There is so much to celebrate this week- 3 years of the Military Life Podcast and hitting the 65,000 download mark but what those two milestones actually mean is that for 3 years and a whopping 65,000 times this Podcast has been supporting me and has been supporting you.

It means that we have all listened to over 120 Episodes of Defence Partners telling their stories, being seen and heard, allowing us to share in the ups and downs of Military Life, allowing us to feel that little bit less alone.

It means that for 3 years the Military Life Podcast has been providing all of us with advice, information and insight and that this Podcast has been acknowledging all that we do and sacrifice and juggle and most importantly for 3 years the Podcast has been CONNECTING us.

So get comfy and enjoy listening to some real talk from a handful of Defence Partners who have previously shared their spouse journey with us. Episode 124 features unheard audio asking Defence Partners Catherine, Emily, Fiona, Rae, Elise and Mika an important question…..

NEW to Defence Life? Pop over to the Defence Partner INFO Hub. I've translated all that 'defence speak', untangled information and laid it all out in one easy-to-navigate space in easy-to-understand language. Defence Partner INFO Hub

Ready to join the ML Community? Click through the link to get connected xx  www.militarylife.com.au

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to spouse Emily about being new to Defence Life and when I say NEW I mean really new. Emily took the time to chat with me on the day of her partner’s enlistment. DAY 1!

Emily and I also talk about;

• Making the decision, as a family, to join the defence force
• Patiently waiting for an enlistment date, injury delays and the anticipation
• Preparing for her partner’s departure and building a support network
• The enlistment day drop off and the disconnect she felt
• Being too busy to really process the huge changes taking place
• What made her partner want to join the RAAF over the Army and Navy
• The challenges she has faced accessing defence specific information
• Being upset her partner is going away but equally as excited for his new career
• Why she views an 8-month separation as a short-term sacrifice for long term gain
• The impact being apart might have on her partner and their daughter
• Having realistic expectations of what defence life might be like
• Working in healthcare and being able to find employment where ever they go
• Her small business and worrying about starting fresh and building a client base

NEW to Defence Life? Pop over to the Defence Partner Info Hub. I’ve translated all that ‘defence speak’, untangled information and laid it all out in one easy-to-navigate space in easy-to-understand language https://militarylife.com.au/defence-partner-info-hub/

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to RAAF spouse Hana about the long road to becoming a defence family, mental health challenges and focusing on the good.

Hana and I also talk about;

• Their chance meeting while they were both working overseas
• How Hana helped uncover her partner’s passion for aircraft
• Arriving back in Australia and the decision to pursue a career in the RAAF
• The long 3-year journey just to get into defence and delays due to injury
• Getting the news her partner finally had a place at Officer Training School
• Welcoming their first baby and what happened when he left just 3 months later
• The stress of solo parenting, coping with anxiety and a postpartum depression diagnosis
• Why Hana put up a good front so her husband didn’t feel bad about being away
• What happened when her husband came home and realised things weren’t ok
• Accessing the medical help, the DMFS Helpline and the support of a Chaplain
• Being an outsider and feeling disconnected from the defence community
• Realising her plan to become a registered builder wasn’t going to fit with defence life
• Figuring out how important work is for her and her mental health
• How Defence Life gave Hana the push she needed to start her own business
• The importance of connecting with the defence community even before posting
• Making friends fast and the importance of building a support network
• Seeing the positive in every situation, surrendering and trusting in the universe
• Posting to Brisbane, everything falling into place and settling into the new location

To find out more about Hana’s biz Suburban Witchery check it out on Instagram here or on Facebook here or via her website here or listen to Hana’s Witch Talks Podcast here.

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     

www.militarylife.com.au

This week on the Military Life Podcast Let's Discuss PART TWO!

Defence Partners Hayley Boswell from Defence Kidz, Julia Michel from The Home Post and Tania Attley from the Raw Psychologist come on the podcast to discuss the Past Weeks Events, a Damaging and Hurtful Narrative & How to Move Forward Constructively.

