Soldier On Summer 2022

About Us

As a national charity, we support more than 9,200 veterans and their family members through our Health and Wellbeing services, Employment Support, Learning and Education Programs, as well as Participation and Social Connection activities. Our services help individuals build resilience and create meaningful connections with family, community and employers. These programs are made possible through the generous support of the Australian Community, the Australian Government through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and our Corporate Partners.

Soldier On is a leader in supporting those who have served and continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force. With an exemplary track record of providing practical and emotional assistance critical to building successful post-service lives, Soldier On is recognised as an essential first port of call for veterans and their families as they transition from the Defence Force to civilian life.

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:

GPO Box 2466, Melbourne VIC 3001 Ph: 03 9937 0200 Web: www.cwaustral.com.au

From the Top

This year, Soldier On celebrates 10 years serving veterans and their families - a phenomenal achievement that would not have been possible without the support of our incredible community.

From humble beginnings back in 2012, Soldier On’s small team supported around 200 veterans across three states. Looking back to those early days, it is astonishing to think of where we are today, supporting more than 9,200 veterans and their families, across every state and territory, as Australia’s only truly national ex-service organisation a decade later. This year has been our biggest yet. While we are thrilled to have achieved such a dramatic increase in service delivery, the need for support has not diminished. In 2022, Soldier On saw a 44% increase in new participant rates.

The Pathways Program has seen 327 veterans and Defence family members secure roles through employment support, 552 veterans undertaking training and upskilling through our network of 58 Education Partners, and more than 3,000 education courses added to Soldier On’s Job Board, as of October this year.

With the help of our incredible supporters, collaborators, passionate staff and Ambassadors across Australia, Soldier On was able to hold more than 800 social connection activities across the year to get our veterans out there forming meaningful connections.

As we have progressed throughout the year, we have seen many of our face-to-face events and activities coming back across the country –from Pathways networking events, Social Connection activities, and peer support groups. We have seen a fantastic uptake in these programs and received wonderful feedback from our participants, with more engagement than ever before.

Our team has been able to engage with our partners and participants to further refine our service offerings and better support our community in ways that are truly needed. This hard work has been acknowledged widely throughout the year, with three major accolades awarded to the team across the Defence and NGO industries.

These awards not only recognised the fantastic work of our team, but also our network of partners, collaborators and wider community, who have stepped up in various ways to support our service personnel and their families.

Over Soldier On’s 10-year history, we have seen the needs of our veteran community transform. As a nation, we have reached a point of critical importance when considering the health and wellbeing of our service personnel. It has been a great honour to stand with our community, listen to their stories, contribute to a national conversation, and represent their experiences to our nation’s leaders and the wider public.

We are pleased to see the muchneeded progression of the Royal Commission into Defence and have been fortunate to contribute to this dialogue. Looking to 2023, Soldier On will remain an active figure in this conversation, both through the Royal Commission and the work we continue to carry out each and every day to support our veterans and their families.

The needs of our community are fundamental to our practices. We will continue to listen to the current and exserving ADF personnel, our corporate supporters, government figures and the general public to ensure that our veteran community and their families are supported as best they can be.

As Soldier On’s Interim CEO, it is my great privilege to carry on the outstanding work of my predecessors, supporting our incredible team in their efforts to support those who have served our nation.

On behalf of everyone at Soldier On and our veteran community, I offer my sincere thanks to you for your support and look forward to what we can achieve together in the decades to come.

Prue Slaughter, Interim CEO

2022 has been a milestone year for Soldier On from beginning to end and our team has been busier than ever supporting our community every step of the way.

Sarah Hartley

National Program Director – Social Connections

What are your responsibilities day-to-day?

My role is to lead an amazing group of people who make up the Social Connections team. The team delivers support services and programs to our veterans and their families. Our Case Coordinators provide the initial contact with all our participants to ensure our services meet their needs, set goals, and provide internal and external referrals. Our Program Officers deliver a wide range of activities that engage our participants in fantastic opportunities to try new things and learn new skills while engaging with other veterans and their families.

How did you get into this line of work?

I have been working in the ESO space for eight years and have an unwavering passion for veteran families. I have been the spouse of a current serving veteran for 18 years.

What do you consider as the highlight of your career so far? So far, the outcomes we have been able to achieve with our Vet Connect Programs are incredibly rewarding. To consistently hear that we are changing people’s lives through our programs is so heart-warming. I feel privileged to be able to do this role and be a part of a team that is incredibly driven and passionate to seeing that our veterans thrive. What are you most passionate about regarding your role? I have seen time and time again the challenges that veterans and their families face while serving, transitioning, and beyond. These challenges are incredibly varied for every member of that family. Many of these challenges are hidden from the general public and few people understand the difficulties they have had to overcome and still have on the horizon. I’m passionate about my role, because I know that our programs make those challenges just that little bit easier.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?

I’m one of those people who likes to change her hobbies regularly. I’ll give anything a crack. Right now I love to go stand up paddle boarding with my whole family in tow. I’m a keen gardener and am obsessed with growing flowers and fruit and veg. It’s incredibly engaging. I have a very active mind and struggle to switch off, but gardening brings me joy and allows me to find a sense of calmness. It’s also a lesson in patience - with our fast-paced world, I think we can all do with a little bit more of that.

In one word, how does working for Soldier On make you feel? Grateful.

Kristen Hayes-Charlton

General Manager

What are your responsibilities day-to-day?

I strategically manage the organisation’s operational resources, making its processes standardised, well ordered, and streamlined. By reducing costs and driving continual improvement of systems and employee performance, I ensure the organisation can run efficiently. I am uniquely positioned, being connected to top leadership, while also involved in, but distinct from, various functions of Soldier On. I leverage my position to corroborate department-level success, contributing to larger organisational-wide goals. I constantly look for ways the organisation can seize new opportunities, mitigate risks, and retain reputation. It is paramount to develop and maintain a consistent open line of communication with our people, peers, managers, and executives. My position is about supporting our teams for success through governance, HR, operations, IT, admin, finance, and facilities management.

How did you get into this line of work?

I began working in the operations section of local Canberra construction back in 2009. I developed a knack for gap analysis in management systems and by determining the gaps, I began to understand and design management systems to improve operational outputs. Seeing people’s response to positive change was what led me to believe I could influence the culture and continuation of the institutions I worked with. This has taken me to many different industries within Canberra, from construction, medical and medical research, technology, cyber security and not-for-profit.

What do you consider as the highlight of your career so far? I’ve been able to secure international standards accreditation within a company after nine months, which can take up to four years. I’m still surprised I survived and pulled it off!

