SoldierOn.org.au
Inside this edition:
/SoldierOnAustralia
@SoldierOnAust
SoldierOnAust
Spring 2019
Pollie Pedal†Canberra Fundraising Ball†Swimming the Hellespont
Many of our veterans need our help and Saab Australia is proud to be supporting Soldier On's great work. Find out how we work with our veteran community:
www.saab.com.au Š Commonwealth of Australia 201 8
Living with PTSD? We Can Help Moving Beyond Trauma is a 5-day residential program at the Quest for Life Centre in Bundanoon, NSW designed to assist people with PTSD reclaim their lives. The program draws on an understanding of trauma, its effect on the brain and teaches practical skills and tools which bring relief to the troubled body, mind and spirit. Based on the latest research on health, healing and neuroscience, our nationally acclaimed programs are delivered by a highly qualified professional team in a safe and confidential environment. 2019/20 Programs
11-15 November 2-6 December 13-17 January
Call 1300 941 488 or visit www.questforlife.com.au
NDIS Provider. Subsidies available. Speak to us if you’re covered by worker’s compensation. Special Offer for Soldier On readers
$200 off
the program fee if you mention ‘Soldier On’ when booking
CSC are proud supporters of the stories shared at this year’s event Honouring Women and Families United by Defence Service. Watch the video stories at http://honouringwomen.com.au
csc.gov.au
Contents Regular Items 25 Education 26 Employment 29 Psych 32 Activities updates 37 Community Fundraisers 40 Our Corporate Partners
Feature Stories 5 6 12 18 21
New leadership at the top Pollie Pedal Canberra National Gala Ball Inter Service Surfing Championship Swimming the Hellespont!
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Soldier On Get in touch Ph: 1300 620 380 Email: getsupport@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. 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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H O P E A N D H ELP F OR T H E N EXT M IS SION
They served their country well. It’s time to serve them well in return. We’re proud to support Australia’s veterans and those who serve in achieving a rewarding life beyond the battlespace through Soldier On.
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© 2019 Collins Aerospace, a United Technologies company. All rights reserved.
UTC Aerospace Systems and Rockwell Collins are now Collins Aerospace.
New leadership I
at the top
Soldier On is excited to announce that Ivan Slavich has joined the organisation as the new CEO, bringing with him a considerable amount of experience in the corporate world, an understanding of charity fundraising, and knowledge of military service.
van has previously held the position of CEO for a number of companies, including TransACT Communications, PARASOL, and Energy Action. He has also held the position of Managing Director of Trident Corporate Services since 2013 and was previously the Head of Retail for ActewAGL a Canberra based energy company. Ivan also has extensive charity fundraising experience, raising over $2 million for various charities. He was on the inaugural committee to establish Ronald McDonald House in Canberra and served on that fundraising committee for 5 years. Ivan was the highest individual worldwide fundraiser for Movember, and on three occasions, was the highest fundraiser in Australia. Ivan has also lent his experience to Camp Quality, securing large donations through events such as the Camp Quality Classic Cruise During Ivan’s time as a commissioned officer of the Australian Army Reserve, he served for 6 years with OCTU and 23rd Field Regiment, where he developed his ability to lead people and work towards a goal. Ivan has a Bachelor of Business Degree from UTS and has postgraduate studies in Business Administration and Finance. He has considerable experience as a Board Director and is currently a Non-Executive Director of Defence and Homeland security ASX listed company Xtek Limited, and has been on the Service One Alliance Bank Board for nine years. Ivan is a Graduate and Fellow of The Australian Institute of Company Directors. #sidebyside
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Pollie For the third year in a row, Soldier On was the charity partner for the 2019 ISPS Handa Pollie Pedal. 6
SOLDIER ON  Spring 2019
Pedal This year, the route took veterans, politicians, and others who wanted to jump on a bike, through South East Queensland, starting at Currumbin RSL and finishing at Geebung RSL in Brisbane.
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his year we had 10 service riders from backgrounds as different as their helmets - some were in the thick of combat, others operated behind the scenes, and one served in Vietnam. They were joined by our incredibly supportive corporate representatives and politicians including Ben Morton MP, David Gillespie MP, and Andrew Wallace MP. Tony Abbott joined the riders, as did Angus Taylor MP who this year became the patron of Pollie Pedal. Fortunately, the weather was kinder than last year; the route took the riders through areas of Australia that have been hit hard by the drought, and at every stop both veterans and politicians talked with members of the various local communities about the drought and the impact it was having. The riders used the week-long ride as an opportunity to talk about life as a member of the Australian Defence Force. Informal presentations were happily undertaken at the various towns and RSL’s where everyone stopped to refuel and refresh. This year, Pollie Pedal had an extra level of competitiveness: a yellow jersey. This jersey was offered to the highest fundraiser each day and the battle was pretty consistent
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SOLDIER ON Spring 2019
throughout the ride, leap-frogging between Pollie Pedal stalwart Tony Abbott and Angus Taylor MP. Whilst everyone thoroughly enjoyed the ISPS Handa Pollie Pedal, they also let out a sigh of relief when they were able to jump off their bikes in Brisbane. Soldier On would like to thank everyone who participated in the ride, and those who were part of the support team. We would also like to thank the various organisations and businesses, big and small, that supported the 2019 ISPS Handa Pollie Pedal. The proceeds of Pollie Pedal 2019 are going towards developing Soldier On’s rehabilitation facilities. Through these centres, service personnel and their families will have access to best practice education, training, employment placement and social connectedness programs, as well as world leading physical recovery and rehabilitation programs. We hope to see you again next year.
