SoldierOn.org.au
Inside this edition:
/SoldierOnAustralia
Pollie Pedal
@SoldierOnAust
SoldierOnAust
Pathways Networking Events
Winter 2018
Serving On
NAPIER WALLER
ART PRIZE Open to current and former Australian Defence Force personnel. Entrants can submit any visual art medium.
The Australian War Memorial and the University of Canberra invite current and former Australian Defence Force personnel to enter the inaugural Napier Waller Art Prize.
The prestigious Napier Waller Art Prize program aims to promote the healing potential of art and raise a broader awareness of the military experience and the impact of service on the individual.
Entries open Monday 11 June 2018
The winner will receive: $10,000 cash prize
Entries close Wednesday 11 July 2018
The winning work will go on display at the Australian War Memorial and acquired into the Memorial’s National Collection. Two-week research residency in the Art Section of the Memorial
“Here is their spirit, in the heart of the land they loved; and here we guard the record which they themselves made.” C.E.W. Bean, 1948
Mentoring day with Ben Quilty, Australian War Memorial Official War Artist. The Napier Waller Art Prize will include an award of $5,000 for the People’s Choice award.
www.awm.gov.au/nwartprize
Proudly supporting Soldier On since 2013 PROUD SUPPORTER OF
Jamieson Foley & Associates | Suite 2201, Level 22 101 Grafton Street Bondi Junction NSW 2022 DX 12008 Bondi Junction | Ph: 02 8095 6433 Fax: 02 9386 1168 | www.jamiesonfoley.com.au
Contents Regular Items 5 22 32 36
Soldier On Update Centre Update Community Fundraisers Our Corporate Partners
Feature Stories 7 8 11 12
Family Ties Pollie Pedal Vet Connect Looking After Yourself Whilst Caring for Others
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ANZAC Day
19 21 33 34
Pathways Networking Events
Soldier On & Concord Repatriation General Hospital
Serving on
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Corporate Profile Force 4 Good
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Soldier On Get in touch Ph: 1300 620 380 Email: info@soldieron.org.au
About Us Soldier On’s mission is to work side by side with those who serve and protect Australia, and their families, HELPing them to secure their future. Our services aim to HELP individuals build resilience and create and expand meaningful connections with family, community and employers through: Health and Wellbeing – Psychology, social activities and programs, sporting activities and programs and service initiatives. Employment – Transition services, employment support, career-development assistance. Learning – Education and training programs, vocational training. Participation – Social activities and programs focused on connections with family, friends and the broader community, volunteering and sports programs. On 10 October 2017, Soldier On extended our support services to all those service personnel from national security agencies who have served, and continue to serve, side by side with the ADF. This includes individuals and their families from the: Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other security agencies. Securing and protecting Australia in complex environments, domestically and globally, requires integrated multiagency and multidisciplinary teams of national security agency service personnel to work side by side, both on and offshore, and this should be no different at home. We support those who serve today, tomorrow and into the future. To support Soldier On, please head to our website at SOLDIERON.ORG.AU
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Advertising Advertisements in this journal are solicited from organisations and businesses on the understanding that no special considerations other than those normally accepted in respect of commercial dealings, will be given to any advertiser. Advertising funds the production, print and distribution of this journal, allowing Soldier On to get the word out. Countrywide Austral adheres to stringent ethical advertising practices and any advertising inquiries should be directed to:
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Level 2, 310 King St, Melbourne VIC 3000 GPO Box 2466, Melbourne VIC 3001 Ph: 03 9937 0200 Fax: 03 9937 0201 Email: admin@cwaustral.com.au Web: www.cwaustral.com.au
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Call 1300 941 488 or visit www.questforlife.com.au
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Soldier On Update On 24th April, Soldier On had its sixth birthday. It fell somewhat under the radar this year for the team, as everyone had their heads down, working on the delivery of services and activities, Pollie Pedal, campaigns, forward planning for the organisation, and of course taking time to reflect on ANZAC Day.
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e held our Force 4 Good week 16-20 April. This campaign was focused on promoting the value of service personnel, and their spouses, to industry and to the greater community. Education and employment remain a key focus area for Soldier On and I’m happy to say that during this campaign we have supported more than 300 participants in our programs and will continue to work with them in securing employment and supporting either their study or their path to readiness for the next step in their career. Our programs are about long-term goals and remain focused on ensuring individuals are truly ready for work and that they are securing the right role. Underemployment is just as concerning as unemployment and we want to ensure individuals are truly valued for their skills and placed into the right positions. We continue to provide volunteer opportunities for those who may not be able to work, or for those who wish to continue to give back. Our Serving On program with Sydney Rotary, continues to gain momentum, with our third project recently being held at HMAS Kuttabul. The 2018 Pollie Pedal saw one of its toughest routes yet, dealing with heatwaves, 60km headwinds, rain, snow, and challenging terrain. The gruelling 1000km ride took the riders over eight days from Melbourne to Canberra, but during this ride the team created everlasting bonds with one another, not dissimilar to those formed during service. When they arrived at the Australian War Memorial on the 14th April to the cheer of family and friends, the thirteen service members mingled freely with Mr Tony Abbott, Angus Taylor, Kevin Andrews and many other politicians and corporate supporters who had come together to make this possible. The event raised over $400,000 that will this year go to further developing services in Victoria. A huge thank you to all involved and we hope to take on the journey again in 2019. I would finally like to draw focus to what has been a dream for Soldier On since our inception in 2012, and what has been in the planning process for the past four years. Soldier On has always been focused on the whole family. We
understand that the impacts of service life affect more than the individual, there is a flow on to the entire family. This is particularly the case when the service (or ex-service) member is undergoing treatment, be it for physical or psychological conditions. We believe that during this treatment phase, it is important for the family to be able to remain together and to be provided support as a unit. This is what the planned Michael Fussell Centre of Excellence at Concord Repatriation General Hospital will achieve. The Centre will provide accommodation facilities, not unlike Ronald McDonald House, to enable families to stay in one location and receive the care and support that they need. Clinical support will be provided by the hospital, and support to the family will be provided by Soldier On. Most importantly, these families will be connected with the right services back in their home town and provided ongoing support through Soldier On. A full article about the proposed centre is featured in this journal, providing greater detail. There is no doubt this Centre will be a world class national facility. It will take Australia to the forefront of veteran and service care in the world. As always, we need your support in making this a reality.