What are you most passionate about regarding your role? Supporting the people who put smiles on veterans’ faces. The people who are there to offer support in their specialty and can lend a hand, an ear, or a shoulder to those who have served our country.

What are your interests/hobbies outside of work?

I enjoy painting, playing guitar, cooking, reading, and playing sport and board games with my little boy.

In one word, how does working for Soldier On make you feel? Proud.

Brisbane Gala Ball

Soldier On continued its 10-year anniversary celebrations with its inaugural Brisbane Gala Ball on 28th October.

The Brisbane Gala Ball was a fantastic opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous support that Soldier On has received during its time in QLD and share thanks with the community for the role they played in this 10-year milestone.

Led by Invictus Gold Medallist and Soldier On Ambassador, Ben Farinazzo, the highly anticipated event saw some of the region’s most senior members of Defence, government and industry professionals coming together in recognition of a decade of support.

“Soldier On has received such strong support from the Brisbane community from day one of our operations in the  region. We are delighted to bring this celebration to Brisbane for its first year, bringing our community together to not only celebrate all that we have collectively achieved, but to continue to build on this success moving forward,” Soldier On Interim CEO Prudence Slaughter said, reflecting on the organisation’s rich history in the region.

This event was a fantastic opportunity to recognise the tireless work of our dedicated QLD team, as well as our many supporters in the community. In collaboration with our community, the Soldier On team has been able to provide more support services than ever before, including employment and education services, social activities and mental health support. It is truly wonderful to see what can be achieved together.

Soldier On is proud to collaborate with a wide variety of ex-service organisations, Defence and government agencies, as well as corporate bodies across the region. Each organisation brings something different to the diverse range of complex and multi-faceted challenges that veterans and their families encounter during and after service. Together, we can continue to leverage our respective strengths and bring more political, psychological, and social support to veterans and their families.

Soldier On is grateful for the support of the community and looks forward to all that can be achieved in the years to come. The Brisbane Gala Ball was made possible by the generous support of event sponsors. A special thank you to Hancock Prospecting for securing the future of our veterans as Platinum Sponsor of the evening.

Brisbane Gala Ball Sponsors

Platinum Champagne Bar

Silver

Corporate

Supporting our veterans.

We’ve been part of the Australian defence industry community for 40 years and are a proud employer of veterans who now make up more than 20 per cent of our workforce. Find out how we can assist you in your transition to a role where your talents and experience are truly valued and respected.

Make ideas real

SOLDIER ON AWARDED VETERAN SUPPORT PROGRAM OF THE YEAR

Soldier On has proudly been recognised as the Veteran Support Program of the Year at the 2022 Australian Defence Industry Awards.

The Australian Defence Industry Awards recognises excellence from Defence professionals, organisations and businesses across the country and acknowledges their achievements and contributions to the industry over the past year.

The Veteran Support Program of the Year award recognises the program, association or organisation that has most effectively supported ADF veterans transitioning out of service and/or into new career opportunities post-service.

This is the third year that Soldier On has been awarded in this category, having previously been awarded this prestigious accolade in 2019 and 2020. When talking with Prue Slaughter, Interim CEO, she was honoured that Soldier On has been recognised as part of the awards alongside esteemed members of the Defence community.

“Soldier On recognises the challenges of services and its impact on individuals and their families. But it is also important to recognise the fantastic attributes of our veteran community.

While we continue to see many Defence families struggle with employment, social isolation, family breakdowns, and complex mental health issues, we also see the fantastic potential they hold, and it is our great privilege to provide them with the tools they need to secure meaningful and rewarding lives after their service,” Prue said.

This award recognises the amazing work of the Soldier On team nationally. It is through the veterans and their families that Soldier On is able to continue the work and support provided.

CALLED TO SERVE

DR REBECCA JACKSON

Dr. Rebecca Jackson has always felt the call to serve. Not just throughout her 16 years of Army Service, or the last 12 years supporting current serving senior leaders across Defence, but even as a child – it was in her family DNA.

Being the daughter of an Army veteran, and the niece of four uncles who served, including her two eldest uncles Tom and Douglas Wade-Ferrell (MC) who served in WWII, Bec was destined to grow up with a strong affinity to the Army, its history, and traditions.

Her journey began while growing up in Southern Tasmania, witnessing her veteran father Ron WadeFerrell living his dream of creating a successful family business founded on his own extensive military experience. With a passion for educating and inspiring young children and adolescents to build confidence, resilience, and leadership skills through outdoor education, Ron planted the early seeds of inspiration for Bec’s life and business entrepreneurship today.

At just 17 years old, Bec knew with all her heart that she would join the military. A successful application to ADFA was thwarted when her father was diagnosed with cancer while Bec was still in Year 12.

She withdrew her ADFA application to remain in Tasmania and help her parents run the family business and be with her father.

During her first year of university, Bec joined the Army Reserve and commenced her part-time military career whilst simultaneously undergoing university studies.

She completed all her training in and around her university holidays and on weekends, starting off as a soldier in the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, and eventually joining full time service for a year, following her bachelor’s degree graduation in 2000.

Bec returned to her studies in 2001 to complete her Honours in Psychology and was successful in her application to RMC-A to complete officer training. She graduated in 2003 from RMC-A, when sadly, her father lost his long battle to cancer, three weeks before her graduation ceremony.

“I knew he was there with me in spirit as I marched out of Duntroon. It was an emotional time, but I’ve always felt his

presence close by throughout my service. He may have left the Army before I was born, but it had never left him. I suspect it is a central reason I have continued to feel connected to the Army, long after my uniformed service, because there is a silken thread that connects my service and my Dad’s through our shared history.”

Since then, Bec served another 10 years in uniform and completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology, four years as a Defence Public Servant Psychologist and eight years in Defence Industry consulting in people and culture initiatives.

She is the current Executive Leadership Coach to Army Senior Leadership and the Visiting Fellow in Strategic Leadership Development at the Australian War College.

She has published three books in the past three years and is an active ambassador for Soldier On - thriving is the only word to describe Dr. Bec Jackson.

“Since my introduction to Soldier On and becoming an ambassador in 2020, I have met so many inspiring young contemporary veterans who have

founded and scaled small businesses. I have also seen the incredible pathways that Soldier On is providing for veterans and began to see the possibilities for the next stage in my own business journey.”

Finding a balance between raising four young children and running a successful solopreneur company is challenging enough as it is. A challenge that was undoubtably tested for Dr. Bec throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, followed closely by her mother’s own diagnosis of cancer last year.