Photo: Sarah Watson
#sidebyside
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[Pollie Pedal] has helped me rediscover my enjoyment for riding my bike, it has encouraged me to start being more socially connected again, and it has helped to boost my self confidence that I am still capable of challenging myself to undertake a mentally and physically difficult team activity. Extremely positive impact with new friendships created and self-confidence reinstated.
This Year’s Riders Were §§ Tony Abbott Founder of Pollie Pedal §§ Adam Campbell-RAAF §§ David Welch-ARMY §§ Dee-Ann Jackson-ARMY §§ Gareth Rochester-ARMY §§ Lindsey Smith-RAN §§ Natalie Watson-RAAF §§ Neil Stanton-ARMY §§ Pauline Burgemeister-RAN §§ Peter Renshaw-ARMY §§ Sarah Watson-ARMY §§ The Hon Andrew Wallace MP §§ The Hon Angus Taylor MP §§ The Hon Ben Morton MP §§ The Hon Dr David Gillespie MP
The event reinforced for me the benefits of both physical exercise and connectedness as critical for personal well being Some of the events/speakers/content were a powerful trigger on my past emotions/experiences (in a good way). The Pollie Pedal journey was amazing and more importantly, the experience gave me closure on some things from my past. I have come away a stronger, more hopeful person.
#sidebyside
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Canberra Fundraising Ball The 6th ISPS Handa Soldier On National Gala Ball was once again held at the beautiful National Arboretum on 24th August. As guests arrived, they were treated to a gorgeous sunset over Canberra before mingling and taking in the spectacle of two enormous Bogon Moths on stilts making their way through the crowd.
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ur MC, Sandra Sully, commenced the evening with a tribute to Tim Fischer, the former Deputy Prime Minister and former National party leader, before welcoming the Wiradjuri Echoes to perform a magnificent Welcome to Country that guests said was one of the best they had seen. Soldier On Chairman, LTGEN Peter Leahy, AC (Ret’d) then welcomed guests and thanked the event’s sponsors. He spoke about the defence personnel currently deployed overseas, missing their families, hungry, tired, and potentially in danger. Wayne Eagleson from ISPS Handa, the Principle Sponsor of the Ball, then delivered a quick address, outlining the ways in which ISPS Handa help those who need it through their support of sports programs. Continuing with the theme of inspiring performances, the Military Wives Choir, sang a number of gorgeous songs whilst the entrees were served, reminding everyone that it’s not just the service member who serves, it is the entire family. The keynote speaker for the evening, Ben Farinazzo, delivered a raw and powerful insight into the impact of service, dealing with PTSD, and its ongoing management. Whilst Ben is still managing his PTSD, he got to a place where he was able to compete in the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 and win two gold medals. But it was the way Ben talked about his family, and the importance of having them around him and the role they played in grounding him,
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that brought everyone to tears and saw attendees give Ben a standing ovation as he made his way back to his seat and his family. Once the auction had been conducted by Jeremy Maher from Harcourts Brindabella, Peter Leahy again took to the stage to present Dr Brendan Nelson AO with a ‘thank you’ gift for his support of Soldier On and of the defence community in general over the years. This gift was a framed branch of the Lone Pine seedling growing in the grounds of Soldier On HQ. Interspersed throughout the speeches and serving as a backdrop to the conversations,
were photos from the last couple of years showing Soldier On participants engaging in a variety of activities such as sailing, cooking, family days out, dragon boating, and keeping their balance on Segways. After the formalities had been concluded, the incredible RMC Band, ensured guests on the dance floor enjoyed some absolute classics. Thanks to the generosity of those who attended, Soldier On raised well over $200,000 on the night. This is a remarkable amount that will ensure Soldier On can continue to deliver more services across the country and support the service community.
#sidebyside
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Soldier On would like to thank the following organisations and people who made the night possible:
Principle Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
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SOLDIER ON  Spring 2019
Winery that supported the ball
Auction items and Raffle Prizes We are so grateful for the amazing prizes donated by the following sponsors
Our event partners
Vangeli JEWELLERS
Volunteers We would like to thank the volunteers who assisted on the night, including the two who dressed up in kangaroo suits.
Jess Love Cassie Broker
Unicorn Spirits
Royal Military College Duntroon
#sidebyside
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ADF Surf Riders Association –
Inter Service In March 2019, the ADF held its annual Inter Service Surfing Competition on the beaches of the Ulladulla area of NSW, hosted by the Air Force Surf Riders Association. The event is a culmination of a number of training and competitive activities that each of the three ADF Surfing Association Teams had trained for.
