Amberley Welcome to Amberley
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DEFENCE COMMUNITY ORGANISATION DCO supports ADF families in peace and war WELCOME TO AMbErLEy Welcome to Amberley This Welcome Book has been prepared by the Defence Community Organisation (DCO) for Defence personnel and their families posting to the Amberley region. The book captures a wide range of general and local information, to assist you to settle into your new location. Amberley and the surrounding region have a lot to offer you, making this a posting with many exciting opportunities. We have endeavoured to include as much information as possible in this guide; however, if you have specific needs or require further information, please feel free to contact us. A list of essential services and useful contact numbers is included at the back of the book. Your local DCO team hopes you enjoy your posting, and we look forward to being of assistance to you. Published by Early Childhood Australia Inc. for the Defence Community Organisation. © Commonwealth of Australia 2011 DCO – WELCOME TO AMBERLEY 1 Contents Welcome to Amberley 1 Health 18 Child Health Clinics 19 Introduction and Welcome 3 Immunisation 19 Welcome from SADFO 3 Mayor’s Message – Welcome to Amberley 4 Defence Community Groups 20 Defence Special Needs Support Group Defence Support Services 5 (DSNSG) 20 Defence Community Organisation (DCO) 5 Defence Families of Australia (DFA) 20 RAAF Chaplaincy at Amberley 6 Amberley Playgroup 21 Army Chaplain at Amberley 6 Amberley Toy Library 22 National Welfare Coordination Centre Community Groups at DCO Amberley 22 (NWCC) 6 Local Community 23 Defence 7 RAAF Amberley Units 7 General Services 24 Education 11 Essential Services 25 Employment 12 Transport 26 The Partner Education and Employment Program (PEEP) 12 Pet Care 27 Children’s Services 13 Emergency Information 28 Defence Child Care Program 13 Forest Lake and Child Care in Amberley 14 Springfield Lakes Services 29 Child Care Information Service 14 Vacation Care/After School Care 14 Important Numbers 31 Special Needs 15 Notes 32 Relocations and Housing 16 Defence Relocations and Housing Manager 16 Defence Housing Australia 16 Toll Transitions 17 2 DCO – WELCOME TO AMBERLEY DCO – WELCOME TO AMBERLEY Introduction and Welcome Welcome from SADFO Throughout the year, DCO offers a range of information sessions addressing family support Congratulations on your posting to the Royal issues. Please feel free to take advantage Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Amberley. of these sessions, which are sure to provide invaluable information. However, if you have Amberley has always been a popular posting any questions that refer to family support preference, and your arrival coincides with issues, entitlements or bookings concerning the ongoing upgrades to the base. While well your move to Amberley, you can contact DCO underway, you will see further re-development on Tel: (07) 5361 1678, the Family Information of the base which has to date resulted in Network for Defence (FIND) on Tel: 1800 020 increased infrastructure to accommodate new 031 or the Customer Service Centre (CSC) on aircraft platforms, the arrival of 33 Squadron, Tel: (07) 5361 4530. Australian Army elements and a major upgrade to RAAF Security and Fire School (RAAFSFS) The move to Amberley, like any posting, will facilities. This year will see the relocation of 86 come with its own challenges, and while Wing and further infrastructure development. there will be a number of support networks in place, if you are not receiving the best possible Your new unit and Defence Housing Australia assistance, you should make your complaint will do their utmost to make your move as known to your unit administrative officer or trouble-free as possible. At the same time, the to the team leader of the Customer Service Defence Community Organisation (DCO) at Centre, on Tel: (07) 5361 4529 or extension Amberley will also provide you with assistance 14529. I have directed that any complaint to help with your transition. or issue is to be investigated and resolved as DCO has produced this guide to provide you quickly as possible. with information that will assist with your I am very proud of the DCO team at Amberley move into the local area. It has been carefully and commend them to you: a very friendly, developed for Defence personnel and their hard-working and invaluable support resource families, and will be a very useful reference for members of the Australian Defence Force guide during your posting. (ADF) and their families. The DCO team provides After you arrive at Amberley, you will have the a wide range of information, counselling and opportunity to attend an induction briefing support services, and is trained to assist with that will provide you with information about relationship issues, family and workplace the base, the local region, and importantly, stresses, grief and loss, and provide support to the support services available to you and your members and their families during deployments