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.

Defence and veteran families can register for a free online Christmas art session

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 online for a macrame Christmas ornaments workshop on Thursday 5 December 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. This can be an especially difficult time for families of veterans as a period when families typically come together to celebrate. We hope by bringing families of veterans together today in a fun and relaxing activity to enable organic connection and awareness of families of veterans needs during this time of year to be heard. 

Christmas macrame workshop 

The Christmas period can bring joy and togetherness for many veteran families. This period can also bring about challenges, particularly for those grieving a loved one. We acknowledge that families of veterans may also be navigating deployments, relocations, illness and injury. Facilitated by Qualified Social Worker Gabby Steel (B.Social Work and Diploma Art Psychotherapy) and supported by Manager for the social work and wellbeing program, Lisa Stephenson, this event brings together families of veterans to engage in self-care and social connection with peers while creating their very own Macrame Christmas Ornaments. 

There is no cost for this event. You will be posted an macrame package to be used on the night by Families of Veterans Guild. 

Previous attendees of our art 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: Online via Zoom (Link will be emailed to you)
  

• Date and Time: Thursday 5 December 2024, 6.30pm-8pm 
  

• Registrations: OPEN NOW. Registrations close 22 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.

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.

Defence and veteran families are invited to a free collage workshop!

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 collage workshop in Canberra on Sunday 17 November 2024. 

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 and 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 self-care activities and expand their social network by connecting with like-minded peers. 

Collage workshop 

Join us for a 2 hour collage workshop for Defence and Veteran families where participants will work on individual art pieces that they can take home afterwards. The workshop will be facilitated by Jacqui (Art Therapist and Counsellor) and Deneka (Social Worker). The event will provide a fun and meaningful bonding experience for participants, and encourage self reflection and increased wellbeing via the process of art making. Tea, coffee and light refreshments will be provided. 

There is no cost for this event. The workshop and light refreshments will be covered by Families of Veterans Guild. 

Previous attendees to Wellbeing events said “I just wanted to express my gratitude for being able to connect with such a wonderful group of women. 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.” 

Event information

• Location: Strathnairn Arts Association, Via Gullifer St, Holt ACT
  

• Date and Time: Sunday 17 November 2024, 10am – 12pm
  

• Registrations: Open 17 October 2024. Registrations close 10 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.