Military Life

Beck Rayner
  • 4.3 (8)
  • KIDS & FAMILY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Military Life

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.

  1. OCT 31

    A Focus on the Wellbeing of Army Families

    This week on the Military Life Podcast, I had the privilege of having an authentic, informative, and real defence family-focused conversation with the Chief of Army Australia, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart. I have now met and spoken with Lieutenant General Stuart several times, in various settings, focused on discussing a range of defence family topics. There have been ten-minute conversations at defence events and hour-long conversations in Lieutenant General Stuart's pretty impressive office in Canberra for this podcast episode (even though the recording was supposed to be a 30-minute chat). What can I say? The conversation was flowing. And you know what my conversations with Lieutenant General Stuart all had in common? It was a feeling that he had all the time in the world to speak with me and hear from all of you and that discussing defence families was as important to him as what it is to all of us. Each conversation with Lieutenant General Stuart has been genuine and insightful with someone who, in his own words, isn’t interested in “legacy” but is committed to real and actual practical changes for Army families so that they can continue to thrive and choose to serve. In episode 181 we discuss; -Why focusing on purpose and people takes priority -Achieving as part of a team, and the team that should matter most is your family -Recognising that a defence members service is a collective effort and the vital role families play -Creating more opportunities for Army families to have agency over their lives through a variety of initiatives -Acknowledging that housing and where defence families live impacts so many other areas of our lives -The importance of staying in touch and engaged with the everyday experiences of Army families -How data-informed changes to policies that are flexible create more choice and better support for families -Being able to change policy quickly enough to have a real and tangible impact on the current challenges Army families are facing -Understanding the changing set of considerations, circumstances and priorities defence families have at different points of service life -The introduction of an Army Families Handbook and why it will be an evolving resource -What are capability bricks and why designing a health and well-being brick will help connect families -Why Lieutenant General Stuart's focus is not on leaving a legacy but rather on building an inheritance for defence members and families   Ready to join the Military Life Community? Click through the link to get connected xx www.militarylife.com.au

    40 min

  2. OCT 27

    PART TWO-Helping Spouses take their Careers to the Next Level!

    This week on the Military Life podcast, Veteran Spouse Jo returns for PART TWO of her episode. In episode 179/PART ONE, Jo detailed her 15-year Defence Partner journey over 9 postings across New Zealand and Australia, her husband’s transition, and her decision to take her career in a new direction.   In PART TWO, Jo and I speak about; -Why she decided to pursue Career Coaching and focus on helping Defence Partners -What a Career Coach does and why it is so much more than helping people with their resumes -The joy and satisfaction Jo gets from helping Defence Partners take their careers to the next level -The importance of finding meaningful employment you WANT to be in -Helping Defence Partners find their confidence & empowering them on their career journey -We discuss the value and unique skills Defence Partners bring to a workplace -Explaining PEAP (Partner Employment Assistance Program) how, when, and why to access it -How to find a PEAP provider and what they should be bringing to the table -The importance of working with a qualified CDAA career practitioner -Why Jo offers FREE masterclasses for Defence Partners on various career topics                                                                                                        To find out more about Jo, PEAP, and her work as a Career Practitioner, follow along via her socials Instagram:  @jomacdonaldcareers or Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jomacdonaldcareers   Or check out her website https://www.jomacdonaldcareers.com/defencepartners   Jo has an Upcoming Masterclass- Love What You Do Masterclass for Defence Partners on Tuesday 29 October 2024 at 7pm (QLD time) find out details over on her socials or website. To read more about PEAP or to access the application form, check out the Defence Member Family Support (DMFS) website via this link https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/family-programs-services/support-for-families/partner-employment-assistance-program

