CDF's Address

General David Hurley AC, DSC   Chief of the Defence Force The Australian Defence Force demands much from the men and women who serve our nation. In return the ADF is committed to caring for our people and their families. Our highest priority is to ensure appropriate support mechanisms are available to maintain the welfare of our members. To achieve this we must look beyond the individual to their family and beyond the ADF to other organisations like Defence Families of Australia. It is no accident that Defence Families of Australia has reached its 25th anniversary.

Defence families live a unique lifestyle. No one understands the challenges they face better than the volunteers who share the Defence way of life. Since 1986 Defence Families of Australia has been reaching out to provide an invaluable support structure to Defence Members and their families. It may be as simple as suggesting ways to help manage a relocation but increasingly, in this current operational tempo, families are turning to DFA for advice on more complex issues like dealing with an absence from home. 

DFA also provides a voice for ADF members. This voice ensures we do not forget Defence families during the development of support programs and it acts as an intermediary between ADF members, the Defence Community Organisation and decision makers. This advocacy function gives Defence and Government a greater understanding of the many and varied needs of our Defence Families.

On a personal note, my family and I have also experienced many of the challenges facing Defence families in 2011. I understand how difficult it is to be the civilian in a Defence family and I am acutely aware of the significant role our partners and children play in supporting our military careers. I encourage every Defence family to get to know what services and support DFA has to offer you.

Read General Hurley's biography on the Chief of the Defence Force Homepage.