Article written by FLTLT Jason ‘Griff’ Griffiths AFSRA President Photos taken by AB Shane Cameron RAn
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he competition was held over three days and as well as the individual competitions for the six surfing disciplines; Male Open, Female Open, Masters, Long Board, Body board and Stand Up Paddle board, there is also a Teams event which determines which Service becomes the Inter Service Surfing Champions. The competition was held in challenging 3 to 4 foot surf, at a number of beaches around Mollymook, utilising local knowledge to determine the best spot to hold the finals to allow the surfers to showcase their skills. The Teams event format is similar to that used at the Australian Board Riders Battle, where each team member catches a maximum of 2 waves, then returns to shore to tag the next member. The team must finish before the clock runs out, with the best single wave for each surfer being counted toward the overall total. This format is very exciting and is very tactical due to the shortage of time. Due to the Teams event being held at Dolphin Point, an innovative in-water Tag point had to be set up which added to the strategy and excitement. “The Tag team event not only helps determine the winning Association but also helps to develop and instil some of the values of being in the Defence Force, the competitors need to be physically fit, mentally agile, work as a team, use initiative and be courageous” said event organiser FLTLT Griffiths.
p Above ADF Surfers at the ISSC 2019. Opposite FLTLT Connor O’Neil receiving his prize from outgoing ADF SRA President, MAJ Myles Conquest.
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Surfing Championships “You and your teammates are really under pressure during this event due to the time constraints and especially this year, with the size and power of the ocean swell”.
After the three days of competition, the contestants and organising staff convened at the Mollymook Golf Club for a formal presentation evening. It was during the official prize giving that a raffle was held to raise funds for Soldier On, a charity close to the heart of all of the Defence Force surfers. The raffle prize was a surfboard donated by one of the major supporters of Defence Surfing; Fire Wire Surfboards, Australia. In total, $1130 was raised on the evening with the lucky winner being FLTLT Connor O’Neil from RAAF Amberley. “I am absolutely stoked to have won this prize, it has been a great week and to win this board has topped it off for me”. “What makes it even more special is knowing that we have raised so much money for Soldier On” FLTLT Connor O’Neil said. The new President of the ADF Surf Rider Associations said “as a Defence Sporting Association we have helped Soldier On in a number of their Learn to Surf programs in previous years and we look forward to continuing to support these and similar events through 2019 and into the future” said LTCDR Shane Tacon. “What is really encouraging from my point of view, as the new ADF SRA President, is seeing how much positivity and support there is from all of our members, towards helping such a worthy cause as Soldier On” The ADF SRA President congratulated the individual winners of each surfing division and then announced the Winning Association. Although 2019 proved to be the closest scoring total for many years, the Navy, once again narrowly defeated
the Air Force and the Army to retain the Inter Service Trophy and be crowned for the 4th consecutive year. The Air Force Surfing Association have just returned from their 2019 Festival of Surfing at Crescent Head, where new champions were crowned, an Air Force Surf Team selected and further funds were raised for Soldier On during a ‘fun board’ competition hosted by SGT Ben Wilkie from RAAF Williamtown.
“The idea of the Fun-board event was to give the competitors the option to either surf themselves, on a fun board or nominate someone else to surf on their behalf” said SGT Wilkie “There was a twist however, in that the competitors didn’t know, that to win the competition they needed to finish in second place”. The 1st place finisher FSGT Jamie Levin caught some great waves on a soft topped longboard, but the second place finisher CPL Dan Johnson took the honours and the inaugural ‘Benny Wilkie – Bridesmaid’ Trophy.
If you would like to gain further information or would like to join any of the Defence Force Surfing Associations, visit the ADF Sports Council website and select Surf Riders from the ADF Sports menu.
#sidebyside
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Soldier_On_Ad3.pdf 1 16/02/2018 4:11:07 PM
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Entry to the RAAF Museum is FREE!! Opening Hours: 10:00am to 3:00pm Tuesday to Friday
10:00am to 5:00pm Weekends and Public Holidays Closed Mondays, Christmas Day & Good Friday Telephone: (03) 8348 6040 Fax: (03) 8348 6692 Web: www.airforce.gov.au/raafmuseum Email: RAAF.MuseumInfo@defence.gov.au Facebook: facebook.com/RAAF.Museum
The RAAF Museum, located at Point Cook, is home to an amazing range of historic military aircraft. A great chance to view these rare machines is at the interactive flying displays, which are held every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday at 1:00 pm (weat her permitting). The Museum has a vast collection of historical material on show, including several hangars with static aircraft, and offers visitors an exciting experience and insight into the history of the Air Force. Models, books, patches, clothing and mementos can be purchased at the Museum shop.
Swimming the
Written by Michele Wood
Hellespont!
Soldier On and Inspired Adventures teamed up to offer people the chance to swim the Hellespont, Turkey, in August/September 2019. This swim has been considered the epitome of open water swimming and is at the very top of any adventurous swimmer’s wish list since the famous poet, Lord Byron first swam it in 1810. The following is an account written by one of the people who went on the trip.
