Get festive with a Christmas baubles craft night for war widows, defence and veteran families

Add a handmade touch to the tree this year. This online wellbeing activity brings families together to decorate their own Christmas baubles, from wherever you are. On Wednesday 2 December 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our Christmas baubles session for a relaxed, creative evening in the lead-up to the festive season.

Christmas baubles

Join us online via Zoom to add a creative touch to the festive season by decorating your own Christmas baubles. It’s a relaxed, feel-good evening you can enjoy together at home, with each household receiving a decorate-your-own baubles kit to share.

There is no cost to attend, and children aged 3 and over are welcome to join in with adult supervision. It’s a lovely way to get into the Christmas spirit and make a keepsake or two for the tree.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I enjoyed connecting and sharing conversations with others from around the country, spending quality time with my family, and participating in a different activity.”

Event information

• Location: Online via Zoom (link will be sent to you).

• Date: Wednesday 2 December 2026.

• Time: 7pm – 8pm (AEST).

• Cost: FREE for families of veterans.

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

Veteran and defence families can register for a free online vision board workshop

Has any of your loved ones ever served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)? Are you connected to defence service in any way? Whether you’re the partner of a current member, a veteran spouse, parent, adult child or a widow of a veteran, we warmly invite defence and veteran families to join us for our online vision board workshop on Thursday 16 January 2025, brought to you by our Wellbeing Program.

Families of veterans and war widows make unique sacrifices during and after service. They balance the many demands of supporting a family, navigating grief and loss, relocations or adjustments, deployments or other absence from home, transition out of service or caring roles due to illness or injury. 

Social connection, peer support and self-care are at the core of our wellbeing events. We acknowledge that veteran families may face barriers in developing and maintaining peer connections due to the unique nature of defence life, increasing their risk of social isolation and loneliness. The purpose of this activity is to encourage the families of veterans to focus on self-care and expand their social network by connecting with like-minded peers.

Online vision board

Defence and veteran families are invited to come together in the new year for an evening of intention setting for the year ahead. Facilitated by qualified social worker, Gabby Steel, and supported by Manager for the Social Work and Wellbeing Program, Lisa Stephenson, and Wellbeing Support Officer Kerrie-Anne Teo, veteran families will be guided in a vision board making activity via the online Canva platform.  

Vision boards represent the changes you’d like to see in your life. Maybe you want to eat healthier meals, meditate, focus on self-care, increase your fitness level or just spend more quality time with family and friends. A vision board is a fun and creative way to visualise your goals and keep yourself accountable throughout the year. Veteran families will custom design their own unique digital vision board which they can refer to throughout 2025 for inspiration, strength, and guidance as needed.

Previous attendees of our art sessions said “I just wanted to express my gratitude for being able to connect with such a wonderful group. It was such a great opportunity to do a self-care activity and get to know some of the other attendees at the same time.”

There is no cost for this event. Your online wellbeing activity will be covered by Families of Veterans Guild. 

Event information

• Location: Online via Zoom (Link will be emailed to you)
  

• Date and Time: Thursday 16 January 2025, 6pm – 7:30pm
  

• Registrations: Open NOW. Registrations close 15 January

• Cost: FREE for families of veterans

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.

Veteran and defence families are invited for a catch up over coffee

Has any of your loved ones ever served in the Australian Defence Force (ADF)? Are you connected to defence service in any way? Whether you’re the partner of a current member, a veteran spouse, parent, adult child or a widow of a veteran, we warmly invite you to join us for our coffee catch up at the Royal Australian Mint on Friday 17 January 2025, brought to you by our Wellbeing Program.

Families of veterans and war widows make unique sacrifices during and after service. They balance the many demands of supporting a family, navigating grief and loss, relocations or adjustments, deployments or other absence from home, transition out of service or caring roles due to illness or injury. 

Social connection, peer support and self-care are at the core of our wellbeing events. We acknowledge that veteran families may face barriers in developing and maintaining peer connections due to the unique nature of defence life, increasing their risk of social isolation and loneliness. The purpose of this activity is to encourage the families of veterans to focus on self-care and expand their social network by connecting with like-minded peers.

Coffee catch up

Defence and veteran Families are invited to come together for a coffee catch up at the Royal Australian Mint Cafe. Arrive as you are, connect with your peers and chat over a coffee before exploring the newly refurbished Royal Australian Mint where you can learn the stories behind our currency, immersing yourself in the evolution of Australia’s coins. Keep the kids entertained these school holidays by unleashing their creativity and challenging their skills with interactive games. They can even mint their own coin at the coin shop. 

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I just wanted to express my gratitude for being able to connect with such a wonderful group. It was such a great opportunity to do a self-care activity and get to know some of the other attendees at the same time.”

There is no cost for this event. Your coffee catch up will be covered by Families of Veterans Guild. 

Event information

• Location: Royal Australian Mint
  

• Date and Time: Friday 17 January 2025, 9.30am to 11.30am 
  

• Registrations: Open NOW. Registrations close 16 January

• Cost: FREE for families of veterans

Registration is a must, places are limited. Register below or call us on 02 9267 6577. For more information, please email wellbeing@fov.org.au.