Organisation: Australian Government – Department of Defence
Job Title: Defence Social Worker
Word Limit: 400 word limit per criteria response
Location: Liverpool, NSW
Supports Strategic Direction
Supports shared purpose and direction
Thinks strategically
Harnesses information and opportunities
In my current role as a Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) and Community Liaison Officer (CLO)
with Wattle Grove Public School, I regularly and consistently demonstrate my support for strategic
direction in collaboration with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). At the beginning of the year, I
liaised with the Creative Director from Casula Power House to orchestrate Year 4 and Year 5
students to become involved in a media project entitled: “The Measured Response.” The purpose
of this project was to empower children with their voice and to be heard by various military
dignitaries, parliamentarians and the wider public audience to educate individuals on the life
experience of children from ADF families. The visual aid was extremely powerful, not only the
verbal communication, but also the non-verbal body language which emotionally moved the
viewers. To diligently collaborate such a vast project, required strategic thinking and harnessing
information and opportunities.
Demonstrating my shared purpose and direction, I worked in conjunction with the Department of
Education and the Creative Director by holding meetings with various stake holders. This required
diligent preparation and organisation to ensure scheduled filming of the students were
established. A response date was stipulated in the school newsletter and letters sent home to
parents for the timely collection of all permission slips. The Casula Power House staff were
prepared and organised for our Principal, Stage Supervisor and other staff members to attend. In
preparation for this project, each student that was asked to participate received a photograph and
media release consent forms to be delivered and signed by all parents of the children involved.
Due to my strong strategic skills, the children were filmed and the project was a huge success. It
became a part of the exhibition: “Guarding the Home Front” to coincide with the ANZAC
Centenary celebrations of April this year. “Guarding the Home Front” is an exhibition that explored
the many philosophies of the ‘home front’, those who remain at home waiting for the return of
loved ones who are contributing to the war effort, the experience of civilians in conflict zones and
the ways that wars and conflicts are portrayed in the media and how these shape our own
perspectives. The Project Manager informed me that the exhibition would be going on tour in
various locations throughout the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
2. Achieves Results
Applies and builds professional expertise
Responds positively to change
Takes responsibility for managing work projects to achieve results
During my 13 years working as a Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) and Community Liaison
Officer (CLO) with Wattle Grove Public School, I regularly and consistently demonstrate my
commitment in achieving results in providing assistance to the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Demonstrating my highly organised domain-specific knowledge, I assist defence families to engage
with their communities by organising activities within the school and township. During ANZAC day
of 2015, I took responsibility for managing various work projects to achieve successful results at
Wattle Grove Public School, including but not limited to the release of a book entitled: “ANZAC
Ted” by author Belinda Landsberry, the attendance of a Bulgar Musician during the ANZAC school
ceremony, the presentation of military dignitaries enlightening children to the experience of
serving, the excursion to the newly built Holsworthy Army Museum, as well as the opportunity to
attend the camping and entertainment experience of Camp Gallipoli at Moore Park Sydney.
Camp Gallipoli is an important opportunity for Australian and New Zealand school children,
communities and parents to come together to experience the birth of the ANZAC Spirit. All who
attended were able to experience eating tucker, watching historic footage on huge screens, seeing
entertainers live on stage and camping in authentic swags under the stars as the original ANZACs
did approximately 100 years ago.
Throughout the process of implementing and creating these events and opportunities to the wider
community, certain challenges are bound to arise, which requires an listening ear, timely
responses, effective communication and an action plan with a swift follow-up.
Applying this work ethic ensures events of this nature are organised to run smoothly and
memorable. A challenge presented itself when planning for the Holsworthy Army Museum
excursion. We had confirmed the date and time for the students and designated teachers to board
the buses to meet at the Barracks security gates to begin the tour of the Army Museum.
However, after discovering we had a clash of dates for the year level, we were forced to
reschedule the excursion. Multi-layered issues occurred such as the disruption of the date,
planned staff attendance, pre-arranged security clearance officers attendance at the barracks
entry and the Army Curators plans. Responding to the issues in a timely and efficient manner, I
addressed and triaged the multi layered problems and found solutions by organising alternative
arrangements.
