FUNDING SUPPORT FOR DEFENCE FAMILIES IN ADELAIDE HILLS

Minister for Defence, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, today announced the Woodside Defence Families Association will receive up to $29,070 in funding to enable its ongoing support to Australian Defence Force (ADF) families in the Adelaide Hills community.  The Government will provide up to $20,000 for the Woodside Defence Families Association to employ a coordinator and will also allocate an additional $9,070 under the Family Support Funding Program for the work it does to support Defence families in the area.  Minister for Defence Senator the Hon Marise Payne said the Family Support Funding Program provides $1.4 million annually in grants to not-for-profit organisations across Australia.  Minister Payne said the funding helped Defence families engage with their local communities and connect with other ADF families.  “Community groups such as Woodside Defence Families Association support ADF families to share information and ideas to help manage military life, including the impact of frequent postings and deployments,” Minister Payne said.  “There are over 120 Defence families in the electorate of Mayo and this funding will help them to continue to build community links and support networks for those feeling the isolation a new posting can bring.”  President of the Woodside Defence Families Association, Meredith Mellor, said this funding was essential.  “Woodside Defence Families Association plays an integral part in helping Defence families develop a support network. We aim to achieve this through holding social events, playgroups and wellbeing courses. Without government funding none of this would be possible,” she said.  The announcement demonstrates the Coalition’s commitment to Defence families in Mayo.  Defence directly spent over $22 million in the Mayo electorate in 2016-17, with significant economic flow-on benefits to local businesses in the region.  Defence families can find more information about the Woodside Defence Families Association or a community group in their area on the Defence Community Organisation website www.defence.gov.au/dco or by calling the Defence Family Helpline on 1800 624 608.