11 March 2008
If you and your children have experienced a deployment, then we would be interested in talking to you about taking part in some research designed to provide effective resources for families who will be experiencing a future deployment.
Having a parent absent for a long period of time is a significant change for children and they can react to this by displaying various behavioural changes. Common reactions experienced by children can vary depending on age and the current resource package available for parents is in the form of a booklet. This booklet provides information on how to deal with children’s reactions pre, during and post deployment as well as providing age specific information. However, all of the information provided within this booklet is based on overseas research and not specific to New Zealand families.
HQ JFNZ, in conjunction with the NZ Army Psychology service is carrying out research in early 2008 on the effects that deployments have on children within the NZ Army. All parents across the NZ Army are asked to participate in this research in order to develop further resources for NZDF parents prior to deployment. Parents and their children’s caregivers are invited to come along to one of several discussion groups in early 2008 where experiences, tips and advice will be talked about in order to pass on to future parents and those with upcoming deployments. As well as the discussion groups, there is also a separate multimedia aspect to this research. If interested, parents will also be asked to share their experiences, tips and advice in order to make a DVD that can be given to parents prior to deployment.
If you and/ or your partner are interested in taking part in this research, please contact me through the details outlined below so more information about the research can be given to you.
Lt Alana MacDonald
Training Field Psychologist Central
DTelN: 369 7647