    42 min

  3. OCT 17

    PART ONE-15 year Defence Partner journey over 9 postings

    On this week’s Military Life podcast episode, Veteran Spouse Jo details her 15 year Defence Partner journey over 9 postings across New Zealand and Australia.   In PART ONE, Jo and I speak about; -Embracing support, finding community, and making lifelong friends -Discussing her spouse experience vs that of the 2024 Defence Partner -How she ensured her relationship with her Defence Member stayed strong -Communication, understanding & the mental load a Defence Partner carries -Resilience vs Limits and the point of impact on the Spouse and Defence Kids -Choosing transition, figuring out where to settle, and which career path to follow -Finding her passion, becoming a Career Practitioner, and helping Defence Partners   *Stay tuned next week for episode 180 and Part Two of my chat with Jo. We speak about her decision to become a Career Practitioner, her focus on helping Defence Partners find their confidence to go after what they want to be doing when it comes to their career, finding meaningful employment and PEAP (the Partner employment assistance program).   To find out more about Jo and her work as a Career Practitioner follow along via her socials Instagram:  @jomacdonaldcareers or Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/jomacdonaldcareers Or check out her website https://www.jomacdonaldcareers.com/defencepartners Jo has an Upcoming Masterclass- Love What You Do Masterclass for Defence Partners on Tuesday 29 October 2024 at 7pm (QLD time) find out details over on her socials or website.

    35 min

  4. OCT 3

    Let's CELEBRATE 175 Episodes with Words of Wisdom & Real Talk from Defence Partners PART 2

    This week on the Military Life Podcast, I have put together a compilation episode with real talk and words of wisdom offered by some of the Defence Partners who have been gracious enough to tell their story on the podcast over the last 5 years! FIVE YEARS…. Can you even believe it? What a huge milestone for all of us to celebrate. Five years of the podcast, 175 episodes and 100,000 downloads. I want to say thank you to all of you for sharing your stories, listening, supporting, connecting, building this community with me, empowering yourselves and each other by accessing and sharing information and resources, coming together as a united force and for getting it. You just GET IT, and I thank you for that. It is that shared understanding that this community of defence partners has that has created a space of CONNECTION and BELONGING for all Defence Partners Navy, Army and Air Force. So, get comfy and enjoy listening to some of the best advice, words of wisdom, tips and tricks, insider info, and real talk from a number of Defence Partners who have previously shared their spouse journey with us on the Podcast.

    35 min

  5. SEP 26

    Let's CELEBRATE 175 Episodes with Words of Wisdom & Real Talk from Defence Partners PART 1

    This week on the Military Life Podcast, I have put together a compilation episode with real talk and words of wisdom offered by some of the Defence Partners who have been gracious enough to tell their story on the podcast over the last 5 years! FIVE YEARS…. Can you even believe it? What a huge milestone for all of us to celebrate. Five years of the podcast, 175 episodes and 100,000 downloads. I want to say thank you to all of you for sharing your stories, listening, supporting, connecting, building this community with me, empowering yourselves and each other by accessing and sharing information and resources, coming together as a united force and for getting it. You just GET IT, and I thank you for that. It is that shared understanding that this community of defence partners has that has created a space of CONNECTION and BELONGING for all Defence Partners Navy, Army and Air Force. So, get comfy and enjoy listening to some of the best advice, words of wisdom, tips and tricks, insider info, and real talk from a number of Defence Partners who have previously shared their spouse journey with us on the Podcast.

