Partners and Families of Transitioned and Transitioning Members

Veterans Centre Australia Community Consultation

Veterans Centre Australia (VCA) is an Incorporated Association, independent ex-service organisation, registered charity and Public Benevolent Institution. The VCA is governed by an independent cross-sector Board and services delivered by a team of qualified paid and volunteer staff.

VCA is positioned as an independent point of contact for current and former military personnel and their families seeking assistance.

The VCA is conducting a Veterans’ Community Survey to identify and develop ongoing programs and services to better meet the needs of the veteran community.

Your privacy is important to us. The collection of information in this survey is governed by the Veterans Centre Australia Privacy Policy. As such, all participants in this survey will be de-identified and we will not share identified personal information. A copy of the policy can be viewed on the VCA website.

We would very much appreciate 10 minutes of your time to complete the survey to help us understand your needs and circumstances at this point in time.

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* 1. Enter your current postcode

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* 2. If your partner or a family member is transitioning, please enter the postcode you will be moving to. If transition will not require you to move please enter NA.

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* 3. What is your age?

18-24

25-34

35-44

45-54

55-64

65+

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* 4. What is your gender

Female

Male

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* 5. Check the service your partner/family is from.

Army

Navy

Airforce

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* 6. Select the option that best describes you.

Partner or family member of Current ADF member

Partner or family member of Transitioning out of the ADF

Partner or family member of Ex-ADF member

Partner or family member of an ADF Reservist

Other (please specify)

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* 7. How many years has your partner or family member been serving/ how long did they serve in the ADF?

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* 8. What is/ was the reason your partner or family member is leaving the ADF?

Voluntary and moving to civilian employment

Medical

Administrative

Retirement

Moving to the reserves

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* 9. Do you have dependent children?

Yes

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* 10. If yes, how many children do you have?

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* 11. If you completed the previous question, please indicate the age category of your child/ children? Tick all that apply

4years old and under

Primary School Aged

Secondary School Aged

Post- School Aged and in full time study

Post- School Aged and working

Other (please specify)

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* 12. What is your current housing situation?

Defence housing

Living on base

I own a home

Renting

Public housing

Living with family/ friend

Shared accomodation

Homeless

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* 13. What is your highest level of education?

Year 10 or equivalent

Year 12 or equivalent

Diploma

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

PhD

Other (please specify)

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* 14. Does your partner or family member know who their ADF Transition coach is?

Yes

Unsure

Not applicable

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* 15. If yes, what is/was your view of the experience with them?

Excellent - they followed up and offered excellent support

Good - had regular contact with them and offered support when necessary

Neutral - had minimal contact

Negative - had no contact

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* 16. If your partner or family member is transitioning or transitioned, what is your current level of financial stress?

Not at all stressed

Extremely stressed

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 17. Have you or your partner/family member, engaged with additional veteran support services prior to transition?

Yes

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* 18. How likely are you to engage/ use the following services if they were available in your area?

	Very likely	Likely	Somewhat likely	Unlikely	Very unlikely	Unsure
DVA advocacy	DVA advocacy Very likely	DVA advocacy Likely	DVA advocacy Somewhat likely	DVA advocacy Unlikely	DVA advocacy Very unlikely	DVA advocacy Unsure
DVA friendly GP	DVA friendly GP Very likely	DVA friendly GP Likely	DVA friendly GP Somewhat likely	DVA friendly GP Unlikely	DVA friendly GP Very unlikely	DVA friendly GP Unsure
Rehabilitation	Rehabilitation Very likely	Rehabilitation Likely	Rehabilitation Somewhat likely	Rehabilitation Unlikely	Rehabilitation Very unlikely	Rehabilitation Unsure
Childcare	Childcare Very likely	Childcare Likely	Childcare Somewhat likely	Childcare Unlikely	Childcare Very unlikely	Childcare Unsure
Further education opportunities	Further education opportunities Very likely	Further education opportunities Likely	Further education opportunities Somewhat likely	Further education opportunities Unlikely	Further education opportunities Very unlikely	Further education opportunities Unsure
Recreation/ leisure activities	Recreation/ leisure activities Very likely	Recreation/ leisure activities Likely	Recreation/ leisure activities Somewhat likely	Recreation/ leisure activities Unlikely	Recreation/ leisure activities Very unlikely	Recreation/ leisure activities Unsure
Dietition/ nutritionist	Dietition/ nutritionist Very likely	Dietition/ nutritionist Likely	Dietition/ nutritionist Somewhat likely	Dietition/ nutritionist Unlikely	Dietition/ nutritionist Very unlikely	Dietition/ nutritionist Unsure
Psychologist/ counselling services	Psychologist/ counselling services Very likely	Psychologist/ counselling services Likely	Psychologist/ counselling services Somewhat likely	Psychologist/ counselling services Unlikely	Psychologist/ counselling services Very unlikely	Psychologist/ counselling services Unsure
Treatment for gambling/ addiction/ drug and alcohol	Treatment for gambling/ addiction/ drug and alcohol Very likely	Treatment for gambling/ addiction/ drug and alcohol Likely	Treatment for gambling/ addiction/ drug and alcohol Somewhat likely	Treatment for gambling/ addiction/ drug and alcohol Unlikely	Treatment for gambling/ addiction/ drug and alcohol Very unlikely	Treatment for gambling/ addiction/ drug and alcohol Unsure
Employment support	Employment support Very likely	Employment support Likely	Employment support Somewhat likely	Employment support Unlikely	Employment support Very unlikely	Employment support Unsure
Family counselling	Family counselling Very likely	Family counselling Likely	Family counselling Somewhat likely	Family counselling Unlikely	Family counselling Very unlikely	Family counselling Unsure
Physiotherapy	Physiotherapy Very likely	Physiotherapy Likely	Physiotherapy Somewhat likely	Physiotherapy Unlikely	Physiotherapy Very unlikely	Physiotherapy Unsure
Financial support	Financial support Very likely	Financial support Likely	Financial support Somewhat likely	Financial support Unlikely	Financial support Very unlikely	Financial support Unsure
Financial counselling	Financial counselling Very likely	Financial counselling Likely	Financial counselling Somewhat likely	Financial counselling Unlikely	Financial counselling Very unlikely	Financial counselling Unsure