3. Supports Productive Working Relationships
Nurtures internal and external relationships
Listens to, understands and recognises the needs of others
Shares learning and supports others
Being the current Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) at Wattle Grove Public School, I assist
children and parents to quickly become part of the school community. Nurturing these internal
and external relationships is second nature to me as I provide a link between families and the
school, to empower the school to build long term capacity to support these families. Listening,
understanding and recognising the needs of others is essential in my role as I carry out my duties
to support individual children’s needs, maintain contact with Australian Defence Force (ADF)
families who are enrolled within the school, develop links with the Regional Education Liaison
Officer (REDLO) and contribute items of interest of the families to the school newsletter and
website.
In addition to this, I attended a mental health forum in Sydney entitled: “Generation Next”. This is
a social enterprise dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the mental health and
wellbeing of young people. The seminars empowered me with the additional knowledge and skills
required to assist our young people to achieve total wellbeing. Upon my return to Wattle Grove
Public School, I held a number of information sessions with the staff to deliver the important
information. One presentation entitled: “Protecting Our Children from Eating Disorders and
Promoting Healthy Eating” spoke about how body image regularly tops Australian surveys of the
issues of most importance to young people. Strategies were discussed to promote healthy eating
that encourage a positive approach to food and help prevent eating disorders. Another
presentation entitled: “Strategies for Dealing with Online Abuse and Harassment” spoke about
how cyber harassment affects about 20% of young people in Australia. Practical advice was
provided to help young people stay safe online and in their use of social media platforms.
All three components of supporting productive working relationships, nurturing internal and
external relationships, listening to, understanding and recognising the needs of others is
demonstrated by sharing these learning support tools with my colleagues and assist in the
distribution of these essential components of supporting ADF families and students. Consistently, I
address the needs of the children and their families individually, confidentially and case by case
value. This is vital and essential in transitioning from my current role to becoming a successful
Defence Social Worker.
4. Displays Personal Drive and Integrity
Engages with risk and shows personal courage
Commits to action
Promotes and adopts a positive and balanced approach to work
Wattle Grove Public School has supported the Commando Welfare Trust Fund which has been my
annual event within our schools community since 2011, by raising much needed funds for the
Trust by helping soldiers and their families in troubled times. Whilst the Department of Defence
and Veteran Affairs have established processes to cover initial financial responses to the death or
serious injury of Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) personnel, these tragic events cause
hardship for many years to come. The Commando Welfare Trust has been created to support both
initial emergency funding and then long term financial requirements of families in times of
hardship where existing funding or grants or entitlements no longer provide support.
Demonstrating my personal drive and integrity as the Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) and
Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for Wattle Grove Public School, I organise the Commando Mufti
Day requesting families to support the cause of this fundraiser whilst also providing a day that is
appealing whilst ensuring there is not a heavier workload for the staff involved so that everyone
can enjoy the day.
Engaging with risk demonstrates my personal courage and my passion for fun and community
involvement, as this is a very large event to organise. Demonstrating my commitment to the day,
many meetings are organised to take note of the various ideas of all stake holders involved. One
such occasion called for the advice on transporting an oversized vehicle into the school grounds,
which posed a risk of damaging the concrete. Approval was given on the base that having such a
vehicle would prove to be a life changing experience for the students at the school. Additionally, it
assisted in the funding as being a visual aide for the general public to visualise what our units
deployed oversees work with on a daily basis. Guiding this oversize vehicle to be placed
strategically in the staff car park required the assistance of staff and traffic officers in ensuring the
health and safety of everyone involved was not at risk.
Being able to promote and adopt this positive approach to my role displayed a positive
perspective from the school in weighing up the risks and benefits and coming to the conclusion
that such a huge event as the Mufti-day was beneficial for the greater good of the students and
families of ADF.
