Recent media reporting that Defence will cut 74 jobs from the Defence Community Organisation (DCO), reducing the services provided to Defence families is inaccurate. In the current high tempo environment, DCO and the support it provides to Defence families are of the highest priority to the Chief of the Defence Force and the Service Chiefs. For this reason, the Defence White Paper has actually provided DCO with additional staff and resources, meaning more ‘front line’ capacity.

Head of Defence Support Operations, Major General Elizabeth Cosson, said that a workforce review is being conducted to ensure that DCO positions its workforce in the right places to provide the best support to ADF personnel and their families. “The options under consideration in the workforce review are designed to enhance the support provided to Defence families in a balanced and sustainable way,” Major General Cosson said. Major General Cosson also said the review remained underway and no final decisions had been made.

DCO is the lead agency within Defence for the provision of support services to families. The services provided include crisis and bereavement support, through to access to childcare, education assistance and community support.