Human Quotient Group blog post

Program delivers connection, wellbeing and employment outcomes 

At the end of June, Human Quotient Group celebrated the completion of another successful Cowork Coplay program in Adelaide. The program is delivered with financial and in-kind support from Veterans SA, APOD, Lives Lived Well and the North East Defence Community (NEDC). 

The Adelaide celebration brought together participants, facilitators, mentors and supporters. They recognised the journey of participants and the profound shifts that happen when people are encouraged and enabled to pursue their purpose, make connections with others in the community and boost their wellbeing.

Throughout the morning, participants and program affiliates reflected on the challenges Defence and veteran families often face, while celebrating the resilience, determination and personal growth demonstrated by this year’s cohort. 

Over 8 weeks participants worked through a curriculum that combined practical career development with mentoring, wellbeing learning and practice, self growth and opportunities to build meaningful local connections. Through workshops, guest mentors and shared experiences, participants identified transferable skills, explored career pathways and developed practical strategies for navigating the unique challenges of Defence and veteran family life.

While every participant arrived with different goals, the common thread was a willingness to invest in themselves. Some were navigating a recent relocation. Others were rebuilding confidence after years of supporting Defence service, returning to work after raising children or exploring an entirely new career direction. We share some short snippets from our Adelaide program participants here.

Bethan’s Defence story spans 10 years and 8 moves, including an international transfer when her husband Mark moved from the British Army to the Australian Defence Force. After 18 months in Sydney, the family arrived in Adelaide in January this year. She found the adjustment difficult and was feeling quite negative about the lifestyle and opportunities in Adelaide. It is also widely acknowledged that people who experience international transfers can have a significant adjustment. There is little support for international spouses at this stage.

Bethan applied to participate in the Cowork Coplay program after attending Human Quotient Group’s free monthly meetups, Careers and Conversations.

“I was really getting a lot out of those sessions. Cowork Coplay just seemed like a development from that, and I just really, really needed some support with job hunting, looking for work, trying to build my networks. I was finding it very challenging getting anywhere in Adelaide for work,” said Bethan.

The biggest shift for Bethan wasn’t landing a role. It was changing her relationship with the search itself and realising that investing in her own self care was a bigger priority.

“I became pretty obsessed, I would say, with trying to find a job, and I felt like it was consuming all parts of my life in quite a negative way. Cowork Coplay has just kind of opened my eyes up to other things in my life that I can be working on as well as looking for work.”
Ultimately, Bethan used the program to upgrade her life

“This program has given me so much more than I ever expected. It has shown me the incredible support available within the Defence community and highlighted the wonderful people who are genuinely invested in helping us succeed. The course encouraged me to reflect on my needs and goals, enabling me to create a more balanced and happier life.

“One of the most valuable outcomes has been the friendships I’ve formed. I now have a wonderful group of women in my life who listen, support, and understand the unique challenges of this lifestyle, all while bringing laughter and joy along the way.

“This program helped me through a particularly low point and reminded me of the importance of feeling supported, connected, and informed. It not only provided valuable education and resources but also helped me build a strong sense of community and belonging. I believe programs like this are vital in helping Defence families create their village and thrive,” said Bethan.

Looking ahead, Bethan set out with a balanced view rather than a single career milestone, saying: “I would like to find a career that I enjoy, but I can balance it with my life with my children. Ideally we would like to find somewhere in Australia, a little spot that we love that we can settle down, so Mark can leave the Defence life, so that we can stay put for a little while, get our own little house and live a quiet peaceful life hopefully by the sea, doing a job that I love as well,” she said.

We are happy to announce that through the work Bethan did on finding opportunities, she has found what she describes as her unicorn job! We are so excited for Bethan as she embarks on this next chapter and know that the tools she’s gained from the program will be useful for her in future.

After 27 years of marriage, 26 years supporting Defence life, and 19 years as a full-time-parent (by choice and by duty‑roster), Joanne used Cowork Coplay to step back into the world of work. The result? A transformation she never imagined.

“A lot of people hide and they lose themselves and especially if you’re a parent you lose yourself in your children and trying to set everyone else up and everyone else is important and making sure your partner gets to work and how they work with the Defence Force too,” said Joanne.