John Bale, CEO Need help Please contact Soldier On during business hours to speak to one of our psychologists, or call VVCS on 1800 011 046 (24 hours) or Lifeline 13 11 14.
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Family Ties Earlier this year, Soldier On’s inaugural Family Ties Program wrapped up. This program was developed to assist families to reconnect and have an opportunity for some downtime in a place away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The need for this program was evident through community consultation and engaging with our participants on the ground.
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arlier this year, Soldier On’s inaugural Family Ties Program wrapped up. This program was developed to assist families to reconnect and have an opportunity for some downtime in a place away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The need for this program was evident through community consultation and engaging with our participants on the ground. The program ran over an eight-month period, utilising the school holidays, with the five families coming together and spending three weekends away from home. Each weekend had a specific theme and focused on learning techniques to assist families in their everyday lives. The first weekend was adults only, where couples focused on their relationships through various activities and sessions. They were then taught relaxation techniques to aid them day to day at home.
This pilot program was run by Soldier On and was generously funded by the Ian Potter Foundation. The program is now under independent evaluation, with the goal to build on the findings to make a bigger and better program for more families to partake in, around the country. Direct feedback from participants was incredibly positive and we hope to be able to run another Family Ties Program again in the near future. “To connect the whole family together, to give the opportunity for the family in a safe environment to just all communicate and do things together.” - Eme “It has given us, and particularly our daughters, [a chance to be] more involved in decision making and working as a family and listening to each other, it’s really helped.” - Sarah
The second weekend was a three-day outdoor adventure, in conjunction with Outward Bound Australia, for the whole family. This weekend saw the families take on high ropes courses, abseiling, bush cooking, and much more. It enabled them to support one another through the activites whilst having a bit of fun. The third weekend included more activities and techniques on how to work together as a family. It finished off with a scavenger hunt around Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, and a Teddy Bears picnic by the Lake. You may have even heard some of our participants talking to ABC radio about their experience. #sidebyside
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Pollie
On Sunday 14 April at around 2pm, the Pollie Pedal team completed the final leg of their journey into Canberra. The Australian War Memorial was a fitting location to end one of the toughest routes the charity ride has seen in its 21-year history.
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Pedal S
oldier On had 13 service riders on the journey, alongside corporate sponsors and politicians including Angus Taylor, Kevin Andrews and of course, the developer of Pollie Pedal, Tony Abbott. Together they rode over 1000km from the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne VIC, up through the Snowy Mountains and onwards to Canberra. Along the way they faced soaring heat, freezing lows, 60km head and side winds, rain, sleet and to top it all off, snow. The ride spanned across eight days, stopping at multiple rural community locations and RSLs to talk with the locals about the ride and the work that Soldier On does. Each evening provided an opportunity to rest,
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This year’s riders were: “Together they rode over 1000km from the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne VIC, up through the Snowy Mountains and onwards to Canberra.” refuel, and, for our service riders to share experiences from their time served, to build a greater understanding of service life. As the crowd watched the group come to their final stop, it was smiles all around as they were greeted by family and friends. It was only 12 degrees outside the Australian War Memorial, but it is no doubt that those hugs warmed everyone up. Congratulations to all involved in this year’s Pollie Pedal. We would like to extend a huge thank you to all those that helped the team along the way. Your hospitality and gratitude meant the world to everyone.
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§§ §§ §§ §§ §§ §§ §§ §§ §§ §§ §§ §§ §§
Bruce Ashford (RAAF) Mark Blake (ARA, ACT Fire & Rescue) Todd Berry (ARA) Adam Campbell (RAAF) Michael Hannaford (ARA, NSW Police) Trevor Gardner (RAAF) Rob Marshall (ARA) Lindsey Smith (RAN) Paul Smith (ARA) Neil Stanton (ARA) Natalie Watson (RAAF) David Welch (ARA) Adrian Whitby (RAN)
vet connect F
inding that sense of brotherhood and camaraderie after leaving the services can be difficult. This is why Soldier On, with the support of Movember’s Social Innovators Challenge, has created Vet Connect, the first men’s program of its kind. The program is designed specifically to help male service personnel build a healthier lifestyle, create solid friendships, and develop connections to their local community. The program has already started, with our first Vet Connect weekend held in Melbourne in March, with six male Army and Navy service members. Together they undertook team building and self evaluation activities. It was incredibly successful and the participants are looking forward to the second weekend! Vet Connect will be run nationally throughout 2018 and 2019. We are still taking expressions of interest for NSW and Victoria and can be contacted at vet.connect@soldieron.org.au “Well ‘thank you’ is not a big enough word to use tonight. I have one very exhausted and extremely happy husband who keeps telling us he feels like a weight has been lifted from his shoulders. Whatever
you did, you did it extremely well, even this morning’s walk! He has not stopped telling us what an amazing time he has had. We have heard all about the paddle boarding, football and most importantly [that] he got along with other veterans and yourselves. He is still sitting outside talking and laughing to the family about it now.” - Spouse of Participant “If I was asked for feedback and what you could do to improve the weekend I would have to say absolutely nothing, as a family we will be forever grateful to you for this weekend. I was worried he would come home and say he wasn’t looking forward to the next two weekends, but I think he may just leave his bags packed.” - Participant
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Looking After
Yourself
Whilst Caring for
Others
A carer is someone who provides in home care for a person that has a disability or an illness. Caring for others can be a rewarding experience, however if you are caring for a loved one with an illness or a disability it can also be emotionally and physically challenging. Carers often report feeling physically and emotional drained and at times report feeling frustrated, angry or even resentful of their situation. Regardless of whether you are a current or former service member or spouse, if you are caring for someone with a disability or an illness, it is important to remember to look after yourself. Not just for the person you are caring for, but for yourself as well.
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Diet When life gets busy, diet can be one of the first things we let slip. Ensuring we are eating a healthy and balanced diet full of nourishing foods will not only help us stay physically fit but can also have an impact on our emotional wellbeing.
Exercise Many studies have shown the benefits of exercise for physical wellbeing and mental health. If you usually exercise or play sport, try as best as you can to stick to your usual routine. If you don’t usually exercise, keeping active or even just getting outside in fresh air can have a positive impact on your emotional wellbeing and physical health.
Social Connection When caring for others it can be hard to maintain your social connections. Not only can we struggle to find time for our friends, but some people may experience feelings of guilt about going out and having fun without their loved one. It’s important to maintain your social connections as best as you can and give yourself a break from your caring responsibilities. This can help to ease the stress that many carers report feeling. If you can’t find other family members or friends to help out, the Commonwealth Respite and Carelink Centre (1800 052 222) may be able to provide you with some respite options.
Looking after yourself Sleep, diet, exercise, and social connection are the four pillars of mental and physical health. Ensuring these four areas of your life are looked after will go a long way to keeping you in good emotional and physical shape.
Sleep Everyone needs different amounts of sleep to feel rested. If our sleep routine becomes disrupted it can have a negative impact on our mood and anxiety levels as well as our levels of fatigue and physical wellbeing. Maintaining a regular sleep routine such as going to bed and waking at the same time each day, as well as ensuring you get enough sleep will help you stay as emotionally and physically fit as possible.
Getting support If you’re caring for someone else who is unwell, accessing counselling and support may be helpful. Sometimes it can be helpful to talk through your thoughts with someone independent of the situation. Trained counsellors and psychologists can not only give you the opportunity to talk through your experiences, but they can also provide you with specific strategies to help maintain your emotional wellbeing.
If you are considering seeking help, please contact one of the Psychologists at Soldier On by either telephoning your closest Soldier On Centre or via email on psychology@soldieron.org.au during business hours, Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can contact VVCS through their national contact line on 1800 011 046, at any time of the day or night.
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ANZAC Day Heroes. This is often how the men and women who have served our nation, both past and present, are seen on ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day. Broken. Today, this is often how they are seen every other day.
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tigma. It’s intertwined in so many things and it creates a faceless community. The stigma that comes when one wears the uniform, particularly for our recent veterans, is shrouded with concerns of mental health injury, especially PTSD and suicide. This generalised view of veterans as ‘broken’ or ‘victims’ could have a generational impact. There is no doubt that it is becoming more acceptable to access mental health support, but there is still public stigma surrounding mental health, particularly for those who have served. I have conducted numerous interviews throughout the years and all too often I am asked if I have PTSD, because I have been to war. So how can we start to break some of this stigma and find a middle ground? How can we stop ourselves from putting these men and women up on a pedestal on days of significance, and feel sorry for or pity them on others? Those that serve Australia do so for a variety of reasons, but it is unquestionable that they are, and have been, a force for good. Through our humanitarian efforts, peacekeeping, stabilisation and nation building efforts, those that serve do so to make their country, their region and the world a better place. Many veterans who have recently discharged out of the Australian Defence Force have deployed to the Middle East, peacekeeping or border protection operations are now employed, or soon will be, outside of the military. The stigma around veterans is so considerable that some have down played their service in job interviews or once
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employed. Others have spoken of being asked point blank, just as I have, if they have PTSD because they have served. Not a question that other candidates would be asked. Veterans should not remain faceless because they have worn the uniform, they should be treated as individuals, just like all other highly skilled candidates. There is no question that war and peacekeeping take its toll, as does military service in general. This toll is paid by the entire family, not just the individual. As a fourthgeneration soldier I am well aware of this. Like my great grandfather, grandfather, and father, I deployed to war. Unlike my forebears, I did not see combat or get wounded. Their scars deeply impacted our family. Their generations thought that bottling up their emotions or hitting the bottle was the best way of coping. My generation, rightly, is becoming more open to talk through these issues. But, we cannot take this as weakness nor can we let it define who we are.
“Recently we have heard that close to half of those discharging out of the ADF have mental health injuries and that over 80 veterans took their life last year.”
Recently we have heard that close to half of those discharging out of the ADF have mental health injuries and that over 80 veterans took their life last year. There is no doubt that these are devastating statistics and important to acknowledge, but it is time to share some of the focus to the positive. While the public continues to only see stories that consistently portray all veterans as ‘broken’, we will only continue to feed this perception, this stigma and add to the helplessness felt by those who have served. Despite these shocking numbers, proper, holistic support for veterans and their family can ensure mental health injures can be treated for just like the millions of civilians who have mental health issues. The system of support for veterans must drive a recovery mentality and must involve the family. While pensions and compensation have their place, they must be balanced with the focus on recovery, further education and employment. Veterans of today have changed. They are younger, and they have so much time and reason to keep on living the fullest life possible. Securing the future
of our veterans and their families is more than their financial wellbeing, it is their livelihood. They have made a difference and they can continue to do so after their service.
we must dive beneath the myth, change the narrative, and get to understand the people. Stigma needs to take a back seat.
