female air force officer mentoring a Medowie school student in defence support mentor program

Defence Support

Defence Support Mentor Program

As a defence family, you live a lifestyle of mobility and change. You move locations regularly and you have to be intentional about ensuring your children’s education and wellbeing.

Medowie Christian School recognises that the defence lifestyle has a unique effect on defence families - both parents and children.

To enable MCS to support the needs of defence families, the School has secured funding through the Department of Defence for the Defence Support Mentor Program. The role of the Defence Support Mentor is to support the social and emotional wellbeing of students of ADF families.


Our Defence Support Mentor (DSM) will welcome your children into our school, make sure they’re connected to their peers, support them during times of parental training and deployment as well as assist in the transitioning to a new school when posting time arrives.

We welcome parent involvement and our DSM will work with you in order to know and understand your child’s individual needs. If you have any questions about the Defence Support Mentor Program or if you’d like to organise a meeting, please contact Vanessa Cork, our Defence Support Mentor.

vanessa cork smiling
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Vanessa Cork

Defence Support Mentor

Vanessa loves working with all Defence students from Prep to Year 12, providing social and emotional support. Vanessa provides support during periods of parental deployment absences and upcoming relocations

FAQs

Funded byaustralian defence logo

Amy Willis

"We have been at the school since 2017, I have 2 children that attend MCS. The support we have received while being part of the school community and a Defence family has always been amazing. My kids are looked after and supported every time their dad deploys. I make their teachers and the Defence mentor staff aware when their dad is away, it never matters how long his trips are. They have nurtured my kids through the tough days and the good days. Their support doesn’t just stop with my kids they also check in with me to see how we are coping as a family and always happy for a cuppa and a chat."

Julia Creggan

"Since arriving from the UK Medowie Christian School has been a fantastic support to our family. Not only does the school provide an excellent education which values each student as an individual, the school is also a beautiful Christ centered community. All three of my children have grown in confidence since attending and love going to school each day. The school has a great defence mentor, that supports not just the children but the whole family especially through times of resettlement and deployment, which really was great especially when we first arrived . For us as parents Medowie Christian School has it all, a great education, sporting opportunities, caring staff and a campus which provides learning opportunities for children from prep right through to high school, we couldn't ask for more."

Catheryn Kelly

"Best decision we could have made!!!
Our family transferred our year 7 son to MCS in late 2021 as the we found local public high school to be unsuitable. As an anxious child he has made such a remarkable transition. It is an inviting, calm supportive and happy school that has really welcomed us in. Also as a ADF family I highly recommend MCS’s Defence Support Mentor as she is second to none!! My son has made lovely friends so easily and the extra support from the learning support staff is above and beyond!"