New RAAF wife

[pennylane]

HI guys,

DH is re-entering the RAAF in April which is the 1st available intake, because he's been out for over 5 years he has to do his basic training again so i will be home alone until were moved over to wagga.

Im pretty nervous, can anyone here give me an idea of what its like to be an RAAF wife? whats the housing like etc'? Ive already had interviews about it and all that but id rather hear it from people that have lived it IYKWIM.

thanks ladies

[AlirasMummy]

Hey pennylane. I'm not a RAAF Wife, but i'm a NAVY wife. I think all conditions are pretty much the same though. Housing is really good standard and if you want something fixed it get's done straight away and they've just upgraded minimum standards too. Don't forget the cheap rent :D

It can be hard if they go away, but luckily my partner has only ever been gone for 3 months when i was pregnant.

My SIL on the other hand, her partner was away for 6 months and she had no one else where she lived except me and DH and she just seemed to find it extremely hard and lonely.

Everyone has different circumstances and support groups though.

They have really good benefits for the wifes though (im not sure if RAAF get exactly the same as what NAVY gives partners) but if you get posted somewhere they will pay recruitment agencies to do up resumees, or pay new registration fees for you, pay for childcare while your job hunting etc. It might be worth looking into for your move

If there's anything else you wanna know then let me know okay :)

[pennylane]

thanks heaps

well im a SAHM at the moment so im not working or anything in the near future.But its good to know the helps there when i decide to return to work etc'

the kind of trade my DH is doing in the RAAF means it will be very unlikely he'll get sent anywhere overseas unless theres a major war or anything so thats good.But i know theres always a chance it could happen but my cousin is doing the exact same thing as what my dh will be doing and he's never gone anywhere so :fingerscrossed: cuz i would miss him too much lol.

but i do know they go away on training exercises everyone once in a while. etc

It's just going to be such a big change to what im used to and im worried he may change as a person, his parents say he has changed alot from who he was before he went in the first time,but i didnt know him then so i dont know what he was like before IYKWIM so im hoping he doesnt change dramatically (unless its a good change) and effect our relationship.

did u find your dh changed since joining the defence force??

[AlirasMummy]

Umm when I met my dh he'd been in the defence force for nearly a year already so i can't answer that sorry. But I would say he has definately changed since meeting me. He used to be the typical Navy boy and now that's he's met me and we've become a family he's nothing like the other Navy fellas.

Your so lucky that DH won't be going away at all really.

Another good thing is that the removalists will pack everything in your house and then unpack it all at the other end :)

[Shauna]

Hey Pennylane, well again i am not a RAAF wife but Army instead, it is hard at first when they go away but you make your own littel circle of friends and you depend on them alot more. My DH was then DP went away for 7mths just after i arrived in townsville back in 2003 it was difficult..but i made it and now we have been married nearly 3yrs and looks like he might be going away again...Neither of us have family in Qld so thats a bit more tougher also i cant speak from experience in having children and hubby going away :-( will let you know if he goes and how i cope with two kids under two.... scary thought huh!!
The housing is great, if you get the right home and cheap rent is always a bonus especially now days..
DCO (defence community organisation) are really good and helpful if you ever need anything..
I hope he doesnt have to go away but you will handle it just fine if he does, the defence doesnt only make them stronger but parteners aswell!!

[pennylane]

thanks for all the help guys, im getting excited/anxious now lol I just want it all to start happening so we can get into a house and start settling in

[DivinelySophistimicated]

Wagga hey??? I was a kapooka brat lol...My dad was in the RAAF and I preschooled at Kapooka Preschool.

Wagga is a nice friendly place, I lived there for the first 17 years of my life :) You'll be able to meet lots of people!

[DB&O]

Hi:wave:my name is Brooke & my DH has been in the RAAF for almost 8 years, we currently live in Adelaide but have lived in the NT prior to that.

As someone else mentioned it can be hard when they have to deploy away or when you post from one locality to the next but there are heaps of benefits as well. Cheap housing & assistance to buy your own home, free dental & medical plus cheap private health for family members through AHBS, stable employment & they have lots of programs for the spouse when you decide to return to work.

It's like anything I guess, it has pro's & con's but my DH likes it & because we were always sure he had a stable job with steady income I got to stay at home for over 2 years with our daughter & only went back to work because I wanted to not because I had to.