The process of making a hero or a victim, either accidently or deliberately, dehumanises the person. Heroes and victims are for myths and narrative. We hold them up or we pity them, but we don’t really want to get to know them.
Perhaps the middle ground is treating them as the individuals and families they are. Thank them and respect them for all they have done for our country and be humbled that they have done their bit to keep Australia safe.
If we are truly going to understand, support, and ensure the futures of our most recent veterans are in good hands,
Written by John Bale, CEO and Co-Founder, Soldier On.
An anonymous sponsor is proud to support Soldier On
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Soldier On & Concord Repatriation General Hospital
– Together Providing World Class Support to Service Personnel and their Families.
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ince 2014, Soldier On has been working with Concord Repatriation General Hospital (CRGH) in the development of Australia’s first world class facility to provide integrated, holistic and cutting-edge specialist services for Australia’s Defence and national security personnel. Compared to other nations, Australia is behind when it comes to holistic care for service personnel and their families. The joint facility will change that and will prevent so many individuals from falling through the gaps.
Providing Patient Centred Care The Michael Fussell Centre of Excellence will work in conjunction with CRGH and will provide a patient centric care model to serving and ex-serving personnel, and their families. On-site accommodation will be available for families to join their loved ones while they receive this critical clinical support through CRGH. Soldier On will provide support and services to the family. The development of this centre has been influenced by proven overseas models including: §§ W alter Reed Military Medical Hospital and its Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and PTSD facility - US §§ National Intrepid Centre for Excellence and Fisher House - US §§ Headley Court - UK §§ Tedworth House - UK §§ Beit Halochem Be’er Sheva - Israel Together CRGH and the Michael Fussell Centre of Excellence will provide clinical support (led by CRGH) and greater psychosocial programs (led by Soldier On). These will
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include, but are not limited to: early intervention, substance treatments and counselling, psychological support, substance and alcohol misuse programs, family mental health support, social connectedness programs, and employment and education programs. Most importantly, families will be connected to appropriate services back in their home towns and provided ongoing support through Soldier On. This centre will also have the capability to effectively provide support for those suffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries to access a multidisciplinary team of specialist experts, the first of its kind in Australia.
Soldier On have already been providing services from a separate facility at Concord for two years, scaling up for the finalisation of this centre of excellence and accommodation. The centre will be truly national, with service personnel and family members from all around Australia being able to stay.
Why this centre is so important Through the recent mental health and wellbeing transition study – “Transition and Wellbeing Research program – Mental Health Prevalence” found that 46% of transitioned ADF personnel suffer from a mental health condition within the first 12 months after service. The study also showed that rates of mental health disorders increased year on year. Over half of the 46% have multiple conditions (such as anxiety and alcohol consumption) and alarmingly, 75% of transitioned personnel report a mental health condition within their lifetime. The effects that these statistics have on the entire family are astronomical. In fact, the report also states that the number one reason for people separating from the military is due to the impacts that service life has on the family. It is without question that greater support must be made available to service personnel and their families, both during service and post transition. This support must be all encompassing, including clinical, psychological and psychosocial services, and it must be delivered for the entire family. In many instances, when a serving or ex-serving member is impacted, the family is often forgotten, the support is short-term, or it is minimal. The accommodation and services that Soldier On will provide on-site allows families to stay together and, in many ways, be treated and rehabilitated together.
Specially designed and fitted out, two floors of an adjacent building to the Hospital will be able to accommodate approximately 40 people. The design will support private and shared spaces, promoting the strengthening of internal family bonds and the creation of bonds with others experiencing similar circumstances.
“This centre will also have the capability to effectively provide support for those suffering from Traumatic Brain Injuries to access a multidisciplinary team of specialist experts, the first of its kind in Australia.” Families will be able to access social engagement programs, whilst also accessing mental health services they may need to effectively respond and support their loved one.
The Concord and Soldier On Story In coming together, CRGH and Soldier On are acknowledging the critical role they each play in supporting serving men and women and their families to regain their health, wellbeing, and build successful futures. The creation of a seamless, integrated, and comprehensive model of care that is patient centred, agile, and responsive reflects the innovative approaches of both institutions.
Residential Accommodation The Walter Reed Military Medical Hospital in the United States has demonstrated the positive socioemotional and psychosocial impacts on all members of the family by having them involved in the care and support of their loved one. The participation of family is critical to recovery and strengthening family ties, and resilience provides the foundation for meaningful community and employment connections. Service personnel overwhelmingly prefer family members involved in their treatments, and partners who often bear the burden of supporting and caring for an injured service member deserve access to appropriate supports for themselves.
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Pathways Networking Events Soldier On’s latest employment initiative has been to set participants up with employers – literally! Our Pathways Networking Events that are being rolled out around the country allow for service personnel, and their family members, to meet representatives from the corporate sector in an informal environment. This allows the participants to talk to potential employers in a more open and direct way than is possible in interviews. It also gives employers a chance to gain a better idea of the skills of each participant, provide advice on what roles they may be suited to and how they can better translate their skills in the application process, to help them secure an interview and ultimately the role. However, they only have 15 minutes at each table before a bell is rung and they have to move onto the next representative.
“Soldier On's program remains focused on ensuring individuals are truly job ready and are finding the right job for them. These Pathways events are a key way of achieving these outcomes.” While there has been a strong focus on employment for service personnel in the past 12 months, there is still greater need to ensure that individuals and employers truly understand their skills and are finding the right job. Underemployment should be just as concerning as unemployment, as job satisfaction is a key contributor to one’s overall health. Soldier On’s program remains focused on ensuring individuals are truly job ready and are finding the right job for them. These Pathways events are a key way of achieving these outcomes. “This event helped me to extend my network and allowed me to see where my skills would be used” - Participant.