    30 min

  6. SEP 5

    A Focus on the Wellbeing of Navy Families

    This week on the Military Life Podcast, I had the privilege of having a genuine, insightful and defence family-focused conversation with Chief of Navy Australia Vice Admiral Mark Hammond. Throughout my time as not only a Defence Partner but also now through my work in the defence family space, I have interacted with people from all services, various ranks, departments, and positions, and you get a feel when someone is genuine. You get a feel when someone wants to listen, wants to understand, wants to acknowledge, and values the defence family perspective. Vice Admiral Hammond is one of those genuine people. In episode 176, we discuss; -What makes Defence and, in particular, Navy families special -How fundamental families are when it comes to members and the Navy as a whole  -Remembering that “our power at sea is derived from our family’s strength at home” -The importance of frequent engagement with ADF members & families -The ‘Stay Onboard Campaign’ explained, the focus on families, and why now? -Continued listening to understand what matters most to Navy personnel and their families -How his spouse and family, including his daughter, who is also in the Navy, have provided perspective -Evaluating the Stay Onboard Campaign initiatives and the importance of continued improvement -Recognising command teams, personnel, and bases having a positive impact for families -Supporting those in leadership positions to balance capability needs and the needs of Navy families   Want to know more about the Stay Onboard Initiatives? Check them out here https://www.navy.gov.au/navy-people/programs/stay-onboard-people-first Have you seen the new Navy Families Handbook? Download a copy here https://www.navy.gov.au/navy-people/family-support   Ready to join the Military Life Community? Click through the link to get connected xx www.militarylife.com.au

    32 min

  7. AUG 14

    Buying & Selling-Making your Money and Defence Allowances work for YOU!

    Posting to a new location is a huge life event. Whether you do it every few years or, like me, have long stretches between moves because you choose to URF (unaccompanied Resident Family), it can be a lot. Throw in selling a property, and the TO DO list can seem overwhelming. It’s understandable that maybe you just want to take a minute between selling in one location and buying in the next so that you can catch your breath, unpack, and explore your new location. Soooo, in the meantime, what do you do with the funds from the sale of your property, and which defence allowances can you access? Queue Defence Bank’s Regional Manager Lending Distribution Ashley to walk us through some of the options. In this episode, Ashley and I speak about; -First steps when it comes to selling a property, your mortgage and everything in between -The paperwork and admin you can get sorted ahead of time before selling and posting out -What happens once your property sale goes through and the funds are released to your bank -DHOAS (Defence Home Ownership Assistance Scheme) payments and what happens once you sell -Applying for a new DHOAS certificate and accessing payments when it comes time to buy again -Guidelines around accessing DHOAS when buying property upon transition out of Defence -What is the HPSEA (Home Purchase or Sale Expenses Allowance), who can access it and when -The costs associated with selling in one location and buying in another and what you can claim -What to do with funds from the sale of a property and how to make the money work for you -High-interest saving accounts, fixed-term deposit options, and the Salute Account explained   Check out the Defence Bank website for further information about buying and selling a property, as well as DHOAS, HPSEA, and other home buyer allowances. You can also find out more about Defence Bank's high-interest savings accounts, fixed-term deposit options and the exclusive Salute Account, which rewards ADF members for service milestones.  www.defencebank.com.au

    20 min

  8. AUG 8

    PART 2-Posting Overseas-Spouse Nicole's Experience

    On this week’s Military Life podcast episode, I ask Defence Partner Nicole, who is currently posted in the USA with her ADF member and two children, ALLLL the overseas posting questions you didn’t even know you needed answered! In PART TWO, Nicole and I talk about; - The regret Nicole and her Husband felt about moving overseas once the dust had settled - The impact on her mental health when the reality of being so far from home set in - Feeling like everything is hard and different and figuring out their new normal - Finally settling into living overseas and finding the positives - Being bitten by the travel bug and visiting New York, Florida and other bucket-list locations - Working through concerns around safety in their new location   - Getting to work to make their house a home and building a new friend circle - The huge amount of choice you have in the USA and the associated decision fatigue - Feeling like life in Australia goes on and wondering if they will be forgotten - Nicole’s top advice for others posting overseas   If you didn’t listen to PART ONE of this episode, consider giving it a listen. There is so much great overseas posting insight in Episode 173, PART ONE. Ready to join the Military Life community? Click through the link to get connected xx www.militarylife.com.au

    44 min
See All (191)

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
8 Ratings

About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Beck Rayner
  • Years Active
    2018 - 2024
  • Episodes
    191
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Beck Rayner
  • Show Website
    Military Life

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada