why DFA’s employment program ended and what is happening next when it comes to DFA and partner employment
• How Defence partners and families stay informed about all that DFA is currently advocating for

 

To find out more about DFA and the work that they do or to talk to them about an issue or concern you would like DFA to advocate for you or the wider defence community on, get in contact with your State/Territory rep by visiting the DFA website. Or to stay across any DFA updates and the release of their Advocacy Map sign up for their newsletter here or jump across to their socials and follow along.

 

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