On 5th April in Canberra, 19 of our Pledge Partners joined participants at the Robert Poate Centre. Overwhelmingly, 100% of attendees and employers found the event to be extremely helpful, as it allowed them to connect directly, in a relaxed atmosphere, while still be able to have confidential conversations about employment. “The organisations who have come on board to help out [service personnel] is truly amazing” - Participant. During the trial phase of the activity, Pathways Events are being held in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Brisbane, with the vision to expand these further around the country in the future. If you would like more information about these events, our employment program or how you can sign the Soldier On Pledge and support the employment of service personnel and their families, please contact the team at employment@soldieron.org.au.
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Serving on serving their country, serving their community. N
ot having a sense of purpose or being able to continue to give back after leaving the services can be tough to deal with. This is why Soldier On and the Rotary Club of Sydney have developed Serving On, an initiative which aims to provide service personnel with the skills, opportunities, and support to continue to contribute through volunteer work and projects helping people and the wider community. Despite significant improvements in the range of support services available, many service personnel still struggle to gain meaningful employment (or are unable to work), social connection, and purpose after their service. As a result, they can become socially isolated and unable to find ways to connect with and contribute to the community. This can lead to, or exacerbate, other issues including mental health issues.
“Serving On is currently being trialled in Sydney, with plans to recruit, train, and send 100 service personnel on a range of community service projects matched with their skills and capabilities.”
Serving On is currently being trialled in Sydney, with plans to recruit, train, and send 100 service personnel on a range of community service projects matched with their skills and capabilities. Suitable volunteers will be trained as project team leaders and will eventually take on the day-to-day planning and management of the projects. To date, the Serving On program has seen volunteers join the PCYC in Woolloomoolo to help renovate their facility, restore a gun mount at the North Head Sanctuary in Manly and get their hands dirty bringing a garden back to life at HMAS Kuttabul. This is just one of the many ways Soldier On is helping Service Personnel find meaningful connections. For more information please contact serving.on@soldieron.org.au #sidebyside
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Centre Updates
NSW
Sailing Soldier On’s 2018 NSW Sailing Program has expanded! The Royal Prince Alfred Club has continued to support Soldier On participants by offering them sailing days where they can come and learn how to sail under the direction of experienced teachers. We are also excited to announce that the Newcastle Cruising Yacht Club have jumped on board (pun intended) to offer our Newcastle families the chance to sail! We would like to thank both clubs for supporting our participants, allowing them to reconnect with themselves and others, whilst learning some new skills.
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CrossFit CrossFit in North Head and Soldier On joined forces to kick start our participant’s fitness earlier this year. CrossFit North Head is a gym like no other; both for the unique style of training that is CrossFit, and for its unique 500sq metre facility located in the North Head National Park. CrossFit combines functional movements into workouts that anyone from everyday to athlete can participate in. We’d like to thank CrossFit North Head for helping our participants with their fitness journey.
Yoga Soldier On and Woke Yoga in Mosman teamed up to offer unlimited classes free of charge, from 25th April to 25th May, to current and ex-service personnel. Yoga has been proven to be an effective way of relaxing the mind and the body, whilst partaking in gentle exercise.
Cooking class Surfing Soldier On participants got to try their hand at surfing, thanks to Learn to Surf and Surfing Australia. These participants were taught the basics of surfing, from how to paddle out to the waves, to how to ride one in again, and everything in between. Doing so allowed our participants to spend time reconnecting with one another whilst learning a new skill. Many thanks to Learn to Surf Newcastle and Surfing Australia for supporting this program.
Geoffrey and his team at Geoffrey Michael Pâtissier (Albury) have continued to offer our participants cooking classes, allowing them to learn how to make all sorts of delicious goodies. Most recently, we’ve held a spouses-of-service-personnel class and another couples class, both of which were thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended. We look forward to partnering up with Geoffrey Michael Pâtissier again in the future. “I loved the cooking class, it was really good to meet so many people all working their way through the same thing. I know that every discharge is different, but there are some core elements that everyone faces and to know that you aren’t the only one is reassuring” - Toni, NSW #sidebyside
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Centre Updates
QLD
Even though we’ve only recently established ourselves in Brisbane, our staff member John has wasted no time in building relationships with the local community and getting activities organised for our participants. These include:
Cycling Soldier On has teamed up with Spoke Sixteen and Cycling Queensland in Brisbane to offer track cycling lessons! Participants who love to cycle or keen to try, are encouraged to join the Monday 10am group at Anna Meares Velodrome (the track used during The Commonwealth Games) at the Sleeman Sports Centre. Current and ex-service personnel from all walks of life have formed this group and it is open to all! Join Michael (an ex-service member himself) and his coaching team to get some fresh air and show off some lycra!
Rowing/Kayaking Soldier On and Riverlife Brisbane joined together to offer our participants a BBQ and Guided Kayak tour around Brisbane. This activity allowed participants to spend time reconnecting with each other, and to build friendships with other likeminded individuals whilst being guided around the beautiful city of Brisbane from the water. This is just the first of many activities that will be rolled out in Brisbane for our participants in the area.
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SA
Reception for the 50th Anniversary of the Battle of Coral-Balmore Soldier On representatives were invited to commemorate this anniversary at Government House. In attendance were His Excellency the Honourable Hieu Van Le AC, Governor of South Australia, and The Honourable Steven Marshall MP Premier of South Australia. This night spoke of the bravery of many, and those that still stood with us in the room who had served, both older and contemporary veterans. It was a great opportunity to meet with members of the defence community in SA.
Surfing 8 We have a new staff member at our Adelaide Officer, Di Greene. Di is focused on providing support with employment, education, and the occasional social activity in SA. She’s already managed to organise a surfing event, held at Middleton Beach Goolwa. Those who attended had a great time, learning and generally having a great time together. This group, under the brilliant guidance of Breaking Blue Surf School and its ‘surfing guru and coach’ Tony Mugford, learnt the basics of surfing, and all participants were ‘hanging ten’ in no time. The group left very happy and wanting to do it all again.
