144.Career, Community & Childcare- An Innovative program for Defence Partners

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This week on the Military Life Podcast, I speak with Veteran Partner and Founder of Cowork Coplay Claire Harris about the importance of supporting the career goals of Defence Partners through innovative programs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Claire and I also talk about;</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-The concept behind Cowork Coplay and how lived experience guided how Claire created the initiative and built the social enterprise</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Why Cowork Coplay was developed for defence partners with young children</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-The many (and complex) career and well-being challenges defence partners are navigating</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-How Cowork Coplay connects defence partners to career, community and childcare</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-The importance of collaboration; how  existing support organisations and groups can benefit from partnering with others in the wider defence/veteran community</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-The evolution of Cowork Coplay (from before COVID hit) to now and why being able to offer the  program around the country via a done-with-you service model was the next step</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Why Claire has teamed up with Veterans SA to offer Cowork Coplay in South Australia in 2023</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-The benefits of working with heart-centred organisations, like Veterans SA, who understand the needs of the defence community</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Potential benefits for defence partners, for example, to have focused, self-directed time and space to pursue goals, build confidence and build connections with others </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">-Claire’s big vision: all Defence families can pursue the kind of work they want (contributing their talents to local communities) and build the connections they ne