Welcome to our blog series: Their Stories. We explore what meaningful work and Defence service means to the lives of partners.
Jodilee, Adelaide 2025 Cowork Coplay participant.
When Jodilee joined the Cowork Coplay Adelaide program in 2025, she was navigating one of the most demanding seasons of her life. A first-time mother to a five-month-old baby, newly posted interstate, and still finding her footing as a Defence spouse, Jodilee was carrying an immense mental and emotional load.
Although her husband had been serving in the Army for several years, this was their first posting interstate as a family. The move coincided with early motherhood, limited support networks, and the difficult decision to place her medical career on pause at a critical point in her training. At the same time, Jodilee was managing postpartum anxiety following a challenging pregnancy, while adjusting to life far from family and familiar support.
Navigating the pause in her career
As a GP in training, Jodilee’s career path is highly structured and demanding, requiring careful planning, consistent hours, and complex coordination across training colleges. Stepping away from that trajectory was not something she had planned or felt ready for. Like many Defence partners, she was balancing competing roles: mother, partner, professional, and carer, all while navigating uncertainty and frequent change.
Cowork Coplay entered Jodilee’s life at a pivotal moment. What began as an opportunity to connect with others soon became something far more impactful. The program offered her space to pause, reflect, and focus on her own wellbeing, while knowing her child was nearby and cared for. For the first time since becoming a mother, Jodilee was able to step away, even briefly, from constant caregiving and reconnect with herself.
Rebuilding confidence and connection
Since completing the program, Jodilee describes feeling more settled, supported, and confident in her ability to navigate Defence life. She has rebuilt routines, strengthened her mental health, reconnected with her career pathway, and built meaningful friendships that continue beyond the program.
Marcela, Jodilee, Joanne, Sajani and Rebecca during Cowork Coplay Adelaide 2025 session.
Jodilee Menezes, partner of a Defence member, shares her story
Can you please share what you have achieved or experienced since completing the Cowork Coplay program and meeting other people in the Defence/veteran community?
“I’m still doing the Child Health Graduate Diploma. I’ve now been able to put my son into daycare two days a week and I’m transitioning back into working as a GP starting next month.
I’ve also been working in a hospital since I finished Cowork Coplay. At the end of program stakeholder celebration I shared that Cowork Coplay helped me overcome my postpartum anxiety and depression. Since the program I’ve been able to access Open Arms consistently and continue to work through my postpartum anxiety and depression, and I think that’s completely resolved.
I’ve now got a routine that has made my life a little bit less chaotic. I think I would have definitely got there, but I think I got there a lot sooner with Cowork Coplay.”
What did you love about the program?
“It was a good way for me to connect with other Defence spouses who went through the same thing but ages before I did.
Because of my postpartum anxiety, it was really hard for me to physically let go of my baby. So it was a good 3 hours of training for me to let him go a little bit and for other people to take care of him and for me to focus on myself in those 3 hours.”
Can you describe some of the benefits you and your family gained from you participating in the Cowork Coplay program?
“My life isn’t chaotic anymore. I’ve become a better wife, a better mum, a better person and doctor just because I was able to fix those parts of my life — the social part and the mental health issues.
Now I’m reaping the rewards of being able to go back into work, transition back into work after a year, stay in the posting place, and not have to ask for family support as much.”
"The program provided me with the tools to maintain my mental wellbeing and I now have some powerful resources to use. I already feel a sense of community, despite being brand new to South Australia, and all of the new networks and information has equipped me to thrive well into the future."
What are your career or personal goals at the moment?
“I’ve used what Cowork Coplay teaches around life planning beyond the program. I’m finishing my Graduate Diploma in Child Health, finishing my GP training, and we’ve also got a travel list.
Going forward, we’re using the goal-setting tools from the program and applying them to all of those goals.”
If you could snap your fingers and make one thing real for Defence/veteran partners like you, what would it be?
“I think honestly it would be that Defence would plan their whole year, a year in advance, and not change it.
It would make it a lot easier to plan family life. Last year was chaotic because I never knew if I was going to be solo parenting for a month, a week, or how long it was going to be.
It’s a lot of counting down and then disappointment when they don’t come home when they say they will.”
Left: Jodilee chatting with stakeholders at the Cowork Coplay Adelaide 2025 program final celebration; Middle: Jodilee working during one of the Cowork Coplay program sessions; Right: Jodilee and Cindy laughing during a Cowork Coplay program session.
Finding stability, rebuilding confidence
Jodilee’s story highlights the profound impact Cowork Coplay can have for Defence partners navigating early parenthood, mental health challenges, and careers disrupted by posting cycles. When she joined the program, Jodilee was carrying uncertainty, isolation, and exhaustion. Through connection, reflection, and structured support, she was able to rebuild stability in her daily life and confidence in her future.
Cowork Coplay helped Jodilee reframe her time away from full-time work, providing her with practical tools, peer support, and the permission to prioritise her wellbeing. The friendships she formed have become an ongoing source of advice, reassurance, and connection, a vital “village” in a Defence context where family support is often far away.
Her career journey still unfolding step by step, Jodilee left Cowork Coplay with improved mental health, renewed clarity, and tangible momentum toward her personal and professional goals.
Now, she is transitioning back into work, progressing her training, and planning for the future with confidence and intention.
For Jodilee, Cowork Coplay was not just about career development. It was about regaining balance, rebuilding identity, and creating a life that works for both her family and her ambitions.
Cowork Coplay is designed specifically for Defence families, combining career development, childcare, and peer connection to help partners build resilience, strengthen wellbeing, and explore new possibilities for work, study, and personal growth.
Jodilee having a discussion with her fellow participants during Cowork Coplay Adelaide 2025 program celebration.
Cowork Coplay programs in 2026
The program has been delivered for families in Adelaide (2023, 2024 and 2025), Perth (2024), and Darwin (2025). Cowork Coplay will be returning to both Adelaide and Darwin in Term 2, 2026.
Applications are now open for the 2026 Adelaide, Darwin and Katherine programs.
Thank you, Jodilee, for sharing your story with us. We wish you all the very best as you continue to build your life, community, and future in Adelaide.