Defence Community Organisation to change its name
By Graham Broadhead
On 1 July 2021, the Defence Community Organisation (DCO) will celebrate 25 years of providing advice, support, and information to Defence personnel and their families. While much has been achieved in that quarter century, in recent years it has become apparent that the DCO name led some Defence members and families to believe it was not accessible to them or that DCO is ‘outside’ Defence. This is not the case.
As a result, on 1 July, DCO will become Defence Member Family and Support (DMFS) Branch.
Paul Way, director-general of the branch, said the new name better described the branch’s role.
‘It’s important that Defence members and their families see our services as something accessible to them as part of their community,’ he said.
‘Recently, there’s been some feedback that families may think DCO is outside Defence. To overcome that misconception, we undertook staff and stakeholder consultation, which also included the Services, Defence Families of Australia, DVA and a number of ex-service organisations.
‘This consultation helped us come up with a new name that people could look at or hear and immediately know what we do and who we do it for.’
There won’t be any changes to the current services when the new name takes effect.
Those services include the 24-hour Defence Family Helpline, assistance for members transitioning from the permanent forces, local area office support, partner employment assistance, facilitating access to childcare, assistance for dependants with special needs, help for families during a crisis or emergency, and education support for children.
For more information about DMFS programs for ADF families, phone the helpline on 1800 624 608 or email defencefamilyhelpline [at] defence.gov.au (defencefamilyhelpline[at]defence[dot]gov[dot]au)
For the full story, visit the Department of Defence website.
Sergeant Nathan Jeffrey, from Simpson Barracks in Melbourne, with his wife Stephanie and daughter Abigail at the DCO families event at Healesville Sanctuary, Victoria. Photo: Petty Officer James Whittle