How We Began

The Defence Special Needs Support Group Inc is a non-profit benevolent volunteer organisation established to assist Navy, Army and Air Force families with a family member with special needs. The group was formed in 1994, the International Year of the Family, as a small group of Defence families brought together by a common bond - they all had a family member with "special needs" and they found it frustrating finding appropriate services due to being mobile. The families decided that it was easier helping each other out with information and support, rather than going it alone. The Defence Special Needs Support Group Inc. has now grown into a well respected national organisation with many local support groups and several hundred families located both around Australia and overseas. The group provides support, information, assistance and advocacy for all ADF families who have a dependant (child, spouse or other dependant) with special needs.

What are special needs?

The term special needs basically covers the full range of medical, disability, therapy and education needs. It includes:

• chronic illness or medical conditions like asthma, diabetes or arthritis
• intellectual disability
• physical disability
• sensory disability
• speech and language disorders
• epilepsy
• autism spectrum disorder
• ADD/ADHD
• developmental delay
• gifted and talented
• learning disability/difficulty
• other special needs

Objectives

• To provide a National Network of on-going peer support to all families regardless of the disability/special needs involved.
• To link families together with similar needs.
• To liaise with Defence and other Federal and State Departments concerning the issues that affect families with special needs, particularly those being mobile.
• To raise public awareness regarding the difficulties that Defence families with special needs face.
• To provide a coordinated approach through the local and National Network in obtaining disability information.
• To provide assistance in accessing disability services / equipment and information.
• To disseminate information relating to disabilities / special needs as well as any Defence-related issues.
• To provide an advocacy service for families.

Advocacy and Lobbying

The Defence Special Needs Support Group Inc has been actively and successfully raising awareness of the difficulties that mobile families face at a State and Federal level. These include:

• Reducing waiting list time for Early Intervention programmes, therapy services, equipment supply, respite services and post-school options.
• Standardising criteria for the inclusion of children with special needs in educational settings.
• Obtaining standardised services from the various disability information agencies throughout Australia.
• Standardising and reducing assessments from one service provider or education authority to another.
• The result of all of this is that whilst it is still sometimes difficult to move around Australia, many organisations and service providers are aware of the additional problems faced by families with special needs. Indeed a number of provisions have subsequently been put into place after discussions with the DSNSG. These include:
• Transfer of disability equipment across State and Territory borders where that equipment is on loan from that State / Territory equipment scheme.
• Enable people transferring to a different location on a long term basis to access services according to relative need rather than time spent on a waiting list.
• Portability of Post school options and respite package funding

Policy Development

The Defence Special Needs Support Group Inc has been actively involved ADF policy development resulting in a new range of measures to assist families with special needs on posting to a new locality. These include:

• Recognition of Special Needs
• Special Needs Pre-Posting Visit
• Therapy Assistance
• Personal Care Assistance
• Respite Assistance
• Valet Unpack
• Special Needs families and overseas postings
• Equipment Assistance
• Housing Assistance
• Education Assistance
• Childcare Assistance
• Travelling Assistance

Future Directions

Our main objective is to continue to provide support, information and assistance to Defence families with special needs, both at a local and a National level.

Local support groups are an important part of the DSNSG network. All Coordinators are volunteers and give their time and energy freely in helping other families.

We need to continue to develop our local support groups, making sure that they are meeting the needs of the families in that area.

The DSNSG is currently working on a number of projects which we hope will further assist families with special needs.

We are very proud of what we have achieved in the short time that we have been operating. Our accomplishments have already had a significant impact on the lives of Defence families with special needs.

The group’s credibility is such that other organisations and departments are tapping into our network to provide information for their families and that the group is actively sought for various opinions in relations to disability issues.

Achievements

The Defence Special Needs Support Group Inc has had many highlights since it was formed.

In 1994, the group was formally recognised by the then Minister for Defence, Science & Personnel and the Chief of the Defence Force for providing families with special needs a much needed National network of support and information.

In 1995, the DSNSG was awarded the prestigious Australian Achievement Award by Disability organisations around Australia.

