Postings - How do you navigate it?

My biggest challenge was always my kids changing schools and all the emotions that came with that.
Not being able to lock in a DHA house meant not being able to enrol them at school as most schools are zoned. Also just trying to help them to adjust to the change as you watch them struggle. It was heartbreaking and I hated that part the most out of all of it.

Hey @Heyyou, thanks for sharing your experiences with the community!

My father was in the Navy before I was born and then worked as a civilian for the ADF and we moved to the outback so he could work on a Air Force base. It was a bit of an adustment when we moved and life was totally different from NSW where he worked at a Navy bases. I do remember there being a lot of challenges but I made good friends which helped with settling in.

I was in my last year of primary school so there is a lot going on for young people at that age anyway which showed up for me in various ways but I got through ok. It did shape my life and I am grateful for having the opportunity to have those years with the experiences I got as I can see how I am diverse now I live in the city.

Form my experience I would have appreciated more of an opportunity to talk about my feelings with my parents and given some support from a psychologist or counsellor. I have learnt that early intervention can be critical in shaping outcomes when people are facing challenges particularly when growing up in different places and facing new experiences in daily life. I remember having thoughs that I couldn't speak to my parents about my challenges because it was such a big move and I felt stuck. I now wish I did speak to them as I may have had a chance at resolving my issues and not letting them consume me as a young adult.

Anyways I hope my reflections on my own experiences with my parents helps and provides some insight.

Take care

RiverSeal

Luckily (maybe) all my times doing full time ADF were on contracts so I could choose where I was posted - although it also meant having to reapply for a job every single year which was really stressful for someone who really craves stability!

But I chose to do it that way so I didn’t have to move my kids schools and partner’s job. I guess every choice has a cost - it’s a matter of which cost you want to pay.

@0ddsidian it is a good question. I saw people more stressed about postings than deployments - there is so much to manage.