#sidebyside
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Centre Updates
ACT Purple Ink Ever dreamed of becoming a writer but not sure how? Thanks to Soldier On and the ACT Writers Centre, 15 Soldier On participants have had the chance to find out how. This program, which began in March, teaches participants how to approach writing, whether it’s a novel, a script, or a piece of poetry. So far the pilot program is going well, with all involved thoroughly enjoying themselves.
Dragon Boating The Purple Warriors Australia (PWAUS) is a new dragon boat club solely for serving and ex ADF personnel who have been adversely affected by their service. Soldier On ACT teamed up with PWAUS to host a ‘Come & Try’ Day at Lotus Bay early in April. Dragon Boating is the ultimate team sport, thanks to the camaraderie, friendly atmosphere and team spirit that is built whilst working to make their team the best there is. Everyone who attended enjoyed the event, which means there may be a new Dragon Boat Team in the ACT very soon!
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SOLDIER ON WINTER 2018
Sailing The sailing program that started in NSW and Victoria has spread to Canberra! Canberra Yacht Club and Soldier On joined forces to provide our participants in the ACT with a sailing day. The CYC kindly donated equipment, boats, and instructors necessary for the day, and taught the participants the ropes, so to speak, or just took our participants out for a casual sail around the lake. We can’t help but think the activity was thoroughly enjoyed as everyone had a smile on their face.
Taste of Canberra A recent activity that our new ACT officer Debbie has started is ‘Taste of Canberra’! This activity runs approximately every 6 weeks and invites new and existing service personnel to Canberra, to explore the area and connect with new people. Places explored so far include ‘One Tree Hill’ and ‘Lake Burley Griffin’. Participants enjoy a walk, followed by coffee. A couple of our participants have said, “Looking after the mental/emotional health and wellbeing of Defence families is just as important as taking care of the serving member, because we then go back to our families more able to support them. A good example of ‘putting your own oxygen mask on first!” “Thanks so much for this morning. It was so good to see you again and get out for some fresh air, exactly what I needed, so thankyou again”.
Mother’s Day Event Soldier On and Defence Families Australia teamed up to offer their participants an early Mother’s Day Coffee in the Robert Poate Centre. We are delighted to say there were many attendees, to the point that the individual cupcakes made by Jo Jo’s Cakes & Bakes were all eaten. Wellness advice and pampering was provided by Vanessa Lovell from Young Living Essential Oils and some lucky door prizes were donated by Capital Wines, Hall. Happy Mother’s Day!
Brumbies The Brumbies invited Soldier On to be their Game Day Partner on the 28 April 2018, to tie in with ANZAC Day. Volunteers from Canberra Grammar School collected donations and Ben Farinazzo (Soldier On Ambassador), along with Freddie Dimmock and Nathan Steil delivered the ball, whilst participants cheered on the players. #sidebyside
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Centre Updates
WA Sporting games Last year SO participants were invited to attend the games of the Wildcats (Basketball), the Perth Thunder (Ice Hockey), and the Perth Heat (Baseball), and were invited to the Soldiers and Sirens Memorial Hockey Game (Ice Hockey) on Remembrance Day. These days are important for our participants as it allows them to spend time reconnecting with their families, making memories, and having a day full of fun. We look forward to attending the games of these teams this coming season.
Book club WA Soldier On participants have been meeting on the first Thursday of each month at Blue Body Spiritual Centre Mosman Park, to relax and discuss the latest book they’ve read. These books have ranged from Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue to Casual Vacancy by J.K Rowling and everything in between. This program is something we are looking at expanding across the country, so watch this space!
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Counselling Rooms Thanks to a generous donation from HMAS Dechaineux, we updated the counselling room, providing a more comforting space for mental health support, and for the RSLWA advocates and welfare officers to use. Mental health support is just one of the services Soldier On offers, and all our officers are fully trained and qualified in this field.
International Women’s Day On 10th March Soldier On held an International Women’s Day picnic at McCallum Park, for serving women and female spouses to come together and celebrate what they had achieved. Our WA team plans on holding more picnics throughout the year; to find out when these will be held head to our website.
Ellenbrook Football Club Memorial Games Soldier On participants were invited to attend the Ellenbrook Football Club Memorial Games on 21st April, where the club helped raise awareness about Soldier On and what we do. We also had a table set up to provide information and merchandise. The games were a lot of fun, with everyone on the edge of their seats right up until the final whistle blew. #sidebyside
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Centre Updates
VIC
Participants form honour guard at ANZAC Game The ANZAC Day Round game between saw Soldier On participants form an honour guard for the players as they came out onto the field. Even more special was the participant who was kitted out as the St Kilda Mascot! We weren’t too sure who to cheer for in this nail-biting game, which was good considering the game ended in a draw. We’d like to thank GWS and St Kilda for allowing our participants to attend and spend time reconnecting.
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Spouse Self Care golf 2018 has seen the Victorian team continue to hold golf days around the state. Several clubs are assisting Soldier On with this program by not charging any fees, allowing our participants the opportunity to connect with likeminded individuals through physical and social activities. The clubs involved include: The Eastern Golf Club, RAAF Williams Golf Club, Bendigo Golf Club, Geelong Golf Club, Royal Park Golf Club, the Yarra Bend Golf Club, and the Mornington Golf Club. The Golf program is part of a larger adaptive sports program being run by Soldier On. The aims of this program is to give current, and ex, service personnel the ability to participate in activities that give them the chance to socialise with like-minded individuals whilst learning a new skill. Doing so has the potential to improve a person’s quality of life, their mental and physical health, and expand their network of support.