I find the times I hate it are when you have posted to a new locality & the serving member has started work & all the un-packing & everything has been done. I found it a little isolating as I wasn't working & didn't know anyone. You really have to get yourself out there & get involved.

Good luck to your family & if you ever want to chat, feel free to send me a PM.

Ciao,
Brooke.

[pennylane]

Thanks Brooke :)

The main reason DH is going back is for the job security-he's an electrition and every company he's worked for in the last 5 years has gone bust and he's had to find work again and he's so sick of it.

And he's been going on and on about the RAAF since I net him so i think he's always secretly regreted leaving in the first place.

I didnt know family members get dental as well though?! thats good to know DH thought it was just him because he was a single member last time so he never thought to ask what members with dependents get and i dont think he's asked about dental in all his new interviews.

he's just got to pass the fitness test now and off to his basic training he goes (he goes to the gym 6 days a week so he should pass pretty easily)

he's not looking forward to doing the basic training all over again though lol mainly cuz he's going to miss dd's 1st birthday.

oh well gotta do what you gotta do i guess.

[Shauna]

Hey guys i am pretty sure the dependants use to be covered but are no longer..unless RAAF is different..you can get cheap health cover though through defence health, we have top extras and top hosp and cause it comes straight out of the pay we dont miss it and you get more of a discount....i think we pay something like 70 a fortnight for family cover...that includes the rebate too.

I think everyone i know who has discharged for some reason or another always ends up regreting it at some point in time..especially those that get medically discharged they find it real hard to adjust.

As for DH missing your DD 1st birthday Pennylane, my DH was the same he was away for our 1st and 2nd wedding anniversaries too, hopefully he is here this year LOL!!

[MilkOnTap]

He used to be the typical Navy boy and now that's he's met me and we've become a family he's nothing like the other Navy fellas. Your so lucky that DH won't be going away at all really.

Another good thing is that the removalists will pack everything in your house and then unpack it all at the other end :)

I'm a navy-wife too and my husband was the same as yours AM. He now loves being a daddy and having something that the other guys dont. Though now half of his mates from recruit school have partners who are pregnant!

I love the fact that the removalists pack the house all up - but we had a LOT of breakages. One of our neighbours had their removalists dump a box full of christmas presents in the middle of their living room! :o



heaps of benefits as well. Cheap housing & assistance to buy your own home, free dental & medical plus cheap private health for family members through AHBS, stable employment & they have lots of programs for the spouse when you decide to return to work.

Erm - free medical? The serving member gets it - but not the family. We have access to 'Defence health' which is a private health insurance plan that is about 3/4 of the price of others.


The main reason DH is going back is for the job security

Isn't it lovely! The job security is what is keeping hubby in at the moment (also his 6yr contract lol). We still don't know what we're going to do when his contract is up - but the retention bonuses being offered are getting better and better.

There is talk of a major pay increase to compete with the mining industry as well. I'll believe it when I see it though :rolleyes:


As for DH missing your DD 1st birthday Pennylane, my DH was the same he was away for our 1st and 2nd wedding anniversaries too, hopefully he is here this year LOL!!

Yep - my hubby has missed our first and second wedding anniversary too. Last year we spent my birthday together for the first time since we met (4yrs ago) and this year will be hubby's first birthday home. It looks like he may miss Jedd's 1st birthday too though :(

The defence life isn't one for everyone - but once you find your niche' and have the right support you can do it pretty well. Its a lifestyle more than anything else. Good luck! And we're all here for support all the time :)

[pennylane]

thanks pinklady :)

I thought the free health care sounded too good to be true lol darn it

DH will be pleased to hear about the wages possibly increasing though lol he did consider going to the mines but that ends up with even more time away than the RAAF-and he already knows what he's in for with the defence force so its a bit easier. and the employment is definately more secure :yes:

[DB&O]

Hi Pennylane, sorry if I confused you with my earlier post, I didn't mean that the family got free medical & dental just the serving member but that family members were eligable for cheap private health cover through AHBS or Defence Health as it is now known. We pay just $55 a fortnight for hospital & extras cover.