“This year has been another difficult pivot point in my personal journey. My Mum, Sharon, passed away in March, then we lost our 97-year-old Grandfather in July and a close friend died by suicide in August. I have felt the overwhelming grief, but also a call to serve in a more significant way. It was like the universe was saying “this is the time”.

So, in the last few months, Bec has sought peer mentoring from fellow 

Soldier On ambassador, Emily Frizell, CEO of AeroPM, about scaling her company and chasing her new business goals for the future. “Emily was very generous in her advice and encouraging in her approach.”

Bec has also met a potential veteran business partner and began collaborating with other young veteran entrepreneurs and together launched two new collaborative pilot ventures, which will unfold before the year is out.

“It is an exciting time, there is so much opportunity to make a significant impact on a much larger scale than I have been able to do on my own.”

“I’m loving partnering and collaborating with other veteran entrepreneurs who come from diverse backgrounds. I’m working with some of the most future thinking, disruptive and technologically savvy young leaders I know, and I’m loving learning about how their skills will integrate with my passions for leadership development and using psychology to build courageous cultures in organisations.”

“Seeing ex-serving personnel take their unique skills and potential, and then launch into these new domains is

beyond inspiring. I feel like I have a renewed energy to push through this difficult year.”

As a final personal challenge, Bec is joining some fellow March On participants to trek Mount Kilimanjaro in December. After completing the Snowy Mountains 10 Peaks Challenge and raising over $5,000 for Soldier On, Bec decided she needed an even bigger challenge. The Mount Kilimanjaro trek, led by army veterans Zac Zaharias and Matt Rogerson, covers 73km over seven days and ascends more than 5,000m to the summit of the world’s highest freestanding mountain.

“Of course, I’ll be using this as a personal opportunity to test my own limits of courage, resilience, and fitness, to release some of my grief and enjoy the healing that comes with big wild adventures. But most importantly, it will also be to raise awareness for Soldier On and much needed funds to support its Health and Wellbeing programs, through March On.”

“I know 2023 will be a huge year for me in answering my next call to adventure, and I can’t wait to share that journey with Soldier On.”

You can sponsor Dr Bec in her Mt Kilimanjaro March On challenge.

Bec’s books The Journey of You: Be the Hero of your Own Adventure and Where Poppies Thrive: Leadership for a Harsh World are both available through her website www.drbecjackson.com and royalties are shared with Soldier On.

Joe Piasecki on life after service

Soldier On ambassador, Joe Piasecki served in the Navy as an Engineering Technician onboard Collins Class Submarines for nine years, based primarily in the West at HMAS Stirling. His time in the service taught him about camaraderie and he became a highly skilled sailor in an elite unit within the Australian Defence Force.

“I had a family quite early in my career and it was very challenging maintaining a healthy work/life balance with the requirements of being a Submariner, as I was away for long periods without contact,” Joe commented.

Joe’s wife had no support in Perth, so she and their two young children moved back to Melbourne to be closer to family. This meant that they lived separately for several years as he pursued his Defence career. It was the physical separation from his family that led to his decision to transition out of the ADF.

When reflecting on his move to civilian life, Joe said: “My transition was long because of the severe shortage of technical Submariners in the squadron, which made trying to get a job really hard and finding an employer with a veteran recruitment strategy made all the difference.”

Since leaving the ADF in 2019, Joe has worked for Coleman Rail and in 2022 he was transferred to work for the North East Link.

Reducing the sense of isolation that ex-ADF people feel by promoting an increase in connectivity within the veteran community in Melbourne, is a matter close to Joe’s heart. He acknowledges that one of the keys to a successful transition is finding sustainable employment with

employers who can fully embrace the unique skills and attributes that veterans bring to civilian organisations. Joe passionately advocates for veterans having success during and after transition, through championing targeted employee recruitment strategies. Joe has been on Channel 9 sharing the Veteran Program that he built at his workplace in the Level Crossing Removal Project.

“Since then my social media has blown up. I initially got over 20 requests from companies wanting to hire veterans and I had to broaden my search.”

He encouraged those companies to become Pledge Partners and to support Soldier On.

When asked why he wanted to become a Soldier On ambassador, Joe responded: “I wanted to make a really meaningful difference for veterans, by being the voice for veterans in an attempt to elicit real social change.”

Joe is a strong advocate for veterans’ employability because of their resilience, attitude and the plethora of other transferable skills that come with hiring someone from the military.

Getting veterans into jobs and creating a community for support and connection is his ultimate dream.

BAE SYSTEMS GUIDED BY VETERANS BEST PRACTICE

BAE Systems Australia CEO Ben Hudson said: “As a veteran, I know that people who have served have a lot to offer and not just in the Defence sector. Their experience means that they have an abundance of highly valued and translatable skills and attributes such as leadership, teamwork and commitment that are highly relevant and sought after by any business”.

The company has invested in dedicated HR resources focused specifically on the recruitment of veterans and their

families. BAE Systems supports every veteran applicant to translate their military background, experience and skills into a language which is readily understood by hiring managers.

Armed with strong personal skills and attributes, such as leadership, emotional intelligence, resilience and agility, as well as a working knowledge of the Defence Force, veterans can be uniquely placed to help businesses better understand the needs of their customers.

With veterans making up more than 10% of BAE Systems’ 5,500-strong workforce and an additional 200 serving as Reservists; the company’s strong veteran employee network is supported by a range of policies, programs and initiatives to recruit, engage and retain veterans in the business.

Soldier On and BAE Systems Australia joined forces in a three-year strategic partnership in 2019 to support the health, wellbeing and employment

of Australia’s returned service personnel and their families with the Serving On program.

In June 2020 the 10 member BAE Systems Veterans Advisory Committee (VAC) was established. With a membership reflecting the diversity of the national business, the VAC further supports the company’s commitment to veterans and their families. The Committee’s efforts were formally recognised in 2021 when BAE Systems won the Prime Minister’s ‘Veterans’ (Large) Employer of the Year’ award.

Earlier this year, a Veterans Employment Best Practice Guide was developed by the VAC to share the company’s experience and success in attracting, recruiting and retaining veteran talent.

Prue Slaughter, Soldier On Interim CEO commented “BAE Systems and Soldier On have had a long and powerful partnership that has really enabled

veterans and their families to thrive. The company’s commitment to being an employee of choice for veterans through their recruitment, retention and workplace culture speaks volumes to The Pledge it has signed.”