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fter spending months training, preparing, and fundraising, the 2019 Soldier On Hellespont Swim Team arrived in Turkey and we were able to enjoy our first breakfast together. The team included Todd Berry, Shelley Wood, and Chris Davey (who had met in Singapore and travelled to Turkey together), as well as Catherine Wallis, Dannielle ‘Danni’ Hale, Danielle’s brother Anthony, and Sarah and Jason ‘Woody’ Woodsell. Through Inspired Adventures, the group spent its first ‘official’ day together on a walking tour led by a PhD student from one of the local universities, which covered visits to many of the historical buildings and points of interest. This included: a historic underground aqueduct which was now being used as a museum/art gallery, the famous Blue Mosque, the magnificent Santa Sofia, an Egyptian obelisk in the main town square, the Istanbul Grand Bazaar, and lunched at “the best kebab café in Istanbul” (according to our guide). There was a great deal of excitement and anticipation for Day 2 of our official itinerary, which comprised an approximate 4-hour drive to the Gallipoli Peninsula and battlefields sites, before travelling on to Cannakle. Our guide for this part of the
trip was Hasan Gundogar, an accomplished historian and storyteller of the Gallipoli battles, from both an Australian/Allied Forces and Turkish forces perspective. Our first stop with Hasan was a life-sized model/sculpture of The Nek battlefield site that was eerily life-like. We also got to see a diorama of the Gallipoli Peninsula, where the circumstances leading to the Australian landings at what was subsequently named Anzac Cover were explained. Following lunch at “the second best Gozleme café in Turkey”, we ventured on to the Australian battle field sites themselves, which included a visit to Anzac Cove where we looked up and saw the Sphinx rocky outcrop towering over the landscape, Hill 60 (where Shelley’s great Uncle Hugo Throssell had undertaken an act of bravery that later earned him the Victoria Cross), Lone Pine and The Nek sites. I think it would be fair to say that this particular part of the trip touched every one of the Soldier On team members – all of whom had had military experience including our support folk - it was an incredibly interesting, moving, and humbling experience and had special meaning for all of us. The remainder of Day 2 was spent on the ferry over the Hellespont from Eceabat to Cannakale. #sidebyside
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The Hotel Kule was directly opposite the ferry terminal and overlooked the Hellespont waterway, so we had a birds-eye view of where we’d be swimming ‘the big race’ on 30 August. Cannakale had a real ‘party town’ feel to it, as its numbers were boosted by the 760+ intrepid swimmers and their supporter crew that were in town to swim the Hellespont Race. Incidentally, it was also a public holiday for the local citizens as it was Turkish National Day, so there were many people about enjoying the day off. Day 3 was a series of briefings, swim race registration, our ‘last supper’ (not really – a large carbohydrate filled plate of spaghetti to help us with energy levels for the big race the next day). There was also a reasonably short acclimatization swim on the Cannakale side of the Hellespont to get us used to the water temp, the waterway conditions (which was nothing like the tourist brochures had promised) before jumping on a ferry with Swimtrek for the ‘internationals’ joining the race so we could go over the swim race route with a commentary on sighting points and the all-important finish line marker. For those of us that were up to it, there was a sunset trip to what is believed to be the City of Troy. This was a fantastic and fascinating trip seeing the acres of well curated ruins that includes at least 7 different layers of occupation, with dozens of examples for each layer of buildings and various landmarks, all of which now lie in ruins. We then drove on to the (recently built) Troy Museum, in which were housed many of the more precious artefacts drawn from the Troy site, or facsimiles thereof.
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I didn’t ask the others, but I know counting sheep didn’t help control my nerves and didn’t sleep terribly well the night before Day 4 – Race Day. The morning of the race we walked from the hotel to the bus meeting point that would take us on the ride on the ferry back over to Eceabat – this is where the race would commence. All 760+ of us had to wear these funny little paper hotel slippers on the walk down to the meeting point, and we were only allowed to take with us those items that we would be using during the swim. They bundled the competitors onto the transport buses – our support folk had to stay behind on the Cannnakale side at the finish line point – and over we went. You could almost hear a pin drop on the way over, our nerves tending to keep us a bit quiet and introspective. On the other side, we milled around for what seemed like an interminable time. Just before we started going crazy from the nerves, the starters gun sounded and in we dived! Danni and I walked along the beach to about halfway along – the ‘slower swimmers’ had been advised to do this the day before during one of our briefings to give ourselves more of a chance of not drifting off course. In we walked together, checked that each other was OK, and then off we swam, but very quickly I lost sight of Danni. Not long after that I felt like I was the only person swimming the Hellespont. It is amazing how with 760+ folk in the water, everyone quickly dispersed and got lost amongst the choppy conditions on the day. The conditions were definitely not ideal. The race had been brought forward by half an hour to try to get a head start on what had been fairly choppy and swelly conditions the day before – it was also quite windy which didn’t help. So with waves crashing against the back of my head (and thank goodness I am a right hand breather only) and the rise and fall of swell that sometimes left my swimming stroke with nothing to grab
onto but air on an upswell, I had quite a bit of serious self-talk going on! The words of my swim coach were swimming around my head (pun-intended), “whatever happens, just keep on swimming”. Nevertheless, I had a ‘moment’ way out in the middle of the 90-metre-deep channel, where I just stopped to take it all in. I faced the Gallipoli Peninsula side of the Hellespont and paused for a moment, then spun around and looked at the opposite side, noting that this would be the one and only time I would ever be in such an amazing part of the world which had such significance for Australian history, doing this amazing thing. But I had a race to swim, so off I went. By the time I got anywhere near the ‘bright red’ finish line, the red carpet had turned to a murky brown and wasn’t as easy to see as we’d been led to believe. As such, at about 10 metres from the shoreline I overshot the mark by about 10 metres, then had to struggle (doing sidestroke – my strongest stroke) to swim against a really strong current that would otherwise have swept me out to the wide-open ocean. Finally, I made my way to the elusive brown/red carpet, flanked by helpful people plucking us up and out of the water and onto the finish ramp. Todd had made it in first (unsurprisingly) and had a bottle of water and a big hug for me as I stumbled up the finish ramp and over the timing thingy. The remainder of the team quickly followed me at about 10 minutes intervals thereafter. But importantly, WE ALL MADE IT, and very quickly and proudly started referring to ourselves as ‘cross-continental swimming legends’. The rest of the day was a bit of a blur to me, but I’m sure it involved lots of hugs from our fabulous support crew – Chris, Sarah, and Anthony – some huge smiles on all our faces, and some good post-swimming tucker before hitting the hay and getting a wellearned sleep.