I think that the only place the defence force is lacking is the salary, for example my DH could earn more doing a similar job in the civilian world but the benefits which included him being able to take time off for all my OB appointments & then 6 weeks off when I had Olivia were great.

Good luck & PM me if you ever want to chat.

Ciao,
Brooke.

[SC74]

Hi! I'm not anythng to do with the RAAF but I am in Wagga... I've started up a 'group' on Facebook of Wagga mums and we meet up every week...some are VERY new to Wagga, a couple have lived here all their life... Anyway, you'll be more than welcome to come along too and meet some new people if you want... :) Just PM me if you're interested. :)

[LachlansMun]

Hi, we're a young RAAF family now living in Townsville but we were living in Wagga Wagga from May 2006 - May2007. It's a really great defence community there and you should get involved with everything that is offered!

The playgroup on the RAAF base is awesome, I went every Tues and Thurs and after moving to Amberley and then Towsville since I really wish we could have stayed in Wagga as it's the best posting we've had so far.

Defence family members ARE NOT covered for medical and dental though. You will need to pay for your own or take out a Defence Health cover (which is what we did). Only serving memebers are covered.

The housing is great an extremely cheap. We only pay $270 a fortnight rent for a 4 bedroom house which is standard for a low rank like AC/LAC.

You can also get cheaper loans etc through the Defence banks and the guys are paid pretty well too!

Anyway if you have any other question just PM me. I can give you some contacts in Wagga Wagga for the RAAF playgroup etc.

PS: A nice suburb to live in for a new house would be Bourkelands though it's about 20 mins from base. Forest Hill is right next to the base and alot of defence fa,ilies live there but if you don't want every man and his dog knowing your business I wouldn't recommned it!

Hope this helps.

[samsgirls]

Hi PennyLane,

My husband was Navy, Army, Navy! Yep thats right, can't make up his mind. LOL! Hasn't gotten to the RAAF yet. It is an exciting life at times and extremely lonely other times but you take the good with the bad.
We have lived in Darwin, Puckapunyal (in Vic) and we now reside in Cairns. Its lovely here, but I do miss my family and we don't see them as often as we like, but the lifestyle has its perks, asthe other ladies have mentioned. Cheap rent, especially since the housing catergories have changed (for the better). Usually in your posting location there is a nomiated daycare centre in which Defence has preference,if u want a break. I am a SAHM too. '

If your hubby is a family man, he will stay a family man, i'm sure. LOL! Not all sailors/soldiers/aircrewmen (think that covers it) change.

If u ever wanna chat, look me up. Cheers:)

PS Check out website for Defence Community Organisation (DCO) as that will offer some info on your posting locaton.

[katas]

Hi Everyone my boyfriend of 3 years is also thinking of entering the raaf i know he has to go to wagga wagga for ten weeks and then they get posted prob to amberley qld, i was just wondering how you ladies have found the network up there? my family are all in sydney which is where i live, ive never been that far from home and am a little scared... just wondering if his stories of everyone getting together for bbqs and a friendly welcoming neighbourhood are true?As i wont know anybody... any advice from anyone who has been in a similar position would be great he is interested in being a defence guard.
Thanks
:smiliedance:

[pennylane]

My dh was previously in the RAAF and is re-entering next month. You know he does the 10 weeks in wagga and then you live in WAGGA for a year right,thats where they do their trade training.

Also he may not go to Amberley,if he gets good exam marks he may get his preference but it really depends on what positions are available up there.

Be prepared to go anywhere in Australia where theres a base.:yes:

good luck with it all.It's a lengthy process getting in,DH re-applied way over a year ago.

[KJEmum]

twogirls we lived in Cairns for 3yrs ..was a lovely place to live and my friend is still there and divorcing her Navy husband and selling the home they built. We had a great social time in Cairns as DH's mates would come over for bbqs. He was on the survey ships Lleeuwin and Melville plus the odd patrol boat. Our cousin is a security guard on the gate so if you see a guy called Murray, that's most likely him. He's a smart **** but he's got a good heart lol.