Ben Hudson noted “Our partnership with Soldier On over the past three years has been both rewarding and inspiring. BAE Systems is a proud Soldier On Platinum Pledge partner and has participated in and supported many Soldier On campaigns, including March On and Stronger Together, as well as attending and sponsoring many Gala Balls. Together BAE Systems and Soldier On are drivers of change in the support that veterans and their families receive across Australia.

Prue added “We look forward to building stronger relationships with BAE and creating successful futures for veterans and their families, enabling those we support to thrive”.

Soldier On appreciates the time and commitment that BAE Systems has put into providing opportunities within its business to drive initiatives in employing veterans. The outcome of this will aid in sustainably improving the lives and wellbeing of these people, through mentoring, training, and employment.

To find out more about the BAE Systems best practice guide for employing veterans, either follow the link or scan the QR code below.

https://www.baesystems.com/zzmedia/uploadFile/20220426053508/ 1573673436529.pdf

Providing the framework for a smooth transition from military life to life outside of uniform is what we’re passionate about at Soldier On. Our corporate partners support our mission to enable veterans and their families to thrive by taking our ideas and assisting in bringing them into fruition through collaboration. This is exactly why we worked in conjunction with Boeing to create a mentoring program focused on success.

Boeing is a leading global aerospace company, which develops, manufactures, and services commercial airplanes,

Defence products and space innovation. They are well-known for their leading solutions in design, production, modification, service and support of commercial derivatives, military rotorcraft, satellites, human space exploration and autonomous systems. Boeing’s presence in Australia is the company’s largest footprint outside the United States, with more than 3,000 employees in 38 locations, and has the broadest portfolio in Australian aerospace.

On 3rd October, the third group of Soldier On’s Pathways participants commenced their 10-week mentee

journey to work on professional prospects such as career change, skills development, and professional networking.

The program also focuses on creating individualised plans to work on personal development skills, such as improving confidence and goal setting, by working with their mentor week-by-week to strategise on how to achieve these goals. With the third cohort well underway, 60 participants across every state have taken part in the program in 2022 alone.

The first initial meeting is designed to be an introduction between the mentee and mentor. This provides information

on where the mentee is currently sitting in relation to their goals and what paths are available for them. Meetings will take place in the following weeks working on their individually tailored plans, while striving to achieve participants’ goals.

Education Pathways Officer, Joel Bernard has been a key figure in developing and executing the Boeing Mentoring Program. He says, “I enjoy helping participants and want any program our team develops to help, whether it be in the participant’s personal or professional life. It’s important to assist them in achieving their goals, and I take great pride in that.”

Joel believes that the Boeing Mentoring Program has a huge potential to evolve or inspire other programs to be developed, by working with our participants to create more opportunities for those in the ADF community who are enthusiastic about developing their existing skills or working towards entirely new personal and career goals.

One participant who participated within the program even gained employment through Boeing and in the following cohort, became a mentor, helping other participants to succeed.

As for the first and second cohort of mentees, 100% of post-program survey responders agreed that the program assisted in developing their skills and knowledge, said that the program was relevant to their future short and long-term goals, acknowledged that their mentoring experience was a positive one and would recommend the program to other ADF community members.

On top of those remarkable results, 86% of mentees who completed the survey still maintain contact with their mentor, highlighting that the team of experts who assist in implementing this program value not only results, but long-term connections and collaboration.

In association with Boeing, the Boeing Mentoring Program has proved to be an overwhelming success. “Seeing our participants flourish through the educational opportunities we provide is why we do what we do,” said Joel.

“I enjoy helping participants and want any program our team develops to help, whether it be in the participant’s personal or professional life. It’s important to assist them in achieving their goals, and I take great pride in that.”

Education Pathways Officer, Joel Bernard

POLLIE BACK IN ACTION PEDAL

RIDING FOR VETERANS

In 2022, Pollie Pedal marked its 24th year raising money for charity, whilst giving smaller Australian communities the opportunity to connect with members of Parliament.

Starting 2nd October, the team set off from Soldier On’s Robert Poate Center in Canberra, riding through regional towns in South-West New South Wales, before arriving back in the nation’s capital at Soldier On’s HQ.

The circuit took eight days and the riders completed more than 935kms on their bikes.

Angus Taylor, Opposition Treasurer and front runner for the event explained that since 1998, Pollie Pedal has ridden over 22,000 kms and raised more than $7 million for organisations such as Carers Australia, the Royal Flying Doctor Service, Ronald McDonald House, Youth Insearch and the Paralympic Games. Pollie Pedal has also supported medical research into childhood leukaemia, diabetes, breast cancer, prostate cancer and in recent

The huge amount of respect in rural towns for our current and ex-serving veterans and their families was abundantly clear.

years, Soldier On was named as the beneficiary with Angus saying, “It’s not just a great way to support a fantastic charity, but also to get out into these areas and talk to locals about what the challenges are now, about what they’re seeing and that’s incredibly helpful for us.”

The ride aims to support Soldier On’s work helping veterans tackle both the seen and unseen scars of war. Veterans joining the ride have the chance to share their experiences with fellow riders and with members of the community.

“1,000km through wind, rain, sunshine, potholes, rolling hills and the most beautiful countryside you’ll ever see. It was long, gruelling and at night the legs felt like jelly, but the pain is worth it when you’re supporting such a great cause as Soldier On”, Angus reflected. “Thank you to all the riders, volunteers and people who donated along the way.”

Former Prime Minster, Tony Abbott was also on the ride and commented: “It’s great to be back on the bike with Angus Taylor. Cycling through rural NSW is a special opportunity to meet those

who live on the roads less travelled, supporting our veterans as they transition to civilian life”.

Barry Kenyon, Soldier On’s National Fundraising Director, has taken part in Pollie Pedal for the last four years and once again took to the bike in appreciation for those taking part in this significant fundraising event.

“Each year I’m amazed by the incredible enthusiasm displayed by the riders, support staff, sponsors and rural community members who really get behind Pollie Pedal and Soldier On,” Barry enthused. “Each region we visited

welcomed us with open arms and in some cases open wallets, with many locals making donations on the spot. It’s incredibly humbling to know that our efforts encourage not only the general public to get behind our cause, but also the veteran community to know they’re not alone.”

Freddie Cooke, Soldier On Psychology Services Practice Manager also joined the ride for the first time this year, as the only female rider.

Freddie spoke with fond recollection about being able to see rural NSW from a new vantage point. Commenting that

“the towns were super welcoming”, she noted an overwhelming sense of community in every town. Each night, as the team settled in for some well-deserved food, a veteran was invited to share their Defence experience. Freddie was struck by how different each story was from the one before, with each ADF service represented and various deployments recounted. Abundantly clear was the huge amount of respect people in the rural towns had for our current and ex-serving veterans and their families.

