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.

Decluttering made doable: workshop for war widows, defence and veteran families

Do you have too much in your wardrobe? Are you getting posted again and tired of feeling like you have just too much stuff? Not sure where to start? 

Join us online on Saturday 14 November 2026 to learn practical ways to sort, organise, and let go of the ‘too much’. Just on time before peak-posting season, this online  declutter your wardrobe workshop is a hands-on wardrobe declutter you can follow from home. This wellbeing activity is free for war widows, defence and veteran families. 

Declutter your wardrobe

Join us online via Zoom for a 90-minute decluttering workshop led by Amy Revell of The Art of Decluttering, focused this time on wardrobes. Amy will share practical strategies for both organising and decluttering your wardrobe, so you can make the most of your space and keep what works for you.

It’s a friendly, no-pressure session you can join from home, whether you’re tackling a full wardrobe overhaul or just want a place to start. There is no cost to attend, and this is an adults-only activity.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I appreciate opportunities to learn new things, develop practical skills, and prioritise self-care and wellbeing in a supportive and welcoming environment.” 

Event information

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

• Date: Saturday 14 November 2026.

• Time: 2pm – 3.30pm (AEDT).

• 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.

Six weeks of mindfulness: an online course for war widows, defence and veteran families

Give yourself an hour a week to slow down and learn how to be more present. This six-week wellbeing activity is a practical, evidence-based introduction to mindfulness you can join from home. With the first session on Tuesday 10 November 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can now join our mindfulness course online.

Mindfulness course

Join us online via Zoom for a six-week mindfulness course led by Lydia Vorona from Living Aware. Each one-hour session explores a different theme — from what mindfulness is and isn’t, to autopilot versus being present, the evidence-based benefits, stress physiology, and bringing mindfulness into daily life. Every week also includes two guided meditation practices and time for questions.

The course covers formal and informal practice, mindful breathing and body practices, mindful walking and eating, and the difference between responding and reacting. The content is drawn from the acclaimed eight-week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. There is no cost to attend, and this is an adults-only activity.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I appreciate opportunities to learn new things, develop practical skills, and prioritise self-care and wellbeing in a supportive and welcoming environment.”

Event information

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

• Dates: 

1. • Tuesday 10 November 2026
   • Tuesday 17 November 2026
   • Tuesday 24 November 2026
   • Tuesday 1 December 2026
   • Tuesday 8 December 2026
   • Tuesday 15 December 2026

• Time: 7pm – 8pm (AEDT).

• 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.

Get growing with an introduction to gardening for war widows, defence and veteran families

Whether you’ve got a backyard, a balcony, or a single pot on the windowsill, this online wellbeing activity will help you get growing with confidence. On Thursday 15 October 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families can join our gardening basics session session for a practical evening of tips whilst learning and connecting alongside others!

Gardening basics – introduction to gardening

Join us online via Zoom for a two-hour introduction to gardening led by Melanie Thompson from Garden Nerds. The session covers the essentials — why gardening is good for us, where to find reliable information, types of plants and where they come from, and the basics of sun, soil, and water. Melanie will also walk through assessing your site, planning your space, and managing weeds, pruning, pests, and diseases, with plenty of time for questions throughout.

Afterwards, you’ll be sent the Zoom recording, a summary of notes with answers to any questions not covered on the night, and a copy of the slides. If you’d like to keep the conversation going, you can also join the Nerds in the Know Facebook page to ask questions down the track. There is no cost to attend, and this is an adults-only activity.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “I appreciate opportunities to learn new things, develop practical skills, and prioritise self-care and wellbeing in a supportive and welcoming environment.”

Event information

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

• Date: Thursday 15 October 2026.

• Time: 6.30pm – 8.30pm (AEDT).

• 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.

Advanced Tension and Trauma Release Exercises for war widows, defence and veteran families

Ready to take your Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) practice further? This six-week wellbeing activity builds on the introductory course with deeper techniques to release tension and settle the nervous system. Starting Wednesday 21 October 2026, war widows, defence and veteran families who’ve completed the introduction to TRE can join our Advanced TRE Course online.

Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) workshop

Join us online via Zoom for six weekly sessions of Advanced Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE), led by Richmond, the National TRE Coordinator of Australia. Each session combines a Q&A, a short theory presentation, and a guided group TRE practice. TRE is a gentle, body-based wellbeing practice designed to help release deep muscular tension, calm the nervous system, and support overall emotional and physical balance.

Across the course, weekly topics may include using stop-start to facilitate more movement, muscle activations, adjusting floor positions, working with the face, using standing positions, and working with the breath. This is an advanced course, so places are open to those who have completed the three-week introduction to TRE (held in February or August 2026). There is no cost to attend, and this is an adults-only activity.

Previous attendees to wellbeing activities said “These sessions became a powerful tool for releasing tension, reducing stress, and helping me feel supported, relaxed, and connected with others.” 

Not done the beginner TRE? Register your interest

If you’re interested in this activity but haven’t yet completed the beginner Tension and Trauma Release Exercises (TRE) course, register your interest to be the first to know when we release our next beginner sessions. To register, email your details to wellbeing@fov.org.au or call us on 02 9267 6577.

Event information

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

• Dates: 

  • Wednesday 21 October 2026
  • Wednesday 28 October 2026
  • Wednesday 4 November 2026
  • Wednesday 11 November 2026
  • Wednesday 18 November 2026
  • Wednesday 25 November 2026

• Time: 6.30pm – 7.30pm (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.