177 episodes

Welcome to the Military Life Podcast- a podcast telling the stories of everyday Australian Military partners.
Listen in to hear from others who are living this military life (Defence Life), juggling all the things on the daily, just like you and I. Let's connect and support each other by telling our stories, celebrating our strength, focusing on self-care & lifting each other up.

Military Life Military Life

    • Kids & Family
    • 4.3 • 8 Ratings

Welcome to the Military Life Podcast- a podcast telling the stories of everyday Australian Military partners.
Listen in to hear from others who are living this military life (Defence Life), juggling all the things on the daily, just like you and I. Let's connect and support each other by telling our stories, celebrating our strength, focusing on self-care & lifting each other up.

    Emma & Elise and their Cowork Coplay Experiences

    Emma & Elise and their Cowork Coplay Experiences

    This week on the Military Life Podcast, I speak with spouses Emma and Elise about their participation in Cowork Coplay, an amazing program that aims to give Defence Partners the time and space to focus on their career goals and projects, be they related to study, business, or job-hunting.
    Emma and Elise went into the Cowork Coplay program, which ran in Adelaide in early 2023, with different expectations, and both walked out of the program with positive outcomes.
     
    Emma and I spoke about;
    -Why taking part in the Cowork Coplay program gave her the permission and courage to show up for herself and her goals
    -The supportive and understanding environment the Cowork Coplay program creates for participants
    -How the Cowork Coplay program helped her feel energised and realise she had so much to offer an employer 
    -Understanding the value of her skills and deciding to take her career in a new direction
    -The confidence fellow participants gave her to be open to new opportunities, apply for jobs, and secure employment by the end of the program
    -Connecting with support, services and the Defence community and the positive impact it had on her wellbeing
     
    Elise and I spoke about;
    -The impact her remote job was having on her well-being and setting boundaries
    -How the career development sessions helped her get clarity around whether to stay in her current role or look for new opportunities
    -The incredible support and understanding that was offered by fellow Cowork Coplay participants
    -Being seen as more than JUST a Defence partner, setting intentions, goals and figuring out next steps to take action
    -The importance of having dedicated time to focus on herself and what she needed to get career focus
    -How the Cowork Coplay program helped her fall in love with her job again and see all of the positives it had to offer
     
    As we heard from Emma and Elise’s stories, it is so important Defence Partners are supported with innovative programs like Cowork Coplay to not only support their wellbeing but also provide the time and space for professional development by combining the things that matter: meaningful work, community and family.
    Cowork Coplay programs are delivered by Human Quotient Group, a veteran- and female-led Australian social enterprise. The program was created by Claire Harris, a Defence spouse, informed by feedback from the Defence community, her lived experience and professional expertise.
    The good news is that the Cowork Coplay program will once again get underway in Adelaide, South Australia, thanks to the support of Veterans SA and for the first time, the Cowork Coplay program will be available in Perth, Western Australia, with the support of Navy.
    To find out more information or register your interest in participating, visit the Cowork Coplay website www.coworkcoplay.com.au

    • 53 min
    PART ONE Navigating our first Defence Move as a Family

    PART ONE Navigating our first Defence Move as a Family

    This week on the podcast, my Husband Scott and I talk about our current and past experiences with living apart and being MWDU (Member with Dependants Unaccompanied) or URF (Unaccompanied Resident Family) as it is called now.
    In PART ONE, Scott and I also talk about;
    •                   How our 5th MWDU experience went and the big decisions we needed to make
    •                   Why communication and checking in with each other is so important
    •                   How different life stages impact how you experience MWDU & living apart
    •                   Finding out our next posting location and the big changes that are ahead
    •                   Navigating a defence move after being in one location for 13 years
    •                   Supporting our children through their first defence move
    •                   Leaving our dream home so that we can finally all be together again
    •                   Balancing the many emotions of leaving one location and starting fresh in the next
     
    Click through to Episode 166 of the podcast to listen to PART TWO.
    Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

    • 27 min
    PART TWO Navigating our First Defence Move as a Family

    PART TWO Navigating our First Defence Move as a Family

    This week on the podcast, my Husband Scott and I talk about our current and past experiences with living apart and being MWDU (Member with Dependants Unaccompanied) or URF (Unaccompanied Resident Family) as it is called now.
    In PART TWO (click through and listen to PART ONE Ep165 first), Scott and I also talk about;
    •                     Why we decided to wait to tell our children we were moving
    •                     How we approached such a huge conversation with our children
    •                     Shifting from owning our own home to living in a DHA property
    •                     Making space to fully experience our new posting location
    •                     Focusing on the importance of making a home wherever we all are
    •                     Figuring out how to live and parent together again
    •                     The things we are most looking forward to when we are back together
    •                     The heartbreak that comes with saying goodbye to best friends, our chosen family
     
    Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

    • 25 min
    Someone I Love is in Defence-The Spouse business creating resources for ADF Kids

    Someone I Love is in Defence-The Spouse business creating resources for ADF Kids

    On this week’s Military Life *Parents Edition* podcast episode, I speak with Spouse and Defence School Mentor Bianca about her new business, ‘Someone I Love is in Defence’.
    Bianca and I also spoke about;
    •         Her journey from being an ADF member herself, transitioning out & finding her feet as a Defence Partner
    •         Navigating Defence life, starting a family and deciding to take up a role as a Defence School Mentor
    •         How being a DSM opened her eyes to the need for more and  varied resources for Defence Kids
    •         Deciding to turn her ideas into activity sheets, colouring, activity and storybooks with specific themes for Australian Defence Kids
    •         Why the support of her Navy husband and FREE entrepreneur courses through the Prince’s Trust and Frontline Labs were key to establishing and launching her business
    •         The importance of the resources serving a dual purpose- to be entertaining and also facilitate meaningful interactions
    •         How her activity sheets and books encourage conversations and Defence Kids to ask questions, express emotions, and strengthen their bond with their ADF member
    •         Focusing on a variety of Defence Life topics like moving, deployment, living apart from your ADF member (URF) and the transition out of Defence
    •         The importance of co-designing her resources and books with Defence Kids and parents
    •         How to access free resources via her website and when the activity books and Army, Navy, RAAF books will be available for purchase
    Follow Bianca on her ‘Someone I Love is in Defence’ socials via the below links or sign up for her newsletter on her website https://www.someoneiloveisindefence.com.au/ to be the first to know when her colouring, activity and storybooks will be ready to purchase.
    Follow along on Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/someoneiloveisindefence
    Follow along on Instagram- https://www.instagram.com/someoneiloveisindefence

    • 21 min
    Defence Partners Answer the Question-What was it like accessing Defence Family-related Support & Making Spouse Friends?

    Defence Partners Answer the Question-What was it like accessing Defence Family-related Support & Making Spouse Friends?

    On this week’s Military Life Podcast Episode, enjoy listening to some real talk from a handful of Defence Partners who have previously detailed their spouse journey with us on past episodes.
    Episode 163 is all about accessing Defence-related Support and making Spouse Friends.
    As you will hear from listening to the stories of Defence Partners Hana, Emma, Jeni, Catherine, Chaia, Cheree, and Chantelle, our journeys are unique yet have many common threads that connect us.
    So, get comfy and enjoy listening to this compilation episode that sheds light on the question…
    What was it like accessing Defence Family-related Support and Making Spouse Friends?
    To listen to the full episode, scroll to Ep121 (24/3/22) for Hana’s story, Ep103 (2/9/21) for Emma’s story, Ep155 (27/7/23) for Jeni’s story, Ep111 (26/11/21) for Catherine’s story, Ep136 (15/9/22) for Chaia’s story, Ep91 (6/5/21) for Cheree’s story or Ep107 (710/21) for Chantelle's story.
    Did you know that you can access various Defence-related services and support? Check my online Defence Partner INFO Hub for all the contact details Defence Partner INFO Hub - Military Life or download the Defence Member and Family Information Guide (thanks to DMFS) Click HERE to read

    • 22 min
    Defence Partners Answer the Question-How do you Support your Mental Health?

    Defence Partners Answer the Question-How do you Support your Mental Health?

    On this week’s Military Life Podcast Episode, enjoy listening to some real talk from a handful of Defence Partners who have previously detailed their spouse journey with us on past episodes.
    Episode 162 is all about how Defence Partners support their Mental Health while living Defence Life.
    As you will hear from listening to the stories of Defence Partners Chaia, Catherine, Rachael, Nicole, Kim, and Amanda, our journeys are unique yet have many common threads that connect us.
    So, get comfy and enjoy listening to this compilation episode that sheds light on the question…
    How do Defence Partners Support their Mental Health while living Defence Life?
    To listen to the full episode, scroll to Ep136 (15/9/22) for Chaia’s story, Ep111 (26/11/21) for Catherine’s story, Ep131 (11/8/22) for Rachael’s story, Ep89 (15/4/21) for Nicole’s story, Ep82 (11/2/21) for Kim’s story or Ep87 (25/3/21) for Amanda’s story.

    • 23 min

Customer Reviews

4.3 out of 5
8 Ratings

8 Ratings

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