DEFENCE SUPPORT MENTOR
At Amaroo School we have a large Defence community. As Defence School Mentors, we work together across the whole school to assist Defence students and their families as they arrive at Amaroo, during times of deployment or training, and as students get ready to transition out from Amaroo School. Tamara is a Defence spouse and brings loads of experience as a Defence School Mentor and understanding of the unique lifestyle and challenges that Defence families face. Alison has lived in different locations overseas while raising a family and has extensive lived transition and pastoral care experience.
The DSM program is funded by the Department of Defence through Defence Member and Family Support and DSM’s are employed as members of the school staff. Defence families are defined as families in which either or both parents are serving members of the Australian Army, Air Force or Navy and Reservists who are on Continuous Full Time Service (CFS).
We’d love to meet you and welcome you to contact us via email or by phoning the front office anytime. We also enjoy a good coffee and chat! In our roles as Defence Support Mentors we can assist with:
* Settling in: Transitioning into a new school can be stressful for some students. We are a friendly face both students and parents can connect with and talk to. We will work on helping your child feel that they are valued as important members of the school community and to develop friendship and support networks within the broader community, as quickly as possible. We can provide information on educational allowances provided by the Department of Defence, should your child require extra tuition due to posting.
* Deployed parent/Absent from Home (Courses or MWDU): Family separation affects all members of the family and children’s behaviour can sometimes alter as they try to adapt to the changes in home life. It can be challenging for the parent who is ‘holding down the fort’ and we’re here to support your child/children and you through these changes and challenges.
* Posting Out: Most children adapt well and see moving as an adventure. Other children need extra encouragement and positive thinking strategies. We work with students who are posting out of Canberra to farewell their current friends and talk through preparing for their new school. We can also help by writing personalised social stories and have a fabulous transition program called RAFT that helps students understand the social/emotional impacts of change and provides strategies to help them leave well and arrive well at their new destination.
We also run various Seasons for Growth programs throughout the year. This is a lovely evidenced based program on change, grief and loss that uses the seasons as a metaphor, written and developed by the MacKillop institute. Click the link HERE for more information.
Understanding that Defence kids are a culture unto themselves, we run weekly Defence Clubs, encouraging connection, fun and opportunities to talk through issues and emotions that surface as a result of their lived experience.