Soldier On recently held a Self-Care workshop for spouses of service personnel. This workshop aimed to assist spouses to understand the importance of self-care, develop a self-care program, and create some beautiful products to assist in self-care including: bath salts, bath milk, foot soaks, shower melts, and essential oil roller stick blends. Developing a program and having products to assist with self-care, is important because every act of self-care increases a person’s ability to help others. We have been told everyone enjoyed the workshop and now feel thoroughly ‘zen’.
To find out more about activities going on in your state and to get involved contact:
ACT – act@soldieron.org.au NSW – nsw@soldieron.org.au VIC – vic@soldieron.org.au SA – sa@soldieron.org.au WA/NT - wa@soldieron.org.au QLD – qld@soldieron.org.au #sidebyside
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Community Fundraisers ANZAC Biscuits
Dish Walk Fundraiser Thirty-two enthusiastic participants set out on a 20 kilometre charity walk from Cooke Park to the CSIRO Parkes Radio Telescope on Sunday, April 22. Vanessa Edwards, the organiser, said that as ANZAC Day approached, it was a not-to-be missed opportunity to support service personnel who have protected Australia. They set off at 6:30am through the town, then started towards The Dish; used to broadcast the landing of Apollo 11 in 1969 and made famous in the Australian film ‘The Dish’.
Country Women’s Association Crookwell once again catered the post Dawn Service Morning Tea in Crookwell and raised almost $500 from their morning tea. We are sure everyone enjoyed the delicious food, which included ANZAC biscuits, and piping hot drinks that were needed after such a cold morning. Canberra also saw an ANZAC Day biscuit sale at the King O’Malleys Hotel in Canberra. Alison Barclay makes her own (very delicious) ANZAC biscuits and sells them to those lucky enough to come in to the Hotel. She has been doing this for three years and this year raised nearly $300. Deeks Health Food continued to be a generous supporter this year, donating a percentage of their profits from boxes of biscuits sold.
Kokoda Numerous teams have set out over the last couple of months to tackle the Kokoda Trail. This extremely long and challenging trail runs through the Owen Stanley Range, with participants also facing hot, humid days and cold nights. When asked why those taking part in the treks are doing so, they’ve responded saying that they want to raise awareness and funds for Soldier On. We wish them all the best, hope all the teams have a thoroughly positive experience.
Pubs-royal hotel group The Manly Wharf Hotel lead the charge to challenge other members of the Royal Hotel Group to make a monetary pledge and raise funds by having collection buckets displayed on ANZAC Day. So far five hotels have joined the challenge with the hope that more will come on board throughout 2018. $10,000 has been pledged, and donations from the collection buckets so far, totals almost $1,000.
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Caltex fundraising lunch Soldier On (QLD) attended a Caltex fundraising lunch for Soldier On at the Lytton Refinery complex. Caltex have been fundraising nationally for Soldier On and are proud to continue to be a proud supporter of Soldier On and our work in the Service Community. These are just some of the fundraisers that have occurred this year, and we would like to thank each and every person who has been involved in not only these events, but every other fundraising event. Without your support, Soldier On would not be able to be a force for good for Australia's service personnel.
For more information visit our website, or email fundraise@soldieron.org.au
Corporate Profile Raytheon Australia has launched Australia’s first ever – defence industry led – Veteran Career Translator. Available on the company’s career website, the tool takes a veteran’s experience and translates it into equivalent civilian roles.
T
his is the latest measure that Raytheon Australia has put into place in support of veterans transitioning from the military to civilian life and work. “As a major supplier to the Australian Defence Force, Raytheon Australia believes that it has an important responsibility to give back to the broader military community in which it operates”, said Michael Ward, Managing Director of Raytheon Australia. “As much as employing veterans demonstrates a commitment to the notion of mutual obligation, we also recognise that former ADF personnel offer tremendously valuable skills and experience to private sector employers.” In addition to the newly launched Career Translator, Raytheon Australia also provides tailored on-boarding processes for former service personnel and establishes career roadmaps for transitioning veterans. “The company has a strong focus on the leadership development of its former ADF members”, said Ward. “More than half of the Raytheon Australia’s leadership training graduates are ex-service men and women while a significant number of the company’s Leadership Team have had military service.” Raytheon has sought to lead by example in the space of veterans’ employment. More than 35% of the Raytheon Australia workforce is now made up of former ADF
members and since 2010, more than 40% of former serving ADF members or reservists who have applied for roles at Raytheon Australia through the company’s career website have been successful. The company also encourages its workforce to maintain their Reservist service through a policy where Raytheon employees retain their full salary on top of their reservist pay. Raytheon Australia is a strong supporter of the Soldier On organisation and the valuable work it carries out in the service community. In 2017, the company increased its financial support for Solider On so that Raytheon now funds the employment of two full time Soldier On Family Support Officers who serve as the first point of contact for more than 1000 ex-service families across SA, WA, and the ACT. “Soldier On is able to support hundreds of service personnel and their families around Australia due to the support of Raytheon Australia,” said John Bale, CEO and co-founder of Soldier On. “This support will help more men and women as they transition from service to the civilian workforce, and enable them to secure meaningful futures.”
“Soldier On is able to support hundreds of service personnel and their families around Australia due to the support of Raytheon Australia.”
