Defence Mentor News

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

All November Birthdays will receive a lunch voucher at Defence Club on Tuesday and Thursday.

Tess, Tyler & Paige 

Any students who have had a birthday and have not yet received their free lunch card or showcase voucher please see Kelly.

Term 4: Defence Club Activities 

Tuesdays - Arts & crafts, games.

Thursdays - Hot chocolate with marshmallows. If your child has any milk allergies please let me know asap via email and I will supply an alternative.

Puckapunyal Spring Market

At the Puckapunyal Spring Market, our Seymour College team brought some engaging and hands-on activities for everyone to enjoy. Miss Gao, our science teacher, introduced interactive science equipment that the children loved exploring. Mrs Ridd helped the kids create fun pom-pom creatures, while Mrs Pyers brought her clay spinning wheel and demonstrated pottery techniques.

Our Defence School Mentor, Kelly Quigg, was also in attendance, and had the privilege of meeting some lovely Defence families.

A special thank you to the Puckapunyal District Neighbourhood Centre (PDNC) and Amelia for allowing us to showcase just a small portion of what Seymour College has to offer. We were grateful for the opportunity to be involved in such a fantastic event! 

Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal

Thank you to our dedicated Defence students who took turns and volunteered to walk around the school selling poppies for our Remembrance Day Poppy Appeal. Your efforts are greatly appreciated, and your support helps raise funds for veterans and their families.

If you haven't had a chance to see our school and community poppy project this year, featuring a nurse covered in white poppies and wearing a red poppy shawl, please feel free to stop by the front office and have a look. 

The display will be available for viewing for the rest of the week.

If you'd like to get a head start on our 2025 Poppy Project, we’ll be incorporating blue poppies to raise awareness for PTSD. Stay tuned for more details on how you can get involved!

Poppy Project 2024

Support for Families Who Have Left the ADF.

Even after leaving the Australian Defence Force (ADF), your Defence School Mentor (DSM) and the school continue to offer support for your family. We understand that transitioning out of military life can bring its own set of challenges, and we remain committed to helping your children through these changes.

Our services include emotional, social, and academic support, ensuring that your family remains connected and supported during this new phase. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you need guidance or assistance—we are here for you, every step of the way.

Update Us on Your Current Circumstances!

To ensure we provide the best possible support for you and your children, we kindly ask that you update the school or myself on your current circumstances. Whether you're married living unaccompanied, your partner has been deployed, or they are currently outfield, it's important for us to stay informed.

By keeping us updated, we can offer tailored support and resources for your family during times of change. Please reach out if you need assistance or have any concerns. We're here to help!

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling

The Open Arms Community and Peer Advisor will be on base to provide information about available support services through Open Arms.

Drop into the PDNC at Puckapunyal to learn more about how Open Arms can assist you and your family.

To learn more about Open Arms, free, confidential 24-hour counselling service, including your eligibility, call 1800011046.

For more information about Open Arms or their programs, visit: Open Arms

POSTING ORDERS!!!!

As posting orders are being released, we kindly request that you inform us if your family will be posting out. This can be done either by emailing me directly or contacting the school.

Your timely update will allow us to support the social and emotional needs of your children and ensure a smoother transition for both your family and your child as they move to another school.

Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

Defence Member and Family Helpline          1800 624 608

For advice, support or local community information, contact our all-hours Defence Member and Family Helpline. Run by Defence Member and Family Support, the helpline is the best way to access the programs and services that we offer to help Defence families manage the military way of life. 

The helpline is available 24/7 and is staffed by qualified Human Services professionals, including social workers and psychologists.

Australian Veterans’ Children Assistance Trust – Scholarships

AVCAT continues to support veteran families through tertiary scholarships for children and grandchildren of Australian ex-serving veterans. We take pride in our long history and strive to honour the legacy of those who have served and the families that support them. We embrace the camaraderie and unique bond shared by veteran families across Australia and take pride in our scholars and alumni.

For more information visit: Australian Veterans & Children Assistance Trust

Defence Special Needs Support Group

Defence Special Needs Support Group Inc. is a non-profit benevolent volunteer organisations established to assist Navy, Army and Air Force families with a family member with special needs.

Information about DSNSG and the support offered can be found at www.dsnsg.org.au