Cowork Coplay program supporters

The Cowork Coplay program will return to Adelaide for the third time this May, providing spouses of current and former serving ADF members an opportunity to create career momentum and deep connections with other spouses.

Veterans SA has provided funding for the programs since 2023. In 2025, private industry supporters, WorkSec and APOD have also joined in.

In this blog post, we are delighted to highlight the work of Veterans SA, the lead supporter of our 2025 Adelaide Cowork Coplay program, and discuss the benefits our partnership brings to the South Australian defence and veteran community.

Veterans SA serving veteran families since 2008

Veterans SA is the lead South Australian government agency on matters related to veterans and their families in the state. Established in 2008, Veterans SA was the first state jurisdiction in Australia to recognise the importance of a dedicated Veterans’ Affairs portfolio.

Veterans SA is committed to creating opportunities to build a confident, well-supported, forward-thinking and resilient veteran community. The agency collaborates closely with a range of organisations to facilitate and support a range of programs and events tailored for the community. It plays a key role in sharing information about the various services and opportunities available to families across the state, for example, providing the Home Base SA website with a wealth of information for diverse families.

Veterans SA is also dedicated to ensuring that occasions of military and historical significance are commemorated and preserved, fostering a connection between the past, present and future to honour the sacrifice of all who served.

At the heart of Veterans SA is a commitment to providing the support required to deliver meaningful outcomes and achieve a strong and empowered veteran community. This includes various grant programs that support governance and operational support to eligible ex-service organisations and community groups that deliver services to veterans, as well as providing funding to help these groups implement meaningful initiatives and events that are responsive to the evolving needs of the veteran community.

Leading Cowork Coplay supporter since 2023

Since 2023, Veterans SA has been a steadfast supporter of Cowork Coplay’s Adelaide programs. Their invaluable partnership has played a crucial role in bringing this transformative initiative back to Adelaide in 2024, and now, for the third consecutive year, in May 2025.

Veterans SA Director, Bianca Wheeler, said the decision to sponsor Cowork Coplay resonated with the agency’s focus on supporting better outcomes for the whole family unit.

“Cowork Coplay is more than a workspace; it’s a powerful platform for connection, growth, and opportunity. By providing tailored support to partners, we’re not only boosting individual potential, but also creating lasting benefits for families and the communities they contribute to every day,” Bianca said.

“By investing in individuals, particularly the partners of those who are serving or have served, we unlock a ripple effect that strengthens households, builds community capacity, and supports our state’s social and economic prosperity.

“That is the kind of positive momentum we’re proud to drive in South Australia,” said Bianca.

The success of previous programs have seen participants achieve a diverse range of benefits. In-depth evaluations and participant stories highlight the often transformative value of Cowork Coplay, and a strong willingness to recommend the program to others. Participants reported gaining tremendous personal benefits, from boosted confidence and enhanced wellbeing to feeling a greater sense of self and power. These positive outcomes have also extended to their families, who have reaped the rewards of their improved overall wellbeing.

Adelaide Defence partner Elise Knight participated in the program in 2023 and gained significant value from the community connection and being able to focus on her work projects.

“The Cowork Coplay program has been life-changing. It’s given me a real sense of belonging in the defence community,” said Elise.

“I’ve been able to connect with other spouses that just ‘get it’. So often, as Defence spouses we are made to feel like our whole life should revolve around the serving member, and little thought is given to our career development. Claire has carefully chosen weekly speakers that help us to identify our career goals and focus on improving our employment prospects,” she said.

The 2023 and 2024 programs also provided Veterans SA and other stakeholders, including local government, employers and wellbeing practitioners, to gain valuable insights into the lives, strengths, needs, and challenges faced by Defence partners.

These findings, coupled with the successful outcomes achieved by previous participants, has laid a strong foundation for the continued partnership between Human Quotient Group, a social enterprise, and Veterans SA.

According to Claire Harris, the creator of the Cowork Coplay programs and co-founder of Human Quotient Group, there is growing awareness about the program and why career and community is so important.

“Many research studies and government reports, including the findings from the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide, highlight that secure and happy families equals better quality of life for everyone in the veteran community,” said Claire.

“We know that meaningful employment, social connection, education and skills, financial security and health are just some of the elements critical for thriving. A life of Defence service often presents challenges to civilian partners largely because of being posted to new locations, lack of family, employment and social support and an increased burden of care and household responsibilities.

“I’ve been so heartened to have the opportunity to work again with Veterans SA to bring our high-quality, tailored programs Defence and veteran spouses (and their children) to Adelaide. It’s been wonderful to be associated with Veterans SA and to witness the organisation’s focus on partners and families as a critical aspect of the veteran community,” said Claire.

2025 Adelaide program kicks off in May

Designed specifically for Defence partners by a fellow Defence partner, Cowork Coplay provides a space for participants to work on career goals and projects that are meaningful to them. The program facilitates connections and learning between participants and includes tailored career support, wellbeing workshops and child care for young children (0–5 years) during the sessions. This allows participants to focus on professional development and personal growth while their little ones are cared for.

Programs not only improve the employment and wellbeing prospects of participants but also provide local talent and economic benefits. Local employers benefit from talent that they otherwise wouldn’t be able to find. Where participants get back into the workforce more easily or their business thrives faster, this boosts local economies as well. 

If you’re a spouse or partner of a current or ex-serving Defence member keen to pursue meaningful career projects and build a supportive network, Cowork Coplay or one of our online programs could be just the opportunity you’ve been searching for. Contact us to learn more today!