Fed: Survey shows Defence families want more support

AAP General News (Australia)
12-09-2009
Fed: Survey shows Defence families want more support

By Susanna Dunkerley

CANBERRA, Dec 9 AAP - Long deployments and postings often take a toll on the families
of defence personnel, and a new survey suggests many of them want more support from the
forces to help them deal with the lifestyle.

More than 5,700 respondents, including partners and parents of Australian Defence Force
members, participated in the first Defence Families Survey during the past year.

While 40 per cent said defence has a culture that supports families, 34 per cent said it did not.

More than 60 per cent said the demands of the military interfered with their home and
family life.

About 70 per cent said their partners couldn't take advantage of flexible work arrangements.

A further 20 per cent said their partner's military career impaired their capacity
to accrue maternity and long service leave.

And 90 per cent said the standard eight-month deployment time was too long.

But when asked if they would put pressure on their partners to quit, only three per
cent said often, compared to 65 per cent who said never.

Respondents said defence could better support families by providing more information
on entitlements and services.

They also want more reliable communications with deployed members, and information
on departure and return dates.

Defence Personnel Minister Greg Combet says there's a clear message that families want
improved communication and interaction with defence.

"Although defence has a comprehensive range of policies aimed at supporting families,
it is clear that more can be done to improve the way they are communicated and understood,"

he said in a statement.

The survey also looked at wages and living satisfaction.

About 85 per cent of respondents said they were satisfied with their standard of living,
and around 7 per cent were not.

And half of the respondents said they were only "coping" on their salaries, while a
third said were living comfortably.

AAP sld/sb/maur

KEYWORD: DEFENCE FAMILIES

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