Gathering voices and experiences of Australian military families: Developing family support resources

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY Research has often overlooked the voices of children from Australian Defence Force families. Past research on how young children experience military family life relied heavily on parents’ perspectives alone, leaving children’s voices unheard. In this study, 19 young children were recognized as competent communicators and experts in their own lives while also valuing the insights of their parents and early childhood educators. Children’s unique perspectives, knowledge, and experiences were collected through shared stories, chats, observation, photographs, reflection, and the creative arts. The study found children of deployed parents experienced physical, social, emotional, and cognitive responses and difficulty with frequent relocations and family transitions, often related to parental deployment and training episodes. Risk and protective factors, and a shortage of resources that cater to their age and cultural backgrounds to support children in making sense of their experiences, were discovered. The authors co-created free online research-based resources to address this gap and build children’s strengths.