Impact of Service Separation on Australian Defence Force Families in Northern Australia - The Changing Nature of the Social Work Role
Service separation is an inherent aspect of the life of defence force families. Responding to the impact of service separation upon individuals, families and relationships is a key function of the social work role of Australian Defence Force (ADF) social workers.
The increasing international obligations of the ADF in recent years has meant that the nature and duration of separation experienced by defence families has both increased in time exposure and the nature of the reasons for such separations.Operational demands,and National security issues associated with refugees and asylum seekers combined with on-going daily work issues associated with training, guard duty, night work etc are all factors which have impacted heavily on ADF family stability.
Appropriate and effective social work service responses are developed when practitioners are able to identify such changes in the charactistics and intensities of service receivers'experiences.The presentation will focus upon research undertaken by an ADF social worker on the changing nature of defence force separation experienced by defence families.This research arose out of a practice awareness of an apparent rise in the number of personal and relationship issues at times of both increased Operational demands and the implementation of the Defence Economic Reform Program in the region. The increase in personal and relationship stress appeared to be compounded by such factors as geographical and climatic dislocation produced by relocation residence in Northern Australia, and the geographical separation of ADF families in Northern Australia from extended family in other parts of Australia resulting in a lack of extended family support at times of increased stress.
The findings from this research identified frequent and lengthy service separations over time, produced an 'Accumulative Stress Factor' for the members and their family's, resulting in a risk of relationship and marital breakdown, general family instability and longer term retention issues for the ADF, leading to a loss of member productivity and financial costs to Defence.
It is my intention to address the research findings and implications fo Social Work practice.