Defence life does not follow a school-term calendar. A posting can mean relocating to a new town and enrolling in a new centre with only a few months' notice. A deployment can mean months where one parent attends bedtime by video call, and the other manages everything else alone.
Affinity Education supports Defence families across our national network of centres, and several aspects of our service are shaped around these realities, from how we support a family moving states to how we help a deployed parent stay connected.
A centre network built for relocation
One of the more difficult aspects of a posting is starting again: a new town, a new childcare centre, with no certainty about its quality. Affinity Education operates childcare centres across Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria, the Northern Territory and Western Australia, each delivering the same curriculum and quality standards.
Search for your nearest centre here.
This means that when a family is posted from one state to another, their child is not starting from scratch. While the educators will be new, the approach, the Lifelong Learning Curriculum, and the standard of care remain consistent.
Supporting a smooth transition
Relocating with young children is rarely simple, and a Defence posting often leaves little time to research and settle on a new centre. A few things make the process easier.
Contacting a centre in your new location as early as possible, even before a posting is confirmed, gives our team the best chance to discuss availability and answer questions ahead of the move. Because every Affinity centre follows the same curriculum framework, educators at the new centre can pick up where the previous one left off, supporting your child's routines, learning stage, and any specific needs from day one, rather than starting an assessment process from the ground up.
For children, consistency matters as much as familiarity. Moving to a new home and a new community is a significant change, and a centre environment that feels familiar, even with new faces, can make that adjustment considerably easier.
Staying connected across a distance
For a parent on deployment, missing everyday moments, a first step, a drawing, an ordinary Tuesday, can be one of the more difficult aspects of service. Distance does not reduce a parent's interest in these moments, only their access to them.
Every Affinity family has access to Storypark, our secure online platform. Educators share photos and learning updates throughout the day, allowing a parent stationed overseas to stay informed of their child's day even while apart. It does not replace being present, but it does mean no family member is left without visibility of these moments. For the parent at home managing daily life largely on their own, it can also mean a shared reference point to talk through with their partner, even from thousands of kilometres away.
The Defence Force Discount
Current, active members of the Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and Royal Australian Navy receive a discount on fees at every Affinity centre:
- 5% off full fees, for children permanently attending 1–2 days a week
- 10% off full fees, for children permanently attending 3+ days a week
To claim the discount:
- Advise our team of your Defence membership at the time of enquiry or enrolment.
- Provide proof of current active service, such as a Defence ID.
- Our centre team will apply the discount to your daily fees.
The discount cannot be combined with other promotional offers, and standard enrolment and Child Care Subsidy conditions apply.
Locating your nearest centre
Wherever a posting leads, there is a strong likelihood of an Affinity centre nearby. Families can search by location to view availability, or contact our team directly on 1800 244 532 to discuss an upcoming move.
Find your nearest Affinity Education centre here.
Affinity is proud to support the families who support our Defence Force personnel, wherever a posting takes them.