SoldierOn.org.au
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SoldierOnAust
Winter/Spring 2020
March On with
BERT
SGT
Inside this edition:
When Helping Hurts
Journey of Reinvention
Connect Hub
Just the two of us Sergeant Elizabeth (Liz) Williams and her daughter Quinn make the most of their time together. Liz echoes the expression that home is where the heart is. For her, it’s a place where she can snuggle up with Quinn to watch a movie or read a story. It’s where they can be playful and sing, dance and jump around, share experiences and make memories together. ‘My daughter Quinn, is six and like most six-year olds, she can be a little crazy,’ laughs Liz. ‘At this stage she’s decided that she’s a gypsy and will only wear clothes that she deems appropriate for a gypsy to wear. To her that means crop tops and boots or bare feet.’ She cherishes the fun times and works hard to juggle the pressures of work with single parenting. ‘Now that my daughter has started school, I’ve had to rethink things, like leaving work on time every day to pick her up. I have to find someone to care for her during my late shifts and changes to shifts. It can be really hard for her to adjust to not having me home when I’m the only constant in her life,’ Liz explains. Moving to a new area and building new networks can be difficult for any family. It’s no different for Liz and Quinn. During her 21 years as a medic in the defence force, Liz has moved six times. ‘If I was to get deployed, I’d have to rely on family members to help look after my daughter. My family are all very supportive of my role in the ADF and they’re especially proud of the way I have managed to maintain my career and raise my daughter.’ Liz always wanted to work in the medical field and the opportunity came in a gap year after finishing school. From what sounded like a fun thing to do for a year or two, became a career spanning two decades and still going strong. ‘The best thing about my job? I love helping people,’ she says. Being a single parent and working long hours in the defence force has its challenges but Liz embraces the positives. She is grateful for the support from DHA when she, Quinn and their pet cat and bird, moved to Sale, Victoria two years ago. ‘DHA made the relocation process much easier than finding a private rental. There were lots of options and our house is amazing. At this stage in my life, I’m not in a position to buy or rent a house as big as the one we have with all its conveniences.’ Liz is happy as long as she’s with her daughter and for now, they’re staying in the area. Their sense of fun never dwindles. They’re looking forward to more exploring in the local neighbourhood and perhaps dusting off their passports for another adventure.
For more than 30 years Defence Housing Australia (DHA) has been committed to improving the quality of life for Defence families. We do this by offering housing options to assist families through their regular posting cycles and to make the transition into your new location a little bit simpler. Among the services we provide are: A specialist housing consultants that can assist in finding the right home in your new location A 24/7 access to Online Services to allow you to look for a home when and wherever suits you A managing and maintenance of housing throughout your tenancy A purpose built properties in great locations close to bases A upgrades to properties to ensure you get the quality that you deserve. In fulfilling our role, we not only provide a safe and secure home for you and your loved ones, but we also contribute to Defence retention, recruitment and operational goals. In addition to our core role, we also support many local and national initiatives. We work closely with Defence Community Organisation and Defence Families Australia that in-turn support the Defence community.
dha.gov.au/online
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Contents Regular Items 4 22 28
CEO Update Activities Updates Our Corporate Partners
Feature Stories 6 8 10 11 12 14 16 20
Soldier On's Pathway Program When helping hurts Share your career stories and find meaningful employment The journey of reinvention IBM and Soldier On 2020 Soldier On Pledge March On with Sgt Bert Connect Hub
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Soldier On Get in touch Ph: 1300 620 380 Email: getsupport@soldieron.org.au
About Us Soldier On enable veterans and their families to thrive. 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
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
CEO Update Since I took over as CEO of Soldier On in September 2019, I have worked with all members of the organisation through bushfires and global pandemics to continue delivering our holistic and early intervention services aimed at enabling veterans and their families to thrive.
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his has not been easy, but I am proud of the Soldier On team, and grateful to the Australian public for their support through these challenging times.
Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, many of our face-to-face services could not be provided. In response, Soldier On quickly set up a new service called Connect Hub, an online initiative to help support veterans and their families enabling Soldier On to continue offering our services. Through Connect Hub, Soldier On was able to remain connected and engaged with our members, keep them informed about how we could support them, and meet the increase in demand for our services at a time when our ability to do so was hampered. Some of the services we provided were psychologist-led group support workshops with a different topic each session, online coffee catch ups, and family challenges that could be completed at home.
