This week lunch meeting will be held on Wednesday 12.30pm for 1.00pm at the..MTX John Halbert Room, L3 Eastern Stand, Adelaide Oval, War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide

Please book on our website by Monday August 3 12am to secure your place! Welcome Desk payment by Card only!

Hayley Boswell, Founder and CEO, Defence Kidz

The Invisible Children: Recognising and Supporting Australia’s Military Families

Hayley Boswell is the Founder and CEO of Defence Kidz, an Australian charity dedicated to supporting and empowering military-connected children. As a veteran spouse and solicitor specialising in human rights and employment law, Hayley brings both lived experience and professional expertise to her advocacy.

Through Defence Kidz, she has led national initiatives to improve recognition and support for military families, including advocating for the introduction of a school enrolment identifier for defence and veteran children. Under her leadership, the organisation has distributed over 18,000 children’s books and delivered programs that foster connection, resilience, and belonging for families across Australia.

Hayley is also a member of the South Australian Veterans’ Advisory Council and continues to work closely with government, education sectors, and community organisations to ensure military children are visible, supported, and valued.

Talk Overview

Behind every uniform is a family, and within those families are children whose experiences often go unseen. This talk explores the unique challenges and strengths of military-connected children, from frequent relocations and parental deployments to navigating identity and belonging.

Drawing on both lived experience and national advocacy work through Defence Kidz, Hayley will highlight why recognition is the first step toward meaningful support. The session will outline practical, scalable solutions across education, community, and policy systems, including recent advocacy wins and ongoing gaps.

This talk is not just about raising awareness. It is about reframing how we see military families as part of Australia’s national capability and ensuring every child connected to service feels recognised, supported, and proud of their story.

Don't forget to give to the Virtual Community Bowl this week by clicking on...  Community Projects Appeal

Please note the venue - MTX John Halbert Room, L3 Eastern Stand, Adelaide Oval, War Memorial Drive, North Adelaide