Raytheon Australia proudly supports the Soldier On employment pledge that guarantees all service personnel and the partners or spouses an interview for any Raytheon role for which they meet the selection criteria. Raytheon Australia’s Managing Director, Michael Ward, has also sought to champion veterans’ employment and is an active member of the Government’s Advisory Committee on Veterans’ Employment, an initiative of the Prime Minister’s Veterans Employment Programme. Mr Ward has worked closely with his colleagues to generate strong recommendations for the Government on how to develop practical measures to embed veterans’ employment strategies into the recruitment practices of Australian businesses. #sidebyside
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From 16-20 April Soldier On ran its first Force 4 Good week, which aimed to raise awareness about service personnel and their transition into the workplace. The campaign was officially launched at Parliament House, with the support of Minister for Defence, Senator Marise Payne. Force 4 Good had three aims: §§ E ducate Australia’s corporate sector and government departments about the ways in which they can recognise the value of service personnel. §§ E ducate the wider public that we should be supporting service personnel and their families to thrive, not just survive. §§ R aise funds so Soldier On can continue to be a Force 4 Good for those who have been a force for good for Australia. The campaign has been a considerable success, with more than 300 service personnel, or spouses, entering the program and accessing support. Our Pathways programs are helping to educate both service personnel and industry
Fed Guard The Federation Guard was out in force during Soldier On’s Force 4 Good week around Canberra, selling wristbands, pens, and pins. They also talked about the organisation, informing the general public what we do to help service personnel and their families. We’d like to thank the Federation Guard for their incredible support and look forward to teaming up with you again in the future!
The Dock-Canberra The Dock in Canberra is known for being a place to kick back and relax, but what you may not know is it also participated in Soldier On’s Force 4 Good week. This year the pub showed their support by selling pins and wristbands and also collecting donations during Force 4 Good and on ANZAC Day. We are also grateful to the Raiders Group, Ainslie Group, Queanbeyan Leagues Club, Jerrabomberra Hotel, and the Vikings Group for also showing their support by raising funds on ANZAC Day.
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and are continuing to be a great success. A large number of new organisations have come on board and signed the Soldier On Pledge in support of employing service personnel and their families. Even our sporting partners came on board, with St Kilda Football Club and the GWS Giants joining forces and putting together a video of support to show at the ANZAC round match. We asked the public to leave a message of thanks for our service personnel and were overwhelmed by this response. These messages are featured in this journal. There were a number of fundraising efforts linked to Force 4 Good and we would like to thank all that took part. Here are a few highlights:
Good Guys If you went into any Good Guys’ store around the country from 16-20th April, you would have seen Soldier On merchandise at the counters for sale and being worn by staff! The company also donated a percentage of sales (up to $15,000 cash and in-kind support) during this week. The Good Guys are a long-time supporter of Soldier On and we thank them for all the support they have given us.
Raytheon Williamtown Force 4 Good Morning Tea Raytheon were involved in Force 4 Good in 2018 by holding morning teas across all their sites to raise much-needed funds as well as awareness around the very important cause of veteran employment. Our Newcastle Programs Officer, Deirdre Simpson was invited to speak about Soldier On at one of these Morning Tea events. There, she talked about what Soldier On does and what the issues facing current, and ex, service personnel are.
During our Force 4 Good campaign and across ANZAC Day, we asked the community to leave a message of appreciation for Australia’s service personnel. We were overwhelmed with responses from the public, those with family members in the services, and ex-servicing members. Below are some of the messages that were left on our page: “Because we don 't say much you might not be aware of how grateful we are to you and just how much we value you. We won 't forget what you have done for us. You are the embodiment of the things we believe are precious about being an Australian.”
“I want to thank all those dedicated men and women who have voluntarily given up so much of their lives to protect our livelihoods and futures to help bring peace to the world and make a difference. God bless you all.”
“You are the best. We thank you for all you do for us every day. We don't always know what you are doing but we know it is in our best interests. We will remember you always.”
“Just wanted to pass on my appreciation to all service personnel. At times you may feel like you are forgotten but this is not the case. Thank you for selfless devotion to duty. Thank you to your families who also give so much for their country. We still remember you.”
“Thank you [to] all past and present service men and women. Thank you for your sacrifice.”
“From an ex-military man, I salute each and every one of you fine Australians.”
“As the son of, and brother of, veterans all I can say is thank you, you are the best of us.”
“Just a simple thank you for keeping us all safe while putting yourselves in danger. May you all come home. God Bless.”
“Thanks to all Defence personnel for your help to make the world a better place to live. We are VERY proud of the job you do in keeping us safe.”
“I'm a proud mum. My son is currently serving in the Australian Army. God bless them all for giving up so much of their own lives to make Australia safe.”
“Thank you so much. Salute.”
“Thank you all for your service.”
#sidebyside
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Our Corporate Partners Soldier On are grateful for the support of so many Corporate partners and sponsors. Please see below for the organisations that provide vital funding that keeps Solder On and its support alive.
Principal Partners
Major Partners
Ernest Heine Family Foundation Principal In-Kind Partners In Kind Supporters
Strategic Partner
Legal Partner
With thanks to
Our centres were made possible by DHA Andre Obradovic Melbourne Military Officers Ball Military Shop Maloney's Concord Hospital
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SOLDIER ON  WINTER 2018
Gerald Slaven GoodGuys Ian Potter Foundation Movember
Perpetual Trustees Wheatley Foundation The Rotary Club of Sydney
Lyone Foundation Surfing Australia Club Lime Anzac Day Trust
Free counselling sessions provided by Soldier On Soldier On recognises a service member’s time doesn’t just impact him or her; it can impact the whole family Whether you are the parent, wife, husband, sibling or child of service personnel, you may feel the need to speak to one of our psychologists. Soldier On offers a range of psychology services for service personnel and families, including individual counselling for adults and adolescents, as well as couples and family counselling. Our psychological treatment is evidence-based and can address a range of mental health concerns, including trauma and stressrelated issues, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, pain, and injury-adjustment concerns. Contact psychology@soldieron.org.au for more information or to book an appointment in Melbourne, Sydney, Canberra, Currumbin or Perth.
SoldierOn.org.au
/SoldierOnAustralia
@SoldierOnAust
SoldierOnAust
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