On our last day of the formal itinerary we all drove back up to Istanbul and headed out to dinner at our favourite restaurant before heading to bed early that night as some of us were leaving to fly back to Australia the next day. Todd, Catherine, Danni, and Anthony all headed off to the airport mid-morning, then Chris and I headed in one direction to our new hotel, whilst Sarah and ‘Wood’ headed in another direction to their new hotel. Chris and I stayed on for another 6 days to travel around the country a bit more, making our way to Ephesus in the south, and then flying across to the Cappadocian region – Kayaseri – where we stayed overnight and did the famous hot air balloon ride floating over the Turkish countryside in the pre-dawn light. Finally, we headed back to Istanbul and then home. Sarah and ‘Wood’ stayed on for just a few more days, and funnily enough we bumped into them in Ephesus on one of those days.
“What was so special was that we shared this adventure and supported each other, allowing us to talk about what we were doing and who we were doing it for…”
In summary, this was an extraordinary adventure on which I made some new friends and renewed old ones. What was so special was that we shared this adventure and supported each other, allowing us to talk about what we were doing and who we were doing it for (and in the process to raise funds for Soldier On). We are proud to say that together our little team managed to raise just shy of $20K in the process. Many thanks go to Soldier On and Inspired Adventures for conceiving of and planning this trip, all the folk that supported us along the way, and to my fabulous team-mates whose courage and company I will always value! #sidebyside
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Education What is RPL?
How does the process work?
By working with Registered Training Organisations (RTOs), contemporary veterans and their families can have their current skills and experiences assessed and reviewed. This is done in the form of Recognition of Prior Learning
The RPL process is really streamlined. It is advisable to provide as much evidence in the form of documents such as ADO Service Record, Commendations, Posting Notice, Duty statement and alike. However, our education partners can provide you with a comprehensive list of evidence to bring to your assessment.
According to the Australian Qualifications Framework Council, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an “assessment that involves assessment of an individual’s relevant prior learning to determine the recognised outcomes of an individual application for credit.” Having knowledge and skills recognised is a crucial first step in developing a pathway to successful transition from the ADF. Reflecting and assessing all of the training, skills, and knowledge that has been accumulated during a career in the ADF can feel somewhat overwhelming when considering transitioning to employment within a civilian context. Fortunately, it need not be the case with RTOs who are specialists in military RPL
The RPL Assessment itself is a free service and one of our specialised Education Partners will then advise what qualifications are obtainable and what fees will be required depending on the assessed level of qualification (Cert IV, Diploma, Adv Dip etc) and the course. Once any fees have been paid, you will then be issued with a civilian level of qualification (Cert IV, Diploma, Adv Dip) to use. Our Education Partners do have a variety of payment options available, and it is possible to apply to the Career Transition Assistance Scheme for funding (we suggest checking to find out if you are eligible and what the terms are).
Who provides RPL and how do they help? The RPL organisations Soldier On currently works with are: §§ Churchill §§ CLET §§ LD Solutions §§ 3CIR The costs (course cost) and services each organisation provide does vary, however each organisation does their best to assist contemporary veterans translate their skills into recognisable qualifications.
There are a wide range of qualifications are available through our Education Partners such as: Why is this relevant to a transition out of the ADF? Let’s break it down
§§ Business
An RPL Assessment is, in the simplest terms, an interpretation service. Translating highly specialised training, knowledge, and skills from military “speak” to what civilian employers understand and can identify as valuable to their organisation is a key part of ensuring a smooth transition into employment outside the defence force.
§§ Customer Engagement
Civilian RTOs work within and from the AQF (Australian Qualification Framework) where all Nationally Accredited training programmes are validated through stringent compliance assessments. In order to assess military training courses and line them up with civilian qualifications there needs to be alignment between units of competency in civilian qualifications and those courses undertaken during service. This highly specialised translation service is easily accessible for Soldier On participants thanks to our agreements with a number of RTOs.