Around the grounds with Social Connections

CANBERRA

Participants learnt how to create dishes such as jalapeno poppers, pulled pork tacos, brisket, charred corn and a smoked dessert to finish it all off. One of the participants commented, “This event was AWESOME, the food was amazing and the staff just brilliant. The experience has me seriously thinking of buying a smoker to cook/smoke the Christmas dinner, it was that good.” Everyone walked away with some new skills, new friendships and a love for BBQing.

We also held a cake decorating class, where those attending were delighted to learn various cake decorating techniques using chocolate fondant. Many have never had the opportunity or confidence to try this at home. The amazing teacher gave everyone the skills to duplicate at home and everyone was excited to come back to try it all again.

Canberra winter seems to have finally melted away, allowing Wellbeing Wednesdays, which are held weekly and enjoyed by many of our ACT participants. Our most recent walk provided sunshine and stillness on the lake. It was a perfect morning to finish off the Floriade season, capturing Canberra in all its beauty.

Canberra participants were recently invited to a mouth-watering BBQ class to learn the art of American BBQing.

SYDNEY

This year, after the chaos of COVID has subsided, we’ve hosted regular monthly activities at our beautiful Concord office on the Yaralla Estate for a group of Fussell House participants from the National Centre of Veteran Health.

We have put on a series of mindful classes such as terrarium building, watercolour classes and flower arranging. Each month we see a lot of happy faces leaving with the products of their hard work; beautiful bunches of flowers, terrariums, and watercolour paintings.

Sydney has had a jam-packed calendar of activities over the past few months. July saw nearly 200 participants engaged in activities including whale watching, rock climbing, yin yoga, flower arranging, a drive-in movie night, and a family fun night. One participant commented “The drive-in movie was a unique experience for our family. None of us had ever been to one before. I am amazed at the quality of cinema one can experience from the comfort of the car”.

Another participant added, “We had a whale of a time! We saw a lot of whale action and frolicking fur seals too”.

August alone saw more than 114 participants engaged, adding terrarium making to the list of activities enjoyed.

The warmer weather in September saw participants out in force as nearly 200 people joined in the growing list of activities.

Thank you to the participant that left the following comment – we love what we do, but this makes it so much better; “It was such a wonderful outing and will be a very special memory for my son and I. Thank you so much for facilitating it for us. We love Soldier On activities, and are forever grateful for these opportunities!”.

QUEENSLAND

We have had some special activities for our participants and have established relationships with many current serving ADF members and their families. The mix of Soldier On participants have made for amazing activities and is something we’d like to continue in the future.

We have taken ADF units on treks around Enoggera Reservoir with our fairly seasoned walking group and had the Soldier Recovery Centre visit for their regular PT and BBQ.

Kids and families from Gallipoli Barracks Community Centre enjoyed a night at iFly Brisbane, and we attended NRL and AFL games, notably the barn burner that was Brisbane Lions vs Carlton Blues at the Gabba, while also having the pleasure of taking families to SeaWorld for our quarterly ‘A Night at SeaWorld’ activity, which has been amazing.

Justin, one of our participants commented, “The kids and I had an amazing time at SeaWorld and enjoyed staying overnight at the resort. The staff were friendly, and accommodation was great with the breakfast selection catering for all in a family friendly environment. We then went onto spend the second day at Movie World. We would definitely do it again. Thank you Soldier On”.

Another participant, Steve said, “I wanted to thank the Soldier On team for the opportunity provided to my family to attend the Sea World event on the weekend. After having recently been deployed over Christmas and the school holidays, this event provided a great opportunity for our family to reconnect. Again, my family is very grateful to Soldier On. Thank you very much.”

Additionally, we have dived into Thai Cooking with express classes at Taya Kitchen and an amazing dumpling party saw more than 30 of our participants learn the methods of healthy family cooking, Thai style.

In the coming months we have some very special activities to finish off what has been an epic 2022. We will complete the iconic Story Bridge Climb in Brisbane City, head back to our roots with surf therapy at an intermediate surf camp with our friends at Surfing Australia HPC in Casuarina, take 13 families to SeaWorld and for the finale, we are booking out the Queensland Theatre to take some 200 of our

participants to the first play written by an Australian Soldier to hit the stage since the 1940’s. It is called First Casualty, and we are extremely excited to be a part of supporting it. The matinee on 3rd December will include behind the scenes access and an amazing afternoon to dress up and enjoy a play.

https://queenslandtheatre.com.au/ plays/first-casualty

Looking back at the last few months in the Social Connection space here at Soldier On in Brisbane is pretty humbling.

VICTORIA

Over the last two years Bicycle Network had to postpone this event, so we were delighted to have 40 participants take part in either a 20, 100 or 200km bike ride around Melbourne. This was a tremendous day of team building, camaraderie and supporting the health and wellbeing of veterans and their families.

The day kicked off with a 6am frosty start with the 200km rider team. It was great to see some very excited riders taking part in the annual event, which had over 10,000 riders throughout all the different routes around Melbourne.

Ben, one of our locals took part and reflected “Overall, it was a lovely day for a ride. Being in the Soldier On / RSL Active jersey led to some mid-ride discussions with other veterans and we also ended up in a group with some VetRide guys at one stage.

The sledging between services was ever present, even from the 60-year-old guys who had been out of uniform for decades. I had a good day and it was good to ride with mates and meet some new ones to chat with through the ride”.

The past few months have seen a diverse array of activities and a highlight for those with a competitive nature was Go Karting! We had a group of enthusiastic drivers competing on the Auscarts track in Port Melbourne and some new faces building new connections with those who have the same racing interests.

Those who dared, attended a spooky night tour of the Old Melbourne Gaol - a grim place with a dark history. The hosts provided us with stories of the unexplained in this chilling evening and allowed us to explore those confined cells, which some called home for long periods of time in their lives. Some participants experienced their own encounters and had stories to tell!

Participant Cindy said, “The Ghost tour of Old Melbourne Goal was awesome. It was really good to hear about the history of the jail and see how they lived their lives. It was a different atmosphere at night-time and it was a great experience. I really enjoyed it and would love to do it again!”

Before the biggest AFL football game of the year took place, we went on a tour of one of the most iconic stadiums in the world, the Melbourne

Cricket Ground (MCG). Kerrin joined the event and said “I had been to the MCG many times before, but it was a great opportunity to see behind the scenes - especially a few weeks before the AFL grand-final”. We were able to go into the change rooms, walk on the ground and sit on the interchange bench. Kerrin added “We learnt about the history of the MCG and its ties with the ADF in WWII and the history of Australian sport”.