5. Communicates with Influence
Communicates clearly
Listens to, understands and adapts to audience
Negotiates confidently
Demonstrating my personal drive and integrity as the Defence School Transition Aide (DSTA) and
Community Liaison Officer (CLO) for Wattle Grove Public School, I organised the Commando Mufti
Day as a fundraiser to raise funds for the Commando Welfare Trust. This trust has been created to
support both initial emergency funding and long term financial requirements for families in times
of hardship where existing funding or grants or entitlements no longer provide support.
While planning the annual Mufti Day, it was brought up during one of the team meetings I had
organised to make an application to council for a Black Hawke Helicopter to land on our school
oval. The school staff unanimously agreed that having the Black Hawke Helicopter land at our
school would bring excitement for our students and bring to life and deepen the understanding of
what this helicopter is capable of doing when deployed.
Although the Liverpool City Council would not approve the landing of the helicopter within the
school grounds, I was able to communicate and negotiate clearly with the pilot of the helicopter to
do a fly-over our school. This process was made a lot easier due to my previously established
productive working relationship with the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Negotiating with the pilot, his colleagues and staff of the school to determine an appropriate time
for the fly-over proved challenging. After much communicating, we were successfully able to
negotiate a time which proved to be a 15 minute window at the end of the lunch break. As the
pilot was already participating in aviation and tactical training, the children were able to visualise
the tasks the Black Hawke was designed for, which includes but is not limited to tactical transport
of infantry soldiers, search and rescue, medical evacuation, disaster relief and external carriage of
heavy equipment. This mission was a complete success as many children of ADF families could
relate to their peers what their parent’s role is when deployed overseas.
From this example, it is clearly evident that I am well suited for the role of Defence Social Worker
as I communicate with influence, communicate clearly, listen to and adapt to my audience being
the staff and families of Wattle Grove Public School and the wider community and negotiate
confidently with all stake holders involved.
6. Applies professional expertise in social work
Operates within the boundaries of organisational processes and policies to provide brief
Interventions, critical incident management, psychosocial assessments and social work
reports
Uses judgement to identify and resolve problems
Builds and sustains positive relationships with team members, stakeholders and clients
Currently I am training as a facilitator for Kids Matter Mental Health Initiative. Kids Matter
framework assists schools to take care of children's mental health needs by recognising and
getting help for children with mental health problems, teaching children skills good social and
emotional development, creating a positive school environment and working together with
families.
My role as a Facilitator is to educate teachers and carers in delivering components of the initiative
at staff meetings. During these meetings, we strategically develop a plan on how to implement the
program and work with a whole school approach, integrating it into everyday school life. This
movement has made schools a better and safer environment for the children.
The Tyler Turtle program is run at the Wattle Grove Public school where I currently hold a Defence
School Transition Aide (DSTA) and Community Liaison Officer (CLO) role. This program is run
during school time with the support of Defence Community Organisation’s (DCO) Social Worker
and myself. This is a 5 week program designed in helping kids Managing Emotions During Absence
and Learning Skills (M.E.D.A.L.S.) Accompanying the program is the use of The Tyler Turtle picture
book and workbooks to teach younger children as they follow Tyler the Turtle as he learns simple
strategies to help him cope with his mother’s absence, return and relocating to a new reef.
Maintaining positive relationships between families and their previous and current placements, I
am able to accurately utilise my judgement to provide brief intend intervention with referring
children that require additional support with co-facilitating the Tyler Turtle therapy group whilst
working within the boundaries of my current role. If follow-up intervention is required, I escalate
the case to the relevant agencies to provide the additional support and conduct a follow-up to
ensure the case has been appropriately delegated.
I demonstrate my dedication to the Wattle Grove Public School values with my 13 years of
experience working alongside the ADF, that replicate the values of DCO, which include but are not
limited to impartiality, commitment to service, accountability for my actions, respectful towards
all, ethical in my dealings with others, professionalism in striving for excellence in everything I do,
loyalty in being committed to my community, leaders and the organisation, integrity in doing what
is right and most importantly, teamwork in working together with respect, trust and a sense of
purpose.