We also talk about;

• Dealing with emotions and not repressing our feelings by avoiding them
• How we often go into planning mode when an unexpected operation occurs
• Why the brain hates the unknown and is constantly seeking balance
• Uncertainty, danger and the worry when your defence member gets the call
• How planning mode distracts us from our core emotions
• Why 24/7 media coverage of world events isn’t always a good thing
• Why building a support network with people you know will have empathy is key
• Standby mode and coping with the unknown through disconnection
• Why shutting off is a way of mentally preparing for the defence member to leave
• Wanting the separation to start so that they can come home already
• How the ADF community is feeling after what happened in the media last week
• Setting boundaries with news media and limiting contact
• When the sentiment out in the community quickly turns to blame
• Why we tend to experience the stress response flight, fight or freeze
• Understanding that the brain can tolerate a particular level of stress
• What happens when you push past that stress level into shutdown
• Why disconnecting from your partner too many times can have an impact
• Communication and verbalising what your needs are
• Setting boundaries with friends and family and being assertive
• Community outrage and how to process the misdirected anger
• How the defence spouse community is feeling right now
• Confirmation bias and how that plays into some of the narratives in the media
• Being mentally prepared to engage in discussion or advocate in your own way
• The long-lasting impact the past week could have on the ADF community
• Why it is important to help the community to make new connections
• The importance of continuing the conversation and continuing to change the narrative
• Educating the community about who the ADF are, what they do and the sacrifices defence members and families make

To follow Hayley from Defence Kidz click here

To follow Julia from The Home Post click here

To follow Tania from The Raw Psychologist click here

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

This week on the Military Life Podcast Let's Discuss PART ONE!

Defence Partners Hayley Boswell from Defence Kidz, Julia Michel from The Home Post and Tania Attley from the Raw Psychologist come on the podcast to discuss the Past Weeks Events, a Damaging and Hurtful Narrative & How to Move Forward Constructively.

We also talk about;

• Dealing with emotions and not repressing our feelings by avoiding them
• How we often go into planning mode when an unexpected operation occurs
• Why the brain hates the unknown and is constantly seeking balance
• Uncertainty, danger and the worry when your defence member gets the call
• How planning mode distracts us from our core emotions
• Why 24/7 media coverage of world events isn’t always a good thing
• Why building a support network with people you know will have empathy is key
• Standby mode and coping with the unknown through disconnection
• Why shutting off is a way of mentally preparing for the defence member to leave
• Wanting the separation to start so that they can come home already
• How the ADF community is feeling after what happened in the media last week
• Setting boundaries with news media and limiting contact
• When the sentiment out in the community quickly turns to blame
• Why we tend to experience the stress response flight, fight or freeze
• Understanding that the brain can tolerate a particular level of stress
• What happens when you push past that stress level into shutdown
• Why disconnecting from your partner too many times can have an impact
• Communication and verbalising what your needs are
• Setting boundaries with friends and family and being assertive
• Community outrage and how to process the misdirected anger
• How the defence spouse community is feeling right now
• Confirmation bias and how that plays into some of the narratives in the media
• Being mentally prepared to engage in discussion or advocate in your own way
• The long-lasting impact the past week could have on the ADF community
• Why it is important to help the community to make new connections
• The importance of continuing the conversation and continuing to change the narrative
• Educating the community about who the ADF are, what they do and the sacrifices defence members and families make

To follow Hayley from Defence Kidz click here

To follow Julia from The Home Post click here

To follow Tania from The Raw Psychologist click here

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to new spouse Mika about the first year of defence life and making long-distance work.

Mika and I also talk about;

• Starting off as friends and building strong foundations
• Making the decision to start dating while Alex was away at training
• Having big discussions about future plans early on
• Not seeing each other for 7 months due to COVID and border closures
• How being separated helped with their communication
• Staying flexible with plans and accepting what you can’t control
• Making the decision to stay separated until Alex is posted to one location
• What being a Submariners partner is likely to be like
• Looking forward to being part of the tight-knit Submariner community in WA
• Plans to build strong support networks once they do post to WA
• Why their relationship is yet to be recognised by defence
• Making sure they both have their own interests to focus on
• Their excitement to be together and start living defence life

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

In this week's podcast episode, I speak with Professor Sharon Lawn from Flinders University and Research Consultant Tiffany Sharp about their recent research titled Moral Injury and Families' experiences of supporting Veterans and Emergency Service First Responders to seek help for Mental Health Problems.

