Want to be more organised with meal-planning but not sure how or where to start? 

This workshop is for you: learn tips and tricks to make meal-planning more efficient and shopping a lot less painful!  

Who is this free activity for and why? 

Has your loved one ever served in the ADF? Are you connected to defence service in any way? Whether you’re the partner of a current or former serving ADF member, a veteran spouse, parent, adult child or a widow of a veteran, we warmly invite defence and veteran families to join us for Meal Planning Workshop online on Friday 4 April 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 activities. 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 meal planning workshop

Defence and veteran families are invited to come together for our meal planning workshop. Facilitated by expert professional organiser Susanne Thiebe from LessMess, in this 70min workshop families will learn how to plan meals by using available, sustainable, seasonal and local produce. Each person will create their own individually tailored meal plan for the next two weeks and have strategies in place to avoid overbuying, shopping too often and wasting resources. 

There is no cost for this activity. Your Meal Planning Workshop will be covered by Families of Veterans Guild. 

Previous attendees to Wellbeing activities said “Being able to connect with other families and focus on myself was just what I needed. It was a lovely self–care activity that I wouldn’t normally do just for myself.” 

Event information

• Location:Online via Zoom.
  

• Date and Time: Friday 4 April 2025 – 7pm to 8.10pm 
  

• Registrations: Open NOW. Registrations close 28 March.

• 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.

Sydney families of ADF members are invited to a baking workshop

Has any of your loved ones ever served in the Australian Defence Force? 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 baking workshop at Kissingpoint Cottage on Thursday 6 March 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 activities. 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.

Baking workshop

Defence and veteran Families are invited to come together for a baking workshop. Facilitated by Social Worker, Gabby Steel, veteran families will be guided to make cupcakes. The activity offers a wonderful opportunity for Defence and Veteran families to come together in a supportive and creative environment. At the end of the workshop, families will have cupcakes they’ve made themselves and a recipe to take home and share. 

There is no cost for this activity. Your baking workshop and baking kit will be covered by Families of Veterans Guild. Ingredients and a recipe are provided.

Previous attendees to Wellbeing activities said “What a wonderful experience it was to engage with such a lovely group. I’m grateful for the opportunity to focus on self-care and make new connections.” 

Event information

• Location: Kissingpoint Cottage, 282 Kissing Point Rd, Dundas NSW 2117.
  

• Date and Time: Thursday 6 March 2025, 10am – 12:00pm.
  

• Registrations: Open NOW. Registrations close 3 March.

• 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.

Sydney families of veterans are invited to sound healing 

Has any of your loved ones ever served in the Australian Defence Force? 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 sound healing session at Heart and Soul Yoga Cronulla on Sunday 2 March 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 activities. 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.

Sound healing

Families of Veterans Guild and Holsworthy Community Group invite defence and veteran families to come together and experience a unique modality of relaxation through sound healing. The session will be facilitated by UNSW approved music tutor and certified yoga instructor Bianca Teremi from the Heart and Soul Yoga studio in Cronulla. Attendees will hear a variety of calming sounds, including crystal singing bowls, promoting wellness and relaxation. Following the sound healing session, we will head to a local cafe for a complimentary coffee or tea. This activity aims to support peer connection and stress reduction.  

Wear comfortable clothing, bring a yoga mat and small blanket or jacket to keep warm during the sound healing session. Please arrive 10min early to ensure a prompt start of the sound healing session at 10am. 

There is no cost for this activity. Your sound healing session and coffee or tea will be covered by Families of Veterans Guild and Holsworthy Community group.

Previous attendees to Wellbeing activities said “I’m so thankful for the chance to connect with such an amazing group. It was a great way to engage in self-care and meet others in the process.” 

Event information

• Location: Heart and Soul Yoga, 1/57 Cronulla St, Cronulla NSW 2230.
  

• Date and Time: Sunday 2 March 2025, 10am – 11:30am.
  

• Registrations: Open NOW. Registrations close 24 February.

• 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.

We invite Sydney veteran families to enjoy a Christmas photo shoot

Are you the partner of a current serving ADF member, a veteran spouse, parent of a veteran, adult child of a veteran, a widow, or connected to Defence in another way? We warmly invite families of veterans to join us for a Christmas family photoshoot in Sydney on Saturday 23 November 2024 brought to you by our Wellbeing Program.

Christmas family photoshoot 

Join us for a Christmas family mini photoshoot for Defence and Veteran families. Families can book a 15min mini photoshoot where they will be photographed by Peta of Wonderlust Studios.  

You will receive 5 digital photos, plus the option to upgrade your gallery with the photographer.

Due to timing constraints, maximum 6 people per family photoshoot.  

Christmas hats will be provided to wear on the day. 

There is no cost for this event. The photoshoot will be covered by Families of Veterans Guild. Any additional upgrades of the gallery are the responsibility of the attendees. 

Event information

• Location: Dee Why beach, meet between Dee Why Surf Life Saving Club and public toilets. View maps below
  

• Date and Time: Saturday 23 November 2024 
  

• Registrations: OPEN NOW. Register below

• 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.

We invite Sydney veteran families to experience mask making in Chatswood

Are you the partner of a current serving ADF member, a veteran spouse, parent of a veteran, adult child of a veteran, a widow, or connected to Defence in another way? We warmly invite families of veterans to join us for creative mask making art experience alongside light refreshments in Chatswood on Friday the 8 of November 2024 brought to you by our Wellbeing Program.

Families of veterans can sometimes experience overwhelm when balancing the demands of supporting family, the impact of ADF service and/or in caring roles due to illness, injury or transitions. Social connection is at the core of our wellbeing events. In addressing social isolation and loneliness, we acknowledge that veteran families may face barriers in developing and maintaining peer connections due to the unique nature of Defence life. The purpose of this event is to encourage the families of veterans to engage in a self-care activity and expand their social network by connecting with like-minded peers.  

Mask making 

Facilitated by Qualified Social Worker Gabby Steel (B. Social Work and Diploma Art Psychotherapy) this 2-hour creative art experience aims to support peer connection, self-reflection and increased wellbeing via the process of art making. We will come together to decorate blank masks and explore the dual roles of Defence and Veteran families who often live and work in the civilian community. Uncovering the different masks that families wear, both inside and outside of the defence context, is important in understanding how identity impacts on wellbeing.  

Light refreshments will be served alongside the art experience. 

There is no cost for this event. The mask making art experience and light refreshments will be provided by Families of Veterans Guild. 

Previous attendees of our art therapy sessions said “I was pleasantly surprised to connect with other veteran family members through the shared artwork we created. The relaxed atmosphere created a sense of community and mutual understanding of the challenges that come about as family members of veterans.” 

Event information

• Location: Families of Veterans Guild Office Level 1, 9 Help Street Chatswood NSW
  

• Date and Time: Friday the 8th of November 2024, 10am-12pm 
  

• Registrations: OPEN NOW. Registrations close 6 November

• 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.