NOTICES

Positions vacant

We are currently seeking a contact person to head up the Chat Room group (meet every Thursday morning from 0930 to 1130h).

The CamKids Playgroup is also seeking a coordinator to manage the Friday playgroup.

The positions are not too taxing with the main requirements being to welcome people to the group and liaise with centre staff.

If you would like to take up this position, please contact Sandie or Kim on (07) 4411 7031.

Are you looking for paid employment?

Tired of not being able to find meaningful work because of the constant moves? Been at home and decided that you would like to go back to work and your not sure what you would like to do? We may have the answer!

The APS Temporary Employment Register is a register of people who are looking for work and are interested in either three or six month contracts. Currently Defence is looking for several non-ongoing employees and is unable to fill the positions.

If you would like an entry level position, experience in the APS work environment, learn very transferrable skills and contribute to Defence, then these may be the positions for you. Contact centre staff if you would like more information.

Can you help?

GECKOS @ Lavarack are looking for volunteers to assist with the behind-the-scenes work at the centre. No formal qualifications or experience are necessary, just a willingness to help. So, if you have a little time to spare, we would welcome your help.

For any further information, please contact Sandie or Kim on (07) 4411 7031

Is your partner coming home?

Defence has published a lot of support material for Defence families to prepare for service separations and reunions. You can get copies of these materials from GECKOS, Psych support, LBMC, DCO or NWCC. Here are a few tips learned over the years (not in order of priority):
a.Remember that people (including you) may have changed over the period of separation. Take some time to find out how your partner has changed. Remind them that they are still needed and still important to you.
b. Take time to get to know each other again. Don't rush around with heaps of things to catch-up on - parties or social events, or, repairs and maintenance tasks. Let them take a breath when they get home. Slow down and be patient.
b. Curb the desire to leap in and take over just because you always have.
c. Acknowledge the good things that have happened during the separation - like the support from family and friends (including GECKOS) - limit your criticism to your partner.
d. Go easy on spending money. Think and plan. GECKOS has ADF Financial Consumers Council matierial (booklets and vidoe) to help you budget, plan, and find the right people to help you manage your finances.
e. Respect each other's personal / emotional space (including that of your children).
f. Sexual closeness may be awkward at first. Talk openly and respectfully with your partner about this issue.
g. Previous problems may crop up again. This time, do something about them. Professional support is freely available if necessary. Talk to the Padre if you've got questions.
h. Be prepared to give and take to help them adjust back into your relationship and the family.
i. Let the kids take their time to readjust to having your partner back on the scene. Some children want to hog all their time, and some kids need a little space to work it out. Don't push them to immediately accept their dad or mum back into their life - it will come in time. If you are worried, talk to DCO for some help.
j. Things that worked before may not work now. You've managed without your partner for some time now, and now its time to let them back into your life one step at a time.

Some returning soldiers find it hard to walk into the shopping centres - all the lights, people, smells, commercialism can be overwhelming. That's actually normal. Let them sit in the car if they want to, or even stay at home until they readjust back into our Western culture. If problems persist over weeks, talk to the Padre or DCO for further help.

Keep an eye out for changes in your returning partners behaviour - especially increased use of alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs and changes to their eating and sleep patterns. This could be early signs that they are having issues readjusting to being off deployment. Yes, some adjustment issues are absolutely normal but others are flashing lights. Alcohol and other drug use, sleeping and mood swings are the flashing lights. If your partner is displaying these problems it is essential that you talk to them about your concerns. Help is freely and readily available through padres, UWOs, DCO, psych support and VVCS. Overwhelmingly evidence from previous deployments shows that the quicker help is given the better the outcomes for the service person. Often the service person can't see the problem or will be reluctant to seek help. This is where it is essential that families know what to look for and what to do. If you've got qestions, please contact us at GECKOS and we will help out as best we can until your partner receives the help to ge them over the line and return to their usual self again.

How are we going?

The Next User's Group Meeting for GECKOS will be Friday 11 February 2011. Come along to share what you think about the place. What can we do better? Any ideas for programmes? Was there something you used to enjoy that is no longer offered?

Staff are always willing to listen to your suggestions on how to make GECKOS more appropriate to the needs of Defence members and their families. If you would prefer,you can fill out the blue suggestion sheet and put it in the box provided.

Amongst other things, this meeting was the catalyst that made GECKOS totally smoke free.

Some of the outcomes of the suggestion box have been the provision of toilet training facilities and baby change table in the Disabled toilet.