§§ Business Administration §§ Marketing and Communications §§ Government §§ WHS §§ Security §§ Risk Management §§ Project Management The support offered by our Education Partners is second to none as they fully understand the transition process and the challenges it poses. They have worked extremely hard with past Soldier On participants to achieve the best outcomes for them, and will continue to do so for Australia’s contemporary veterans and their families to secure both education and employment opportunities. #sidebyside
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Employment Soldier On continues to find new ways to secure the futures of Australia’s contemporary veterans and their family members. One of our most recent programs is our Prep 4 Pathways program, which aims to educate contemporary veterans and their family members about a number of issues, from requirements of an organisation, to how to network, to what to include on their LinkedIn account. Below are some stories about our Prep 4 Pathways events.
PREP 4 PATHWAYS
PATHWAYS At Macquarie
Canberra
As a part of the Employment Pathways Program Macquarie Group’s Banking and Financial Services hosted the June Pathways Networking Event.
On Thursday 28th February saw our first ever Prep 4 Pathways. This event was kindly hosted by our pledge partner Telstra and was run as a breakfast meeting. The main aim of the event was to arrange a smaller group and go over the specific recruitment requirements for certain companies that Soldier On works with, and hear from ex defence members that now work within Telstra, about the transition space Overall this was a successful Prep 4 Pathways. All who attended felt inspired with new knowledge and have all created great networks to further their employment opportunities.
Melbourne Soldier On Melbourne have now hosted three Prep 4 Pathways events, these were all kindly hosted by pledge companies or supporting organisations. The first event was hosted by Macquarie Group – Banking and Financial Services with transferrable skills being the chosen topic. Participants were asked to describe their roles and duties they do or have performed, with the team from Macquarie on board providing insight into civilian language. The Mactier Community Centre kindly collaborated and hosted the second event which focused on education opportunities through providers as well as links and information on state-based opportunities. This was not only beneficial for the current and ex-serving members but was also well attended by partners of veterans. The final event is being hosted by Motorola Solutions, where those attending will get an insight into who and what Motorola Solutions are. There will be a tour throughout the Innovation Hub as well as some insight into a current employee’s transition from the ADF followed by a LinkedIn learning session and networking opportunities. As we gain feedback and experience from running these events, the program will be rolled out across the country. Make sure you keep an eye on our online calendar for this, and other upcoming events.
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SOLDIER ON Spring 2019
This Pathways Networking Event is about providing a relaxed and comfortable time for our participants to meet, ask questions, and talk with representatives from HR and Recruitment teams from the corporate sector to discuss opportunities and techniques that can assist them in transitioning. Doing so in a relaxed and informal way can help our participants find what career path best suits them, as well as build connections with pledge companies that support Soldier On. This particular event welcomed 22 existing and new pledge companies along with 21 participants, consisting of current and ex-serving veterans and their immediate families. From this event eight participants were invited to attend interviews.
Transition Seminar DCO Transitions VIC/TAS invited Soldier On to attend their recent regional transition seminar in Sale, VIC. This saw our Program Officer – Employment & Education travel to visit the personnel and their families who are beginning to plan their transition from the ADF. Our program officer had the opportunity to meet with attendees and discuss potential opportunities and support that they can receive from Soldier On as well as referral pathways for further assistance.
WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR THE COURAGE AND SACRIFICES OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO SERVE OUR COUNTRY, AND WE’RE PROUD TO SUPPORT THE THEM BOTH DURING AND AFTER THEIR SERVICE.
Your Partner at Sea navantia.com.au
RICHARD MCILVANEY CHIEF SECURITY OFFICER AND FACILITIES MANAGER
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30+ years experience helping patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and Depression
Inspiring a lifetime of rare experiences
For reservations Australia & New Zealand: T: +61 (07) 5524 5222 E: sales-australia@soneva.com soneva.com
Psych
Managing Your Anger What is anger? Anger is a normal human emotion and to feel angry is OK, however often the responses to this emotion are causing problems. Anger can be expressed in many behaviours such as yelling, shouting, swearing, throwing objects around or, in extreme case, physical aggression towards self or others. Silent anger and withdrawal could also be a way to express irritation and frustration. All these unacceptable ways to show the anger can cause issues with the friends, conflicts with the family, difficulties in a community and sometimes lead to the problems with law. You may have heard about anger management which can assist you to control those feelings in a more constructive and effective way.
Strategies to control anger
Step three. When you notice yourself getting angry, you can try the techniques to cool off, such as:
§§ calming your breathing - inhaling for the count of three and exhaling for the count of four, §§ releasing muscle tension - tensing and releasing one by one muscles of your body for 5 seconds, §§ burning some energy - brisk walking, jack jumping, doing sit-ups, §§ taking time out - withdrawing from the situation, §§ taking a moment to pause - counting one to ten, naming three things you can see, three things you can hear and three things you can touch or feel, §§ giving yourself enough time to deal with situation - being prepared,
Step one. You start with understanding what situations could
§§ controlling the triggers which you can control - asking yourself: “Is it in my control?”,
§§ running late to a meeting,
§§ checking your perception - asking yourself: “Is there another way of looking at this situation?”
potentially set you off and make a list of these things, such as: §§ waiting for an appointment, §§ your partner not listening to what you are saying, §§ your child leaving toys around the house, §§ people driving too slowly or too fast.