Regarding the family man staying a family man .. I guess it depends on age. My DH is 34yo and majority of the guys he knows are younger and even single. Not alot have family men on board that he is aware of (been on the ship a month now). When he's been away yes he goes out for drinks with the lads but not really a party animal and he'll hang around with those few family men he knows.

katas it might be different in Amberly.. I don't know but I've never known bbqs or group get togethers lol. Although living on the RAAF Base in Darwin was great knowing all were in the same boat kind of .. ie husband away / or home in one of the forces. I miss that community very much as well as the community house on the married patch. Was always filled with lovely ladies and down here in Rockingham, there is nothing like that. Everyone is spread out in suburbia and it's hard findiing friends. I've had to resort to baby forums to seek out friends lol. Seriously ! I know two defence ladies, one from a defence forum who I finally met upon moving here .. and her friend who's DH happens to be on the same ship as DH. That is of comfort :)

Anyways every posting can be different and you need an open mind and positive attitude or you'll be miserable. :)

[katas]

Thanks for your responses , i spoke to my boyfriend about where we will be living after he does his ten weeks training in wagga wagga and he says that we will then be moved onto amberley as they only train for air defence guard at a couple of bases. How did you all get along with choosing your home, if you live near the base in raaf housing do you get to choose which house over the net or do they just provide you with a home. We would be considering moving to the raaf housing. If anyone has any experience at amberley i would love to hear your comments.What a shame about the bbq and get togethers.. guess i'll have to make my own fun;)
:wave:

[KJEmum]

YOu get pics of the home on homefind from front view and inside and not always up to date pics either.

Now you mention boyfriend, well to get defence housing you need to be 'defacto' or married and as you are bf/gf you will need to do a bit of paperwork to PROVE your relationship .. seeing as though you own a house together that'd be good start.
His CO or whoever the head honcho is has to sign and agree that you are defacto etc etc. not sure really of details but you can find out more from others and possibly PACMAN (Pay & COnditions Manual).

SO yeh before you even think of defence housing, you need to be officially recognised by Defence as being defacto.

[samsgirls]

When my DH and I went defacto way back in 2001 (seems like a lifetime ago), it was a very lengthy process. You had to prove everything. We were lucky, because ours got approved rather quickly. Some couples were waiting for months to get approved. LOL. I hope they have made it easier these days.:hair:

[katas]

My boyfriend and i are not married and we dont own a house together, we have lived together for three years but the lease has always been in one persons name only.. i wonder how we will have to prove our relationship we have seperate bank accounts..
Hmm i have a feeling this is going to get complicated.He is holding off at the moment so he can earn some money.. how long after you send in all your documentation and you have your medicals do thye usually get you to begin training?

Thanks everyone for your responses:rolleyes:

[KJEmum]

8.2 Interdependent partnerships

It is possible to have entitlements based on your interdependent partnership. To do this you will need to have your de facto relationship or interdependent partnership formally recognised by Defence.

Who is eligible?
To be eligible, you must have a person who lives with you on a genuine domestic basis, although not legally married to you.

How can I apply?
In order to apply, you need to make a statutory declaration that you have an interdependent partner who you live with in a common household. You must also provide at least four documents as evidence of the relationship. A statutory declaration form is in the Defence Instruction (see below).

The sorts of evidence required are papers that show that you have established common financial and social affairs with your interdependent partner. This includes things such as common bank accounts, housing, and insurance arrangements. A list of acceptable evidence is in the Defence Instruction.

Your Commanding Officer can approve your application.

Application to Reservists: No, except for Reservists on continuous full-time service.

[Sarah91]

Hi i am Sarah and my boyfriend just recently got into the RAAF and now we are moving up to Amberley together. So i was wondering if any of you found it hard to find a job up there as I need a job when I go up there..
Any ideas??

[Uniquey]

Sarah91, you should have no problem getting a job, but of course it depends what you're looking for and where?

Depending on where you live when you're posted at Amberley, the nearest 'city' is Ipswich which is like a big ol country town and has a CBD retail precint like most towns.

The best thing for you to do is have contact with DCO as they will be the best point of contact and reference in terms of you finding suitable work in your area and don't forget there is help for partners as well. Basically you can have free job search through an approved job agency, resume done, money reimbursed to you if you need training/first aid certificate/babysitting in order to find work.

There is also a two part lump sum payment (Peep) where you can study at Uni/Tafe in order to help you with the cost of study etc. Anyway, get in touch with the DCO at Amberley and they should be able to help you and clarify what I've said. Good Luck!