Also in 1995, the achievements of the DSNSG were recognised by Channel 9 (SA) and the group was awarded a Spirit of South Australia award and featured on the Spirit of South Australia segment.

In 1997, the DSNSG received a Certificate of Recognition in the National Link Community Award.

1998 saw the introduction of a new ADF policy to support families with special needs upon a posting.

The DSNSG was recognised for its work with Defence Families with Special Needs in 2002 by the Governor-General of Australia, Sir William Deane AC.

In 2004, the DSNSG received a CODI Award for "Outstanding Community Service".

Our greatest achievement however, has been made in assisting families. Whether it be in helping to access respite or therapy services or linking families with similar need together when posted, we do it all.

Services Provided

The Defence Special Needs Support Group has support groups in each State and Territory which are able to assist with information and support and assistance at a local level.

In addition, the Defence Special Needs Support Group also offers the following services. For further information, please contact the National Coordinator.

• Posting Plans which are designed to assist families with special needs to locate appropriate services ie therapy, early intervention, support groups, respite and much more in their new location.
• National Parent-to-Parent Network which links special needs families who are posted, to other families in the new location who have similar needs.
• Circle of Friends Respite Progam provides respite to eligible families.  This can be via the Flexi Respite Program which provides up to 4 hours per week via  registered respite agency or through the Host Family Program which uses Defence families as Host Carers.
• Link Up which links adults (usually spouses) with physical or medical special needs. It is conducted via a Telelink service and costs the participant nothing.
• Leaps N Bounds is a support group for those who have depression or other mental health problem.
• Access to Grants which can assist families with special needs to obtain equipment or other particular requirements relating to the person with special needs.
• One of the Group is a program designed to assist children aged 7 - 10 who have social skill difficulties.
• Computers 4 Kids assists families to access new or second hand computers.
• Stepping Stones Playgroup is a structured playgroup for children with special needs and their siblings.
• Connecting Families brings families from various groups together for subsidized outings and events
• Home2Hospital assists families where the person with special needs has to spend some time in a hospital far away from their home.
• sibMates assists "at risk" children who have a brother or sister with special needs. It provides them with support via spending time with a volunteer Host Defence Family.
• FYI – For Your Information provides the opportunity for families to attend workshops or guest speakers at a greatly reduced cost.
• Get Real Teen Group Program – activity based program for special needs teens and their siblings.
• Special Needs Publications

National Committee

Margaret Fisk OAM
National Coordinator
Founder and National Coordinator/Secretary since 1994. Margaret’s involvement with the DSNSG began in the late 1993 when she formed the group due to the experiences her family had when trying to obtain services for their son who has severe disabilities. Margaret has received several awards for her work with people with disabilities including being awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia and the Carer Innovation Award from the Carers Association of Australia. More recently she was awarded a Centenary Medal from the Federal Government.

Jo Weal
National Assistant Coordinator
Jo has been on the National Committee for the last 2 years,  previous to that Jo had  been the Coordinator for Sydney South and Brisbane.  Jo is also a trained Stepping Stones facilitator and she is the current Deployment Liaison Coordinator providing assistance to families who have someone deployed overseas. Recently Jo has become the Local Coordinator for Sydney South Liverpool Area. Jo has 3 children one with special needs.

Melanie Graham
National Assistant Coordinator
Melanie has been involved with the DSNSG for nearly 10 years and has been on the National Committee for the last 6 years. Melanie had previously worked with the National Committee as a Project Officer, she has also been a  Local Coordinator in Melbourne West, Canungra and Brisbane areas.   Melanie has 2 children one with an intellectual disability.

Karen Dobbin
National Treasurer and DSNSG Business Manager
Karen has held the position of National Treasurer since 1997. Karen has three children with special needs, one with severe autism. She has been involved in several disability and special needs organisations and has held various Committee positions. Karen has also been the Local Coordinator for the Defence Special Needs Support Group (Melbourne West).

National Patrons

More information on our patrons is coming soon...