§§ self-talking - saying positive and more balanced statements to yourself before, during and after difficult situation.
Step four. Practice all these techniques as often as possible
Step two. You prepare the list of early warning signs which
because your anger is an automatic response to the challenging conditions.
§§ tightness in the chest,
There is help
§§ muscles tightening,
If you are finding it difficult to manage your anger, seeking psychological assistance might be beneficial. Experienced psychologists could help you to develop personalized strategies and explore other emotions which usually come together with anger.
involves your body sensations, such as:
§§ feeling hot and sweating, §§ sensation of pressure building in the head, §§ heart racing.
If you are considering seeking help, please contact Psychologists at Soldier On via email psychology@soldieron.org.au. Alternatively, you can contact Open Arms on 1800 011 046.
#sidebyside
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The below sponsors would like to pay tribute to those who gave their lives serving Australia.
Thank you for supporting Soldier On
kinetic IT
"I'm looking forward to a long career with Kinetic IT where I can develop my skills and passion for technology." Jeremy Bowman Kinetic IT Service Desk Specialist
We're more than a technology and services provider. We make a difference for our customers by bringing out the best in people and technology. PROUD SUPPORTER OF
SOLDIER : :i::)==:}=: ��➔ ON
Activities Updates
ACT
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
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SOLDIER ON Spring 2019
Wellbeing Wednesday As part of a Wellbeing Wednesday activity and thanks to Parkside Tennis Academy, participants were able to enjoy a fun and energetic tennis workout to music. It is a great activity for individuals and teams who are looking to get fit, work together, and compete in a social environment. This is just one of the many activities participants of the Wellbeing Wednesday program have done; participants have also gone mountain bike riding, dragon boat racing, and most recently walked up a hill in Canberra to raise awareness of those who have suffered a stroke with Flight Lieutenant Nathan Nguyen, who suffered a stroke 2 years ago at age 29.
Serving On Project Colin Greef, who volunteers as part of the Soldier On Serving On program, recently presented three restored and refurbished guitars to the Canberra Police Community Youth Club (PCYC ). He is part o f a group of veterans aiming to gift refurbished and restrung instruments to kids who love to play, but don’t have access to guitars or ukuleles.
Giving Blood!
Arts and Crafts classes
In September Soldier On ACT attended the national launch of the Defence Blood Challenge 2019, alongside senior members of the Australian Defence Force, to encourage current and former service personnel to give blood or plasma. As was mentioned by attendees, it is a great way for contemporary veterans to continue serving Australia and saving lives.
Our most recent ‘Arts and Crafts’ classes have included Macramé and ‘Zentangle’. Both activities provided participants with a creative outlet and an increased sense of personal wellbeing, and connection with others within the defence community. It also gave more than one person an idea for hobbies that could be pursued in the future. #sidebyside
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Activities Updates
NSW Sandventures! – sponsored by DHA Local Newcastle and Sydney staff were joined by 40 Soldier On participants including their families recently to take part in a day of 4WDriving and sandboarding. Generously sponsored by Defence Housing Australia, the aim of this activity was to provide a fun day out for families and individuals to connect and get active spoilt by the picturesque surrounds of Anna Bay.
Dogs Day Out It was all about bringing people together along with their four-legged friends during the event Soldier On delivered in Wagga in conjunction with Defence Community Organisation. This was a perfect opportunity to bring together current and ex serving individuals and their families for some fun at the Lake Albert Dog Agility Park followed by a BBQ lunch and some doggie treats for our furry friends.
Balance for Better
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SOLDIER ON Spring 2019
Our participants had an amazing time, saying: “It provided quality time with the kids and an opportunity to bond. Our lives become very busy and we don’t always plan for such activities.” “As a retired service member in my 50’s I struggle to find social contact with others my own age. This group was great with a mix of age groups and allowed me to see the beauty this region has.” “It made me happy and I enjoyed being a part of a group. It was nice to have something to do and somewhere to go. Due to being unemployed I am very mindful of spending money.”
Downtime is something that is often hard to come by in the busy world that we live in, however that is just what some of our Soldier On Albury ladies had the opportunity to do. The banks of the Murray River were the perfect back drop to get out and appreciate the fresh air whilst undertaking yoga and the day ended with making some take home care packs using essential oils. The group of current and ex serving individuals and spouses enjoyed learning about the importance of self-care, goal setting, mindfulness and some fun wellbeing activities. The activity was well received, and feedback was positive that we are hoping to deliver further workshops like this in the future.