“Cowork Coplay has given me self-worth and more focus to be able to put me in a little bit of that centre too. It’s helped me take steps to have those harder conversations, to voice what I need to say and to be able to take that back to my family. It has been fantastic.”

Week by week, the biggest impact wasn’t any single skill. It was having the momentum to be somewhere and be surrounded by other people.

“I was put in a room with people completely different to me but we find we’re the same in so many ways, and we can laugh. We laughed about what we’re doing and then also set goals together and it has been so fantastic for me. I’m really happy that I’ve been able to do it and take a step forward. 

“I thank everyone that has actually put money and time and effort into this program because I know ‘little me’ has improved ten-fold and I’ve also seen everyone else’s improvements. It’s been fantastic,” said Joanne.

The practical side was incredibly valuable to Joanne. She learned how to write a resume, applied for Working with Vulnerable People Check and NDIS requirements. She also focused on designing her days to include more fitness and self care and getting really clear on all her skills.

Perhaps the biggest shift occurred in how she viewed her goals. Where she once saw unfinished tasks as proof of inadequacy, she now sees, and celebrates, the goals she does achieve. The Cowork Coplay program has helped her reframe her mindset and focus. And this mindset shift culminated in a triumphant update: she completed her resume, applied for jobs and Joanne has now accepted 2 job offers in the disability sector!

Joanne’s word of the year was “CONNECTED,” and it’s clear she is more connected than ever—to her own worth, to her community, and to a future that she is now empowered to shape.

For former Navy Officer, Bec, the Cowork Coplay program marked a second, less visible life and career transition. After 16 years of service and a medical transition out of the ADF at the end of 2023, she moved to Adelaide with a new partner. She also became a step-parent.

Dealing with major life transitions on top of the transition from a Defence career to a civilian career is a lot. Bec says that the  Cowork Coplay program was invaluable for exploring her new home and opening up to new opportunities. 

“It’s one thing being a Defence spouse when you are also serving but it’s a totally other thing being a Defence spouse when you have no control over anything anymore. This was the first posting where I arrived without a community waiting for me,” said Bec.

“I felt very disconnected because I didn’t know anybody here. I also felt very displaced because I still didn’t know where I fit into the real world.”

Human Quotient Group’s monthly meetups were what first got Bec connecting with others in the community. She still remembers admitting to facilitator Pamela Turner exactly how she felt walking through the door.

“I remember telling Pamela when I walked into the room that I was completely petrified,” said Bec.

From there, Cowork Coplay gave her something to hold onto: a group of women navigating the same shift, and the practical grounding to figure out what came next, resume writing included, in her late thirties, for the first time.

“Cowork Coplay has been invaluable in creating a space where my experiences are understood and normalised, where I feel seen, and where I have had the opportunity to explore my goals and aspirations,” said Bec.

“I arrived in Adelaide feeling anxious about not knowing anyone, but through the Cowork Coplay program I have connected with an incredible network of like-minded women and built meaningful social connections. Having dedicated time and support to explore my purpose and career direction has been instrumental in supporting my wellbeing and helping me settle into this new chapter of life.

“I am incredibly grateful to the Human Quotient Group team for creating this opportunity and for the positive impact it has had on my transition out of Defence to a civilian career,” said Bec.

The participants were guided through the program by Program Facilitator, Pamela Turner, herself a RAAF spouse. This is part of the model for Cowork Coplay programs. True peer support.

Reflecting on the journey of the group, Pamela said many participants walked through the doors simply knowing something in their lives needed to change, even if they weren’t yet sure what that looked like.

“Some came looking for career direction, some came looking for confidence, some came looking for information. Some, I suspect, came simply because they knew something in their life needed to change, even if they weren’t quite sure what it was yet,” said Pamela. 

Over the following weeks, she watched participants begin to recognise their strengths, support one another and grow in confidence, often for the first time putting words to skills they’d been using all along.

“I’ve seen women challenge the way they talk about themselves. I’ve heard ‘I’m just a stay-at-home mum’ transform into recognising the incredible skills, resilience, adaptability, leadership and problem-solving they use every single day. I think some of the ladies here would rival any logistics officer in any of the services with their skills of organising and keeping everything on task.”