Soldier On has been providing a collaborative activity with RSL Active to provide participants from both organisations the opportunity to get involved in one of Australia’s biggest bike riding events hosted in Melbourne ‘Around the Bay in a Day’.

TGI Defence is a 100% sovereign Australian-owned freight forwarder specialising in transporting oversized, out of gauge and hard-to-move cargo door-to-door within Australia and globally.

With rapid deployment capability, we leverage a vast network of local and global logistics and transport providers in shipping, trucking, rail and air, to deliver your cargo on time and within budget with 24/7 live tracking through SATiS. Offering an end-to-end solution with the most efficient and cost-effective means to deliver your cargo from anywhere to anywhere.

TGI Defence has over 15 years of experience supporting the Australian Defence industry and is conversant in all Australian and international procedural and documentation requirements for moving defence-related freight.

Proud to support Soldier On

WESTERN AUSTRALIA

The start of Veterans Health Week saw us enjoying a coffee tour taking place at Yahava Koffeeworks in the Swan Valley and a Nutritional Seminar at the West Coast Eagles Health Hub in Lathlain.

We were fortunate to have a short nutritional seminar, conducted by an accredited sports nutritionist and physiotherapist on the benefits of healthy lifestyle and the importance of fueling the body with nutritional, balanced food. Our participants were given a greater understanding of how to prepare their meals and what balance is required to contribute to a healthy lifestyle.

We also have our regular walking group and coffee catch-ups occurring weekly.

The surfing sessions will continue throughout October, and due to the popularity of this event we have been lucky enough to lock in another 6-week set of sessions with Salt and Mantra in Secret Harbour.

Joe, one of our surfing participants commented, “I would never have done this unless you put this event on –it’s amazing”.

We will follow with a 6-week Yoga course at the Lagoon in Secret Harbour for participants.

We have started up our rock-climbing group every Wednesday, and the feedback so far has been really positive. If you are in the Balcatta region, please email activities@soldieron.org.au to add your name to the list!

We are also looking at starting a Horse Trail ride experience.

In October on the Social Connections calendar, we had a range of activities taking place.

DID SOMEBODY SAY CAKE?

Social Connection activities encourage Defence personnel, veterans, and their family members to reconnect with themselves, each other, and to build links with the wider community.

A recent celebration, ‘Did Somebody Say Cake?’ encouraged veterans, families and supporters to celebrate five years of social connection on the Mid North Coast and gave the opportunity for Soldier On to say ‘thank you’ to the wider community for their on-going support.

More than 100 community members met at Sovereign Hills to attend our Soldier On Port Macquarie event.

Veterans and their families enjoyed the regular Wednesday Coffee Catch Up at The Hill Café where the Soldier On Gazebo was set up, creating a meeting point for the community. Cakes by the Cake Box Boutique were delivered and in true celebration style, it was only appropriate to enjoy cake before a sausage.

Pitmaster Adam Roberts was on hand to fire up the smoker and barbecue a swag of his very popular brisket,

jalapeno and cheddar gourmet sausages for a unique smoked sausage on a stick experience.

Adam has been involved with running Pitmastery classes with Soldier On in the Port Macquarie region over the last two years. He really enjoys seeing participants come together around

the barbecue for a great afternoon of fellowship and good eating.

He added, “the wood fired barbeques and good food are fundamental elements in creating a relaxed environment, where people can connect with each other in a fun and relaxed way”.

Soldier On Port Macquarie celebrated five years of social connection in the community.

Programs Officer Jody Geosits was fundamental in establishing the presence of Soldier On in Port Macquarie in 2017. Jody has been on the ground since volunteering in 2017, facilitating weekly coffee catch ups and larger activities to support our veterans and families in the Mid North Coast region.

The last five years would not have been possible without the community. We hope that the local community feel valued and recognised for always going above and beyond.

Soldier On would like to thank the following groups for their ongoing support in the Port Macquarie region:

§ Lewis Land Group and the Sovereign Hills team – this development has created a stronger community;

§ The Hill Café for creating a safe space with a great vibe for our Weekly Coffee Catch Ups;

§ Hastings Physio for thanking our veterans for their service with special rates;

§ Rotary Port Macquarie West, supporting the wider community in any way only they can;

§ IGA for being consistent and reliable;

§ Headspace for supporting our Youth; and

§ Marine Rescue – thank you for the drone photos, as well as your ongoing support.

March for the Fallen

Lone piper plays ‘Scotland the Brave’

Amemorial challenge for the Multinational Force and Observers was accepted and tackled by members of the Australian Defence Force contingent, currently deployed in Sinai Egypt.

At 22:00 sharp on the evening of 23 September 22, the 45km ‘March for the Fallen’ event commenced to the eerie wail of a lone piper playing ‘Scotland the Brave’.

The US-military-inspired event drew participants from numerous troop-contributing nations, all with the common goal of honouring the memory of the fallen.

By 08:00 the following morning, those who had lasted the distance had reached their goal.

14 Australian contingent members, from both North and South Camps, took part in the gruelling challenge. They were bolstered by their canine mascot, SGT Roo, who had joined their ranks.

Highlighting just how difficult both physically and mentally the event was, half went on to complete the course in its entirety, with the majority at least reaching the halfway point before having to withdraw before causing further injury to themselves.

Everyone who participated in the event was motivated by having a personal connection to someone whom they had served alongside, either having not returned home from active service or taken their own lives, having lost their battle with their own demons.

The Australian team were coached into competitive form by Squadron Leader Stewart Kingshott, who used his

experience in the UK forces as a longdistance runner and pack marching enthusiast to lead and train the team. Additionally, of credit to the Australians was Captain Lee Hardstaff, who achieved third place in the ‘light’ category. For his efforts, Captain Hardstaff was presented by the 109th Infantry Battalion (US) Commander, LTC William Ault.

The Australian team used this event as an impetus to raise awareness and funds for the life-changing support services provided by Soldier On. All-in-all, the March for the Fallen proved how memories can invigorate the best in those who are left behind.

NIKE MELBOURNE MARATHON FESTIVAL

The chill in the air at 7am didn’t deter the incredible runners queued at the start line in Melbourne’s bustling CBD, pumped and ready to take on the annual Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival.

Amongst them, stood 194 awesome participants who had committed to the event, trained hard for, and more importantly, proudly chose to represent Soldier On and raise vital funds to support the mental health of current and ex-serving Defence members.