QLD A day on the water Soldier On participants and their families enjoyed a day on the water kindly hosted by Caltex at the Royal QLD Yacht Squadron. The day was about helping to bring together Soldier On guests and their families and some of the great Clontarf Foundation students together with volunteers from Caltex, RQYS, LiveLongFit Personal Training, Wynnum Police and more. The weather turned it on in typical QLD fashion for a few stress-free hours at the gorgeous Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron. Caltex who sponsored the event are passionate about saying thank you to our military families as well as supporting the great work the Clontarf foundation do. Everyone was able to leave their cares in the car to enjoy good company, good food and good times
SA
91 CHATHAM STREET BROADMEADOW NSW 2292
Phone: 4985 1800 | Fax: 4940 3022
Dr Marc Russo
MBBS DA (UK) FANZCA FFPMANZCA SPECIALIST PAIN MEDICINE PHYSICIAN
Dr Willem Volschenk
MBChB, FCA (SA) FANZCA, FFPMANZCA Utilising a multidisciplinary approach to treat patients suffering with persistent pain
GP or Specialist referral is required to make an appointment
Soldier On is excited to announce that our Adelaide office is once again up and running, thanks to the recent hire of Linda McCabe. We look forward to growing this office and helping more members of the South Australian Defence Community in South Australia. #sidebyside
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Activities Updates
VIC Coffee Catch Up
Kids Science Activity
Participation and Social Connection are one of the key support areas Soldier On focus on. Coffee Catch Ups are scheduled every month for participants and their families to come and meet other like-minded people in a relaxed setting providing them with access to form meaningful connections one another.
Our Kids Activity over the Term 2 school holidays saw children of all different ages come together to experiment with different mediums to create some amazing, explosive outcomes.
These meetings have been received very well and our number of attendees has grown over the year and due to this interest, we are now scheduling in other organisations which saw Outdoors Inc come and talk at our last meeting about what services they provide to the veteran community. We look forward to having other organisations provide insight and guidance into what they can offer or provide veterans and their families.
Thank you to our two wonderful Soldier On volunteers (Belinda and Lucy) who helped make this activity at action-packed as it was.
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SOLDIER ON Spring 2019
The centre was alive with the excitement of the children along with the parents who were just as enthusiastic. This science day proved to be another splendid activity enjoyed by all and allowing the imaginations of the children to predict what the possible outcome was going to be!
St Kilda Football Club Unfortunately, our sporting partner St Kilda were not able to make the top 8 of the 2019 AFL season. However they have gone above and beyond supporting Soldier On participants throughout the season. With the kind support of the St Kilda Football Club Soldier On participants were able to enjoy the atmosphere and culture that comes with live AFL games. Some of the participants who attended the games rarely get out due to the anxiety that comes with being in large crowds, so it was a major step forward for them to come out and support St Kilda.
Community Fundraisers Soldier On would like to thank all our community fundraisers who assist in helping us help the service community. What you do directly impacts the lives of service personnel and their families, and helps them secure their future. These community fundraisers are just a small sample of those who have given up their time to organise or host a fundaiser over the last few months. If you would like get involved, head to our website, or email fundraise@soldieron.org.au
Rugby Game held in memory of Michael Fussell The Armidale Blues took on Robb College at the end of July in a match to commemorate Lieutenant Michael Fussell, a local resident and former clubmate who was killed in an IED explosion in 2008. John Bale, a close friend of Michael Fussell, was inspired to start Soldier On after seeing the community rally around Michael’s family following his death, with Cavin Wilson and Dr Danielle Clout. As such, anything to do with Michael Fussell and keeping his spirit alive has a special place for Soldier On, and we are incredibly grateful to The Armidale Blues for everything they do. Thanks to the generosity of everyone who came along, the Armidale Blue’s were able to raise over $7000!
Kokoda Rachel Kennedy is one of the most recent people to complete Kokoda whilst raising funds for Soldier On. Her mission to complete the Trek was extremely personal as a family member is a veteran living with PTSD, and she has seen the impact that this has had firsthand. We’d like to thank Rachel for her support and for raising awareness of issues facing the veteran community, and commend her for tackling the Kokoda Trek, one of the more difficult trails in the world. #sidebyside
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Fundraising heroes
We’re going on an adventure! The first annual Frontline Safari supporting Soldier On departed early September, with 35 riders and 8 vehicles heading into the Simpson Desert to spend the next 5 days on an adventure. The Simpson Desert is the world’s largest sand dune desert with well over 1100 dunes awaiting adventurers and their bikes. The aim is to conduct a double crossing of the desert, but some of the attendees are aiming to break their own record. This includes SAS and Dakar veteran Scott Britnell who will be attempting to cross the Simpson at least five times, if not more, over the five-day period in the hope to raise further funds and awareness for Soldier On. However, due to conditions the route had to change, but we are told by those who took part it was still a great adventure.
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SOLDIER ON Spring 2019
Still got it! For Olive Hull’s 90th birthday she decided that she already had everything that she wanted, so in lieu of gifts, Olive asked her nearest and dearest to donate to Soldier On, a cause close to heart as many of her family members have served, or are still serving, and she herself was a volunteer in Papua New Guinea for many years. Thanks to Olive, and the generosity of her family and friends, they raised just over $3000!
#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
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 Maloney's Concord Hospital
Cwa Journal Partner Gerald Slaven GoodGuys Ian Potter Foundation Movember
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SOLDIER ON  Spring 2019
Perpetual Trustees Wheatley Foundation The Rotary Club of Sydney
Lyone Foundation Surfing Australia Club Lime Anzac Day Trust
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