DEFENCE MEDIA RELEASE
Issued by Ministerial Support and Public Affairs, Department of Defence, Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999, Fax: 02 62656946
MSPA 390/09
Friday, 13 November 2009
DEFENCE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES
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.
Media contact: Defence Media Liaison: 02 6127 1999 or 0408 498 664
NEWS 