The sheer determination and commitment they showed was nothing short of astounding, with our runners taking part in events ranging from 5km all the way to the full 42.2km marathon. Some chose to take part alone and take on a personal challenge, others signed up with mates for encouragement.

Hayden Atkins rallied more than 20 of his mates, all of whom are current

serving ADF members, to take part in the marathon, forming the aptly named team “Chafe Now, Brag Later” – this team alone raised more than $15,000!

Hayden says, “I am incredibly proud of the team, how they went on race day and the commitment they made during training. Everyone had a fantastic day!”

The runners were greeted by our very own Soldier On cheer squad along the course, who had set up camp near the army band. This was the perfect spot to applaud our incredible participants as they ran or walked past and got their groove on.

The Soldier On running singlets and shirts proudly worn by our runners

didn’t go unnoticed, with many serving personnel commenting and showing their appreciation.

On behalf of Soldier On and the veterans we support, a huge thank you to every person who took part in the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival and for raising an incredible $21,000 for Soldier On.

These funds go a long way in supporting the growth of psychological, social and education services offered to our veteran community and host a wide range of activities across the country to strengthen connections and advance the wellbeing of our community.

See you at the start line in 2023!

RAISING FUNDS WITH THE ROLE OF A WARGAMING DICE

Since 2011, the ADF Wargaming Association has shown unwavering support to the Defence community by holding regular tabletop wargaming events since 2013, while raising funds for both Soldier On and Legacy.

Their most recent event, known as HEROCON, held in Canberra in August was the first event held since 2019 due to the pandemic. Since its establishment, the ADF Wargaming Association has raised an incredible $100,000 for both Soldier On and Legacy!

HEROCON event organiser, David Hill states, “Tabletop wargames have been used by some of our exserving members as part of their rehabilitation post transition. These activities ensure that they can continue to engage with serving mates and enables connections to local communities.”

It is these types of events that truly demonstrate that running a community fundraising event, although originally intended to raise vital funds, become so much more than that. They become an incredibly significant way to foster connections with friends, family and colleagues, and more importantly, improve the health and wellbeing of our veterans and their families.

Eat Well – Live Well

2022 saw Veterans Health Week engaging veterans and families with events that support healthy eating and good nutrition, like cooking with family and friends and activities for a healthy mind and body.

It is no myth that food can make us happy, provides energy and improves concentration and focus. As a nation we also know that quality, less processed foods help keep us healthy and create a strong immune system. With this in mind, Soldier On embraced Veterans’ Health Week this year, from 1 to 9 October 2022, offering a range of activities across the nation.

From learning how to cook low ‘n slow on a BBQ like an expert, to an online masterclass on childhood nutrition and healthy school snack alternatives and a family friendly session, followed by a healthy morning tea and nutrition chat with a guest nutritionist. There was a hands-on Mexican Cooking workshop and an eat well gnocchi cooking class, when participants learnt to cook healthy varieties of gnocchi with perfectly paired heart healthy sumptuous sauces.

A strong focus on ‘Food for the Mind + Gut’ taught participants what foods make their brain healthier, brighter and better, while learning how to cook nutritious, easy to prepare low-cost meals. Using strategies and time saving hacks that will make cooking, preparing and eating less stressful, can help reduce the mental load and gives us more time back to focus on the fun aspects of life, like families and friends.

Veterans and ADF members are diverse in nature and as a result of this, nutritional requirements vary between individuals, depending on specific circumstances.

To stay healthy, we should be drinking plenty of water and eat well. A reminder to all that health is more important than weight. Keeping physically active helps maintain muscle and strength in muscle, joints and bones, with physical activity proven to aid mental health.

For more information on eating well for life, visit dva.gov.au/vhw

Above: Shaun at the Dumpling Class.

Above: Pocket City Farms

ORACLE SIGNS PATHWAYS PLEDGE

Central to Soldier On’s ability to support serving and ex-serving veterans to thrive is our Pathways Program and The Pledge. By building strong relationships and collaborating with other ex-service organisations, community groups, corporate partners, and veteran friendly institutions, Soldier On provides an abundance of development avenues to our participants by offering longterm employment and education opportunities.

In signing The Pledge, companies make a true commitment towards helping veterans and their families secure their future careers by guaranteeing that the organisation is easily recognised as veteran friendly. This is done through analysing their methods of recruitment and retention, as well as ensuring that there is a healthy workplace culture.

As of 14th September 2022, we have welcomed Oracle as a proud Gold Pledge Partner.

Oracle is a technology solution company helping people and institutions see data in new ways, discover insights, and unlock endless possibilities. Starting as a Silicon Valley tech start-up in 1977, Oracle has grown to be a global institution in technological development and ingenuity.

Oracle now joins more than 200 partnering organisations as a Pledge Partner and plans to bring quality career opportunities and enhanced employment support to the Defence community across Australia. At a global level, Oracle is an organisation that is rooted in the sentiment that veterans possess the unique skills and unwavering commitment that ultimately brings paramount success to institutions and their teams.

With a deep understanding of the mutual benefits of veteran employment, and as a leader in their field, this collaboration brings forward

a range of exciting opportunities for our veterans and their families.

It goes without saying that there is still a significant amount of work to be done in the area of veterans’ employment, education, and training, but perhaps more importantly, how organisations can facilitate those meaningful conversations within the private sector. It is therefore with great pleasure that we can announce that Oracle Advanced Customer Services (ACS) is partnering with Soldier On through The Pathways Program to help facilitate these much-needed discussions to help and reshape that narrative.

Gavin Simmons, VP & General Manager of Oracle Advanced Customer Services Australia & New Zealand said, “We appreciate that the standard job descriptions don’t capture the leadership skills and lived experiences that can be leveraged in sectors beyond Defence. Oracle ACS is committed to supporting veterans and their families

by providing them with opportunities to reskill and train in the next journey of their professional lives.”

Kendy Hau, Director of NATSec, Defence & Intel Oracle (ASC) went on to add, “We have many ex-Defence personnel and veterans in our team, both in management positions as well as in technical engineering positions. We understood that for our people it was important to find ways to stay connected to something that has been so significant in their lives. Soldier On symbolises that connection back to ‘life of service’, so signing up to The Pledge felt like a very natural extension to these conversations that we’ve been having as a team.”

As Soldier On continues to grow, we are able to expand our services such as The Pathways Program to enable more veterans and their families to thrive, by providing more opportunities of education and employment.