For Pamela, that sense of connection carries particular weight for Defence and veteran families, where relocations, deployments and the demands of caregiving can quietly erode a person’s sense of belonging.

“What this group has reminded me is that connection remains one of the most powerful antidotes to isolation. When people feel seen, heard and understood, incredible things happen. Confidence grows, possibilities grow, hope grows,” said Pamela.

She was quick to point out that the growth wasn’t one directional.

“As facilitators, we often talk about the impact programs have on participants, but the truth is that every week I left with something too. I’ve been reminded of the power of courage, the power of vulnerability, the power of community and the incredible things that can happen when people feel safe enough to be themselves,” she said.

Human Quotient Group Co-Founder and Director Claire Harris experienced Defence life for 14 years, alongside her husband who served in the Navy. She reflected on why the Cowork Coplay program continues to be so important.

“Research shows half of Defence partners feel a lack of control over their own lives. The career disruption implications are not just about salary drops that ADF partners experience when they move. It’s the fact that they’re qualified and they have incredible skills, and they’re not utilised in the locations they move to. This is such an important aspect of what we focus on, and the power within these people, and seeing them shine over time, is absolutely inspiring.”

Representing Veterans SA, Kat Pisani acknowledged the importance of partnerships that continue to invest in Defence and veteran families across South Australia and celebrated the positive impact the Adelaide Cowork Coplay program is creating within the community.

“The effects of service life don’t just affect the person that happens to be wearing the uniform. It affects the partners, the children, the wider family unit. One of the things that makes this program so special is that it’s designed by people who understand the realities of service firsthand. 

“This program provides connection, learning, career development, all under an umbrella and an understanding of the realities of service, which is so important,” said Kat.

Cowork Coplay focuses on the personal growth, resilience and achievements of every participant. With research showing 9 out of 10 civilian partners of Australian Defence Force members make career sacrifices because of Defence service, interventions that boost wellbeing and career development are critical for veteran families to live financially stable and fulfilled lives. Frequent moves, disrupted careers and changing support networks mean that veteran family members can feel isolated, struggle with mental wellbeing and feel a low sense of purpose and meaning.

Until the Defence service system changes to better support the realities of family life in the modern day, programs and supports like the Cowork Coplay program are critical for individuals and communities. This is exactly where Cowork Coplay steps in, meeting spouses/partners and families with a Defence/veteran connection where they are and helping them get in touch with their goals and strengths to build the confidence, connections and knowledge to move forward. 

The Cowork Coplay program forms part of Human Quotient Group’s broader mission to enable access to decent work while raising awareness of the value Defence and veteran families bring to local communities. Through partnerships with government, community organisations and industry, Cowork Coplay continues to create opportunities for participants to build confidence, strengthen local connections and pursue meaningful futures.

As another Adelaide Cowork Coplay program wraps up participants leave with more than new skills and career opportunities. They leave with stronger networks, renewed confidence and the knowledge that they are part of a community that continues long after the final workshop.

As a certified social enterprise, Human Quotient Group is committed to creating opportunities that strengthen both individuals and communities. Programs like Cowork Coplay demonstrate that investing in Defence and veteran families creates lasting benefits—not only for participants, but also for their families, employers and the broader community.

Whether you’re new to a location or simply ready for your next chapter, Cowork Coplay is designed to support Defence and veteran partners to build confidence, community and a future that moves with them.

📷 View the Adelaide 2026 celebration gallery.

Cowork Coplay will be back in Adelaide in 2027. Apply now or send us a message.

Not in Adelaide? Sign up for our upcoming online program by sending us a message.

Human Quotient Group extends its sincere thanks to Veterans SA, APOD (Australian Partners of Defence), Lives Lived Well, the North East Defence Community (NEDC), guest speakers, mentors and everyone who contributed to making this year’s Adelaide program such a success.

• About the Cowork Coplay program.
• Adelaide 2027 program details.
• Media release: Life-changing programs for Defence and veteran families return to the Northern Territory and South Australia.
• Veterans SA: Adelaide Cowork Coplay 2026 program wrap-up.
• APOD: Why supporting veteran spouses and families matters.

Cowork Coplay programs are delivered by Human Quotient Group, an award-winning, certified social enterprise and veteran family business.