You served too, in your own way.
Partners, kids and parents of veterans carry the system from a different angle, often at 11pm with a form on the kitchen table. This page is a quiet map of the people and services built for you, not just for the serving member.
Crisis and safety, right now.
If you or your veteran are in immediate danger, ring 000. These lines are 24/7, free, and used to talking with families, not just the serving member.
Open Arms, Family line
24/7Free, confidential counselling for partners, kids and parents of current and ex-serving ADF. Available 24/7, you do not need a referral.
Defence Family Helpline
24/7Run by Defence Member and Family Support. Information, referral and a listening ear for current ADF families, 24/7.
Lifeline
24/713 11 14. Anyone, any reason, any time. Text and chat options also available.
1800RESPECT
24/7National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling service. 1800 737 732, 24/7. Translator service on request.
Support for you, not just for them.
Loving someone who served is its own kind of weight. These services are free and built for partners and family members, not as an add-on.
Open Arms counselling
Free face-to-face, phone or video counselling for partners (including former partners with shared children), kids 18+ and parents of veterans.
Open Arms group programmes
Residential and day programmes including Stepping Out, Sleeping Sound and Building Better Relationships for veterans and partners.
Partners of Veterans Association (PVA)
Peer support and advocacy run by partners, for partners. Local branches across Australia and an active online community.
Head to Health
Federal government front door to free and low-cost mental health support. Useful for partners and adult kids who are not eligible for veteran-specific services.
If the kids are wearing it too.
Defence kids move schools, lose mates and absorb a lot quietly. These programmes are designed for them, free, and do not require a parent to be unwell.
Kookaburra Kids
Free camps, activity days and online programmes for 8 to 18 year olds in defence and veteran families where a parent lives with a mental health condition.
Defence School Mentor programme
Mentors in many schools across Australia supporting children of ADF families through postings, deployments and transitions.
Legacy
Practical, financial and emotional support for families of veterans who have died or whose health has been impacted by service. Education grants, mentoring and respite.
Raising Children Network, Defence families
Plain-English articles on talking to kids about deployment, transition, grief and parental mental health.
Your career counts too.
Frequent postings, sudden transitions and carer load make a partner's work history look different on paper. There is dedicated help, free.
Partner Employment Assistance Programme (PEAP)
Funded coaching, resume help and accreditation support for current ADF partners affected by a posting or member's separation. Worth checking eligibility in the 12 months after discharge.
WithYouWithMe, partner pathways
Free aptitude testing and training pathways into tech roles, with cohorts specifically for veteran partners.
Soldier On, family and partner support
Employment coaching, wellbeing programmes and community events that include partners and adult family members.
Workforce Australia
Federal jobs and training portal. Mention defence partner status to providers, some have specific streams.
When the paperwork lands on the kitchen table.
Partners often end up holding DVA forms, super claims and Centrelink letters. These services are free or low-cost and used to working with veteran households.
ATDP advocates
Free, accredited DVA claim advocacy. Partners can sit in on appointments and many advocates will speak directly with the family member if the veteran consents.
Services Australia, Financial Information Service (FIS)
Free, independent education sessions on Centrelink, super, invalidity, aged care and inheritance. Open to partners and family.
National Debt Helpline
Free financial counselling on 1800 007 007. Independent, confidential, not a lender.
Legal Aid (state by state)
Free or means-tested legal advice on family law, child support, tenancy and DVA reviews. Each state runs its own service.
Quiet community, on your terms.
You do not have to join anything. But if it helps to talk to other partners and families who already lived this, here is where they gather.
Mates4Mates, family and friends
Recovery centres in Brisbane, Townsville, Sydney, Hobart and Darwin running family programmes alongside the veteran ones.
RSL Defence Care
State-based RSL welfare arms with caseworkers who help families with practical needs, from emergency relief to advocacy.
Bravery Trust
Emergency financial assistance for veterans and families in hardship caused by service. One-off grants, not a loan.
PVA online community
Private peer groups run by Partners of Veterans Association. Worth lurking in for a while before posting if that is more your speed.
If you are the one holding it all together, the Pathway Builder works for you too.
You can run it on behalf of your veteran, or for yourself as a partner trying to map what comes next. It is free, takes about ten minutes, and emails you a written plan you can sit with.
Build a pathway