By signing The Pledge, Oracle is not only vowing to support veterans throughout the recruitment stage, but also to maintain a veteran supportive approach throughout their workplace in all aspects of retention, culture, and opportunity within their teams.

Tim the Tong

Master

Tim Mazaraki is a generous and humble bloke who’s been helping veterans through Soldier On for years, first with Soldier On’s premier Social Connections event, deep-sea marlin fishing off Port Stephens held annually in February; and now by showing veterans the subtle and fine art of BBQing like a king. The thing is, Tim wants little or no thanks.

Tim isn’t a veteran, but was deeply affected by his involvement in Soldier On’s inaugural Marlin fishing day, seven years ago. “My mate, Tim Dean, asked me to come out for a day and listening to their stories, and what they’ve endured, it’s pretty moving. It hit me hard.”

These days Tim not only contributes to the Marlin fishing day, often with his own boat, but he now teaches NSW Central Coast veterans to BBQ all sorts of meat with different methods, from grilling to smoking.

It so happened that Tim was involved in his seventh deep-sea fishing event this year when Soldier On’s Social Connections National Program Director, Sarah Hartley, saw his BBQ T-shirt and suggested he might want to make an event of it.

Make no mistake, this is not a Woolies rump and a few snags on the Bunnings four-burner. This is

competitive BBQing, a “sport” that attracts thousands of people in the USA and is growing in popularity here.

“I got into it through a friend who was a chef and was competing. I now compete more than they do. I love it.”

Tim recently came second at BaconFest in Kingaroy – yes, it’s an actual thing – for cooking a pork cutlet, something he’d never done before. “I’ve never cooked one in my life and I came second. Can you believe it?”

Tim’s weapon of choice for BBQing is a gateway drum smoker, a type of BBQ popular in USA. In essence it’s a 55-gallon drum that Tim says cooks meat very well. “It cooks very quickly, they hold temperature well, and they’re lighter.”

For the backyard BBQ bloke who wants to make his meat a bit tastier, Tim has some tips.

“If you’re going to buy one BBQ, I’d buy a Webber, or some version of a Webber charcoal BBQ. You can smoke in it, you can grill a pretty good steak and you’ve got a one-stop, charcoal shop.”

From Boats to BBQs, Tim Mazaraki generously dedicates his skills, time and expertise to help veterans

“…the best accolade I got was when three of the guys I taught went home and had a big BBQ, smoke-off and cooked a whole heap of meat. Knowing that I was a part of that, is all the thanks I need.”

The Call That Never Came

Gary & Renee Wilson

In 2010, Soldier On ambassador Gary Wilson was involved in a Black Hawk Helicopter crash which left him severely injured and in a coma.

Three months passed and Gary awoke to a different life in which he had to re-learn everything from walking to talking, with the love and support of his partner Renee.

12-years and one Invictus Games later, the Wilson’s are a formidable couple who are sharing their experiences of resilience, strength and courage to provide support to other Defence families.

To watch the film, scan the below code.

Recognising regional growth

Singleton’s Pathways Program continues to surpass unprecedented growth levels.

It’s been more than a year since the launch of the Soldier On Pathways Program in Singleton. Within this time, the program has seen tremendous growth and the positive impact it has had on the local veteran community is monumental, to say the least.

On November 12, 2021, Soldier On expanded its national network of services out Northwest of Newcastle to Singleton, to provide free education and employment support through Pathways Officer and ex-veteran of 15 years, Kevin Lomax. The program has assisted in building awareness among local ADF service personnel on how their skills and experience can be applied to a corporate environment, ensuring that every participant is equipped to thrive in the transition from military to civilian life.

The Pathways Program’s presence in Singleton is unique, having been funded by Singleton Council after

the Commanding Officer at the time suggested Soldier On was the best organisation to support local veterans, their spouses and families through the challenges that arise during transition. Following Soldier On and Singleton Council’s collaboration in creating the Pathways Officer role, the program has already seen 130 registered

participants, 34 placements and over 20 paid roles secured, to name a few highlights.

Being a veteran who’s lived the journey, Kevin says that “it is very gratifying. I love having a role where I can give back by utilising my lived experiences to help mentor those going through the transition. I’m a 3rd generation soldier with a brother still serving, so the Army life is in my DNA.”

For the past year Kevin has conducted weekly visits to the School of Infantry at Lone Pine Barracks, where he organises face-to-face sessions with anyone considering discharge from the force or preparing themselves for the future. He liaises with local businesses, in conjunction with the NSW Smart and Skilled Program, to offer free trade specific and corporate training to place participants in the best possible employment roles and education programs, tailored to their individual goals.

Having previously been the president of the Singleton Junior Rugby League Club and winner of the NSW Rugby League Regional Volunteer of the Year for the Northern Region, it’s no surprise that there have been some mentionable highlights within the Pathways Program engaged within local footy.

Working closely with the NRL initiative Battlefields to Footy Fields and Invictus Australia, a number of participants have gone on to become both volunteers and paid referees in the Singleton area.

Many of these participants have been injured in service or disengaged, so it’s undeniable that the Pathways Program’s presence in Singleton has helped engage participants back into the community, make long lasting connections and participate in something that gives them a renewed sense of belonging.

Pathways Participant Elliot Norquay is one of Singleton’s most recent

success stories. Elliot secured a permanent full time position as a Shotfirer Assistant at a local mine after being introduced to Soldier On through the Welfare Officer at the School of Infantry. Kevin then assisted in the strengthening of his qualifications, educational training, and resume to which he

says, “Soldier On was able to assist me in securing permanent full-time employment before my transfer date, which alleviated the pressure of being unemployed after my transition.”

The success that the Pathways Program has had within the past year highlights the incredible efforts from Soldier On Pathways Officers who make it their mission to enable veterans and their families to thrive. With over 20 corporate engagements, support from local businesses and mining corporations has never been better, having seen productive engagement within the past year. More and more local businesses are coming to Soldier On looking for Defence personnel to fill vacant roles.

Kevin said, “Undeniably, the work that has been done in just the past year is invaluable, and we cannot wait to see what’s next for the area.”

Principal

1-31 March 2023 March On is back in

Walk 96kms, the distance of the Kokoda Trail, in March 2023. Sign up on your own, or with a team, to help prevent veteran suicide.

Help serving and ex-serving veterans and their families rebuild and thrive, and March On with Soldier On.

Funds raised will help Soldier On extend the reach of its services for serving and ex-serving veterans and their families.

Scan the QR code to learn more about March On 2023, or visit the website www.marchonchallenge.org.au.

Ensuring