Other (please specify)

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* 19. Rate your level of anxiety about the following items in anticipation of/ post-transition

	Very concerned	Concerned	Somewhat concerned	Not concerned	Not at all concerned	Unsure
Financial stress	Financial stress Very concerned	Financial stress Concerned	Financial stress Somewhat concerned	Financial stress Not concerned	Financial stress Not at all concerned	Financial stress Unsure
Housing arrangements	Housing arrangements Very concerned	Housing arrangements Concerned	Housing arrangements Somewhat concerned	Housing arrangements Not concerned	Housing arrangements Not at all concerned	Housing arrangements Unsure
Child care/Educational opportunities for my children	Child care/Educational opportunities for my children Very concerned	Child care/Educational opportunities for my children Concerned	Child care/Educational opportunities for my children Somewhat concerned	Child care/Educational opportunities for my children Not concerned	Child care/Educational opportunities for my children Not at all concerned	Child care/Educational opportunities for my children Unsure
Health care arrangements	Health care arrangements Very concerned	Health care arrangements Concerned	Health care arrangements Somewhat concerned	Health care arrangements Not concerned	Health care arrangements Not at all concerned	Health care arrangements Unsure
Education/training	Education/training Very concerned	Education/training Concerned	Education/training Somewhat concerned	Education/training Not concerned	Education/training Not at all concerned	Education/training Unsure

Other (please specify)

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* 20. What is/ what was important to you when your partner/family member leaves/left the ADF?

	Important	Not Important
Move back to home town	Move back to home town Important	Move back to home town Not Important
Finding employment related to my current career	Finding employment related to my current career Important	Finding employment related to my current career Not Important
Stay in a similar location to where I am now	Stay in a similar location to where I am now Important	Stay in a similar location to where I am now Not Important
Continue education/ training	Continue education/ training Important	Continue education/ training Not Important
Connection to a well serviced community	Connection to a well serviced community Important	Connection to a well serviced community Not Important

Other (please specify)

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* 21. From your perspective as a partner/family member, what parts of the transition process were/are the simplest for you? Check all that apply.

Communication with the transitioning partner or family member

Communication with the ADF

Relocation services

Employment assistance

Updating personal/household administration e.g. healthcare insurance, rental agreements, knowing where to find information

Accessing physical and mental health services

Claims management

Wellbeing support

Social connections

Other (please specify)

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* 22. From your perspective as a partner/family member, what parts of the transition process were/are the most difficult for you? Check all that apply.

Communication with the transitioning partner or family member

Communication with the ADF

Relocation services

Employment assistance

Updating personal/household administration e.g. healthcare insurance, rental agreements, knowing where to find information

Accessing physical and mental health services

Claims management

Wellbeing support

Social connections

Other (please specify)

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* 23. Has your partner/family member attended any Defence offered transition programs?

Yes

Unsure

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* 24. If you answered "yes" to the previous question, how well did the Defence Transition programs prepare your partner/family member for transition?

Not prepared at all

Fully prepared

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

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* 25. From your perspective, what are the barriers to engaging with an Ex-Service Organisation for assistance?

	Very concerned	Concerned	Somewhat concerned	Not concerned	Not all concerned	Unsure
Confidentiality	Confidentiality Very concerned	Confidentiality Concerned	Confidentiality Somewhat concerned	Confidentiality Not concerned	Confidentiality Not all concerned	Confidentiality Unsure
Stigma	Stigma Very concerned	Stigma Concerned	Stigma Somewhat concerned	Stigma Not concerned	Stigma Not all concerned	Stigma Unsure
Unaware of how to access services	Unaware of how to access services Very concerned	Unaware of how to access services Concerned	Unaware of how to access services Somewhat concerned	Unaware of how to access services Not concerned	Unaware of how to access services Not all concerned	Unaware of how to access services Unsure
Financial stress	Financial stress Very concerned	Financial stress Concerned	Financial stress Somewhat concerned	Financial stress Not concerned	Financial stress Not all concerned	Financial stress Unsure
Not feeling connected to the veteran community	Not feeling connected to the veteran community Very concerned	Not feeling connected to the veteran community Concerned	Not feeling connected to the veteran community Somewhat concerned	Not feeling connected to the veteran community Not concerned	Not feeling connected to the veteran community Not all concerned	Not feeling connected to the veteran community Unsure
Politics within ex-service organisations	Politics within ex-service organisations Very concerned	Politics within ex-service organisations Concerned	Politics within ex-service organisations Somewhat concerned	Politics within ex-service organisations Not concerned	Politics within ex-service organisations Not all concerned	Politics within ex-service organisations Unsure
I am not sure our family is eligible	I am not sure our family is eligible Very concerned	I am not sure our family is eligible Concerned	I am not sure our family is eligible Somewhat concerned	I am not sure our family is eligible Not concerned	I am not sure our family is eligible Not all concerned	I am not sure our family is eligible Unsure

Other (please specify)

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* 26. Is there anything else that you would like to tell us?

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* 27. Are you willing to have a confidential interview with our researchers? If yes, please complete the contact details below,

Name

Email Address

Phone Number