family. You will be advised of the dates for the and exercises. The DCO team also provides base induction briefings as you complete your education liaison support services through inwards clearances. the Regional Educational Liaison Officer, and related programs and projects that enhance the wellbeing of ADF personnel and their families. DCO – WELCOME TO AMBERLEY DCO – WELCOME TO AMBERLEY 3 Good luck with your move! The base at Amberley is growing at a rapid rate. The Federal Government pledged almost $90 T.C. Innes million in the 2010–11 budget for the base’s Air Commodore expansion. The 21st Construction Squadron, Senior Australian Defence Force Officer 6th Engineer Support Regiment, relocated RAAF Base Amberley to Amberley at the end of 2010 with the Regimental Headquarters due to join them in the first half of 2012. They will join 9 FSB on Vung Tau Lines. And Ipswich City Council recently granted preliminary approval to the development of a $150 million aerospace and defence precinct to be located next to RAAF Base Amberley. This is also a momentous year as the Air Force farewells the beloved F-111 which is being retired. The new F/A-18F Super Hornet will Mayor’s Message – Welcome replace the ‘pig’. Ipswich residents have been to Amberley lucky enough to watch the F-111s fly over the city for years, practising manoeuvres including Ipswich has a long association with RAAF the spectacular ‘dump and burn’. These aircraft Base Amberley, which continues to grow and have a special place in the city’s heart and will strengthen. The base is an important part of be honoured and remembered in a special Ipswich’s identity and plays a vital role within exhibition at the Ipswich Art Gallery next year. the city. In the meantime, Ipswich is proud to welcome What makes the Ipswich–RAAF Amberley the F/A-18F Super Hornets, their crews and relationship unique is the many lasting families. Australia’s first five Super Hornets flew relationships we have built over the years with into Amberley in March 2010, while another retiring RAAF personnel who have chosen to six arrived during July. make Ipswich their permanent home. For those All personnel arriving at Amberley can expect recently posted to Amberley, I encourage you a warm welcome from the Ipswich community. to get to know your new home and to enjoy We are proud of our city and I trust new the many attractions and facilities Ipswich has arrivals will also experience pride in Ipswich to offer. These include a large number of free and the strong community spirit that gives our or low-cost family events like school holiday city a heart and soul. programs, movies in the park, and annual I encourage you to visit our website at Christmas and New Year’s Eve celebrations. Internet: www.ipswich.qld.gov.au for details We have a world-class library and art gallery, on the full range of services available. and over 500 parks where families can play and have a picnic or barbecue. On behalf of all councillors and residents, welcome to Ipswich. As one of the largest employers in the Ipswich region, the base, which is also the Mayor Paul Pisasale largest operational Air Force base in Australia, City of Ipswich contributes significantly to the Ipswich economy. 4 DCO – WELCOME TO AMBERLEY DCO – WELCOME TO AMBERLEY Defence Support Services Defence Community Upon your arrival, please contact our staff if you would like further information not covered Organisation (DCO) in this publication, or if you would like to be linked to local Defence and community On behalf of Command, DCO delivers a broad activities and support groups. range of targeted programs and services to support ADF personnel and their families to Where to Find Us balance the demands of military service with Hudson Rd personal and family commitments. RAAF Base Amberley Your local DCO team is staffed by Social Tel: (07) 5361 1678 Workers, Military Support Officers, Regional Email: [email protected] Education Liaison Officers, Family Liaison Officers and administrative staff who are DCO Website available to assist you and your family through The DCO website (Internet: www.defence.gov. the provision of: au/dco) provides Defence families with ready • support in time of crisis access to information on a broad range of ADF member and family topics. • information on Defence matters in general • advice on community, recreational and After Hours Emergency Support interest groups The DCO office is open from 8.30 am to • deployment support 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday. All requests for emergency DCO assistance outside these hours • mobility support and on public holidays should be directed to • professional counselling for personal, the National Welfare Coordination Centre relationship and family problems (NWCC) on Tel: 1800 801 026. • various courses, information sessions and NWCC will not transfer callers directly to DCO support groups but, where necessary, will pass a request for • specialist education advice and assistance assistance to a DCO Duty Officer who will return the call.