We discuss;

• Why it was important their research focused on Partners and Families of Veterans
• What ‘Moral Injury’ means and how it relates to Partners and Families
• The main findings of their research including families feeling unsupported & invisible
• Why Partners and Families are the first to notice a change in a Veteran
• The second-hand trauma and mental health impacts often experienced by Partners & Families
• Why its important Partners and Families also receive support and services
• What their research found when it comes to Veterans actually seeking support
• The role Partners and Families play in seeking support for or encouraging Veterans
• The majority of research participants experiencing a tipping point
• The barriers in seeking support once Partners, Families & Veterans reach a tipping point
• How organisations fail to recognise the significant role Partners & Families play
• What Partners and Families need from support organisations
• The importance of acknowledging the critical role Partners & Families play
• Why they choose not to use the word disorder when talking about PTSD
• Where to from here and a way forward that considers Partners & Families

To read the 'Supporting your veteran or emergency services first responder in help-seeking for mental health concerns: a guide for families' click here

To find out more about Lived Experience Australia visit the website here

To find out more about Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA) visit the website here

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to defence partner Fiona about meeting her now-husband, moving interstate together and 12 moves in 15 years.

Fiona and I also talk about;

• Moving in together and their first posting to Toowoomba
• Getting engaged after living together for 3 months
• The reality of defence life setting in during their second posting in Wagga
• Finding meaningful employment and the varied experience gained
• Feeling unable to progress professionally due to frequent moves
• The ups and downs of moving 12 times in 15 years
• The signs that led Fiona down the home school path despite hesitation
• Why defence life compliments home schooling and works for them
• How home schooling allows their family to get the most out of a location
• Career goals with kids, home schooling and the balance
• The emotional and mental toll so many moves took on Fiona
• Feeling isolated and alone and deciding to ask for help
• The help Fiona accessed and focusing on her needs
• Recognising her value and acknowledging her sacrifices

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Navy Chaplain Jenny Schleusener about the role of Chaplains.

Jenny and I also talk about;

• The type of support Chaplains provide to not only the Defence member but also Spouses
• Why you should think of Chaplains as friends who offer a confidential listening ear
• Defence members or spouses not needing to be in crisis to be supported by Chaplains
• Why you don’t need to be religious to receive support from Chaplains
• Some of the main reasons Defence couples reach out for support and guidance
• The ways Chaplains can connect Defence Families with other supports like DMFS
• Confidentiality and why anything discussed is off the record (except if someone poses a danger to themselves or others)
• How Chaplains support Defence members and their wellbeing while on deployment
• Why communication is 90% of a relationship and how to use owned language in a positive way
• How Defence couples can build solid foundations and connect before and during separation
• Expectations and getting on the same page to help with the challenges of Defence life
• The ways Chaplains can help Defence families connect to their faith in their posting location
• The Triple P Positive Parenting program and why it is well suited to Defence families
• The importance of community and connection for Defence partners

Chaplains, All services- To contact a Chaplain please call the Defence Service Centre on 1800 333 362 and ask for the Duty Chaplain in your area.

*Jenny is a Navy Chaplain and while she doesn’t speak for Chaplains connected with Army and Air Force the support Chaplains offer and the role they play across the services is similar.

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au

In this week's podcast episode, I talk to Defence couple Vicki and Jarod about being a dual serving Navy couple, Deployment, Discharge and Defence Life.

Vicki, Jarod and I also talk about;

• How being a dual serving couple works when you both deploy regularly
• Feeling like ships in the night and working on good communication
• The juggle of both being defence members and starting a family
• Jarod stepping into the role of the solo parent when Vicki deployed
• What it was like for Vicki to deploy when their son was 18 months old
• The bond that Jarod and their son formed while Vicki was away
• How Vicki stepped out of the Mum role and into deployed ADF member
• Creating boundaries when it came to Vicki contacting home & unreliable comms
• Coping with the transition home, a now 3-year-old child and finding her place
• How both Vicki and Jarod now have a good understanding of what both experience
• The juggle of trying to get posted to the same location when you are both serving
• Vicki’s decision to discharge and the transition from ADF member to civilian
• Finding her feet, reserve time and figuring out her future career moves
• Learning to be a family, living together and good communication
• MWDU and how hard it was for Jarod to leave his family every Sunday
• Posting to Sydney and feeling grateful to finally be together

Ready to join the ML community? Click through the link to get connected xx     www.militarylife.com.au