Welcome to our blog series: Their Stories. We explore what meaningful work and Defence service means to the lives of partners.

Emma Murray participated in the Cowork Coplay Program in Adelaide in 2023. She’s just started a new and exciting role in Project Management after relocating to NSW in January 2025.
Here she shares with us a bit of her background, her experience with with the program and the goals she pursued since. We’re so excited for her next career step!
Emma Murray, partner of a Defence member, shares her story
Can you please share a brief snippet of your career background, achievements and/or interests?
“With over a decade of comprehensive management experience, I bring a unique blend of strategic innovation, change management, operational leadership, and capability development skills. I excel when faced with diverse, dynamic challenges, using my problem-solving abilities to prevent crises and address emergent issues effectively. Whether I am facilitating communications between multiple departments or liaising with customers to achieve project goals, I leverage coordination and negotiation skills to drive results and ensure seamless operations.
Regularly trusted with complex, critical tasks by senior management, I am futures-focused, considering the long-term application and impact of the initiatives I lead. My commitment to upholding a ‘learn it all’ mindset, rather than a ‘know it all’ mindset ensures that I continuously evolve and adapt, prioritising growth and development over a static knowledge base. My peers often seek me out for help thinking outside the box and finding creative solutions, highlighting my ability to approach challenges with a fresh perspective.
I excel in tracking and analysing data, deliverables, and goals to identify areas for improvement. I have a knack for enabling and supporting others to achieve results, fostering a collaborative and empowering work environment. My proactive approach to fostering a diverse and inclusive work culture, advocating for employee wellbeing, and championing mental health initiatives demonstrates my commitment to creating a positive workplace.”

Cowork Coplay program coworking session in progress (look at the focus!), Adelaide in 2023.
What have you achieved or experienced since completing the Cowork Coplay program and meeting other people in your defence/veteran community?
“I found my self-worth and understanding of where I wanted to be in my career. I’ve always felt a little lost in the career-world because I value my time with my family and community so much more. I always felt like I had to choose career or family, and so chose family. Cowork Coplay showed me that I can prioritise and manage both, and not have to give up on one to achieve another. Since becoming a defence spouse, I also felt like my dreams and passions really didn’t matter anymore, I just needed to hold down the fort on the “home front” and go with whatever my husband’s career asked of him. This program made me realise that I matter too, my career and hopes and dreams matter, and I can have a career if I want to. Meeting other people who felt similarly was invaluable and created friendships, professional relationships, mentors and supports that I never knew I needed.”
What are your career or personal goals at the moment?
“I have recently accepted a new position as APS5 Project Support Officer at the Australian Public Service where I will be delivering critical support for the successful execution of high-level ICT projects. Due to relocating from Adelaide, SA to Newcastle, NSW in January 2025, prior to accepting the new position I applied for many work from home roles. I thrive working from my own environment and being able to be present for my children when my husband is away before and after school. I’ve worked from home for 12 years so I am really glad for the positive outcome.”

If you could snap your fingers and make one thing real for Defence/veteran partners like you, what would it be?
“Equity in helping defence spouses find a new role when their partner is posted. We matter too, and if we have to move with our spouses every four years, we should be treated like our careers matter too. It would also be incredible if we could somehow have an entitlement to long-service leave and superannuation during maternity leave, but I think I might be wishing upon unicorns for those ones!”
What do you want (in life, your career… share some high-level inspo)?
“I want to be valued and appreciated for my role as a defence spouse, for my children to feel understood and heard with their experiences of often only having one parent. I want all defence spouses to have the opportunities I’ve had to learn about their contribution to society. I want all spouses to have the opportunity to explore their career hopes and dreams and to make them possible. Empowerment, validation, gratefulness and respect.”
Emma shares her thoughts on the Cowork Coplay program she was part of
Back in 2023, following the wrap-up of Cowork Coplay program, Emma shared with us: “As Defence partners, we are used to our career, study and time not being valued or prioritised. Cowork Coplay switches this around and puts us first. This is an opportunity for us to work on our goal-setting, meeting with other like-minded defence partners, discussing careers, working on study, building community and all with our children looked after nearby. The workshop time allows for self-reflection and analysis to help us re-evaluate our priorities and create a focus on our career and study choices and options. The discussion within the group is incredibly uplifting, with everyone encouraging one another, sharing life experiences, resources and connections to help each person achieve their goals. I believe Cowork Coplay should be an ongoing program that all Defence partners can experience, in every state and every posting. We know our ADF member/partner/spouse is important, but we matter too.”
Emma’s testimonial highlights the impact that Cowork Coplay programs have on the participants. The initiative is designed specifically to address the challenges that partners/spouses of current and former Defence members face, including the frequent relocations, in pursuing meaningful employment and personal well-being. The program offers tailored career support, community-building opportunities, with childcare, to boost morale, professional development, and the overall well-being of the Defence and veteran community. To date the programs have run successfully in Adelaide (2023 & 2024) and Perth (2024).
Anything you’d like to add about the Cowork Coplay program or anything else?
“This program should be available to every spouse- and encouraged. The connections, support and mentorship offered is invaluable and shouldn’t be something spouses have to seek-out, it should be common knowledge.
Thank you Claire for all your hard work, dedication and support through Cowork Coplay; you have helped more than you could ever realise.”
Should you wish to connect with Emma, click below to find her on LinkedIn.
