Defence Mentor News

Hello all.

A warm welcome to all our new Defence families who have embarked on their new journey with their children attending Seymour College in 2024, and welcome back to our existing families.

At Seymour College we have a Defence School Mentor Program: We run activities to assist with the transition & support to all Defence students, assisting with their social and emotional needs. My role in the DSM capacity is not one of a teacher or a counsellor, but to act as a conduit between your family and all the services the school has to offer.

I will assist and ensure the appropriate support and information are made available when required.  I look forward to introducing a range of activities to support the students and to address issues relating to the disruption to their learning and curriculum differences, as well as monitoring their social and emotional wellbeing. 

I look forward to getting to know you and your family in the coming weeks. 

If I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting with you yet, please feel free to touch base via phone, email or in person. My Days on site for 2024 are as follows – Tuesday & Thursday 8:30 – 16:30 ,Wednesday 8:30 - 12:30.

We also ask all Defence families to please inform your DSM via email or phone if your circumstances have changed due to deployment, posting, married with dependent unaccompanied, so we can support your family in a time of change.

If your needing assistance with school supplies, such as books, stationary or navigating compass please don’t hesitate to reach out.

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 

  DMFS – Children’s Support Programs

Education Assistance Scheme (EAS) - Provides a range of financial support to help members pay for some additional education costs for their children caused by a posting to a location within Australia. Further information can be found in PACMAN

Defence School Mentor Program (DSMP) - Provides funding to applicant schools for the employment of Defence School Mentors (DSMs) to assist Defence children transition to new localities and school environments and provide support to the children and families of ADF members when a parent is absent from home.

ADF Equip Program: Children's Group Resilience Program - A suite of sessions tailor-made to support the resilience and wellbeing of children that may experience the effects of parental absence and frequent relocations due to their parent/s or guardian/s serving in the ADF. Register your interest for the ADF Equip program via the above link and a staff member of your local DMFS office will be in contact.                          

ADF Equip Program

The ADF Equip Program is free to attend and available across Australia for Defence families. The program aims to support the resilience and wellbeing of children that may experience the effects of parental absence and frequent relocations due to their parent/s or guardian/s serving in the ADF.

For more information and to express your interest in this program please visit: ADF Equip Program

Open arms- veterans & families counselling

What's coming up:

Friday 09 February 2024: Relaxation and stress management, Melbourne

Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling (formerly VVCS) is Australia’s leading provider of high-quality mental health assessment and clinical counselling services for Australian veterans and their families.

Focused on meeting client needs through a combination of proven clinical practices and new and emerging evidence-based approaches.

To learn more about Open Arms' free, confidential 24-hour counselling service, including your eligibility, call 1800 011 046.

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

Kookaburra Kids

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Mia, Jeremiah, Zara, Taylah, Abby, Max, Chase, Dylan and Layla