This is why Soldier On is proud to announce that we have hired two new staff members to work in Hobart and Darwin, increasing the locations where we can assist veterans and their families and making us a truly national veteran and family support organisation. Soldier On will begin by offering employment and education support in these cities and will work towards providing our full suite of support services. Our expansion into Tasmania and the Northern Territory is only possible, thanks to funding from the Australian Government and Department of Veterans’ Affairs “Enhanced Employment Support for Veterans” Program.
“Due to COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, many of our face-toface services could not be provided. In response, Soldier On quickly set up a new service called Connect Hub, an online initiative to help support veterans and their families enabling Soldier On to continue offering our services.”
Connect Hub also had a library of useful resources and articles to read to assist veterans and their families in banding together and getting through COVID-19. Soldier On also learnt two things from this experience: the first is that the need for support is growing, and the second is that whilst online services can provide a range of support, they can only do so much.
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Soldier On is a not-for-profit organisation and it is thanks to the Australian Government and Department of Veterans’ Affairs funding for the Enhanced Employment Support for Veterans Program, corporate sponsors, trusts, philanthropic support and the generosity of the community that it is able to provide services to those who need them.
We have also found a new office space for our Queensland office, allowing us to offer a space for veterans and their families seeking assistance, and have a number of new staff members joining us, or have recently joined us, at our Sydney, Canberra, Albury-Wodonga, Adelaide, Newcastle, Melbourne, Brisbane, and Perth offices. I would like to thank the previous CEOs and staff members who have worked to expand the organisation in existing and new locations, as this has been a process taking years to achieve.
With COVID-19 restrictions gradually easing, Soldier On is moving back to offering face-to-face services and activities. Most recently we have held a High Performance Surf Camp on the NSW Central Coast, thanks to Surfing Australia and Nudie Juice. The Surf Camp gave eight participants the chance to learn how to surf under the guidance of worldclass instructors. Surfing is an activity that our participants thoroughly enjoy; according to the feedback we receive they find peace and calm whilst out on the water. Another recent activity was a Sea Glass Workshop in the ACT, with participants enjoying it so much, they asked for a follow up class so they could make earrings to match their necklaces.
streamed an interactive Q&A session with myself, other staff members who have served, and ambassadors across multiple social media channels. This was a great way for the public, veterans, and their families, to directly ask questions and communicate with the Solider On community on this significant day and I look forward to doing something similar in the future.
“I would also like to make special mention of the way Soldier On rose to the challenge of helping the Australian public commemorate ANZAC Day … As part of this event, Soldier On produced a contemporary commemorative service, which was streamed online via our website and our Youtube channel.”
I would also like to make special mention of the way Soldier On rose to the challenge of helping the Australian public commemorate ANZAC Day. When it was announced that ANZAC Day services would be cancelled due to social distancing restrictions, Soldier On and the ‘Aussies and Kiwis for ANZACs’ Facebook group formed a partnership, resulting in the Driveway At Dawn event, enabling people around the country to still honour the service and sacrifice of veterans and those still serving. As part of this event, Soldier On produced a contemporary commemorative service, which was streamed online via our website and our YouTube channel. The unique virtual service incorporated traditional readings, the laying of the wreath, a commemorative address by Governor General David Hurley, AC, DSC, ‘The Last Post’ by the Band of the Royal the Royal Military College, and a new rendition of ‘I was only 19’ by Shannon Noll. Following the service, Soldier On live-
Finally, I would like to pay tribute to an incredible member of the public, Carlien Thompson. Carlien passed away just over a year ago, but in her will left Soldier On a substantial gift. We have been told by family members, that Carlien witnessed the difficulty her father went through when he returned from WWII and wanted to assist an ESO that supports veterans. On behalf of Soldier On and the board, I would like to thank Carlien and her family for this gift and promise this will be put to good use.
Whilst COVID-19 has prevented us from achieving all we wanted to achieve in 2020, Soldier On is in a strong position thanks to the support of the Australian public, and the dedicated and passionate staff who work here. Every day we are working to enable veterans and their families to thrive, and we will continue to do so.
Ivan Slavich, CEO
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Pathways Program Rises to Another Challenge Soldier On's Pathways Program expands to meet high demand for employment and education support for veterans and their families.
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oldier On continues to provide holistic support services to veterans and their families, which includes Health and Wellbeing, Participation and social activities, and the Pathways Program – Employment and Learning support. The Soldier On Pathways team is expanding to meet the need for more employment and learning support. We recognise that this is a challenging time for veterans and their families, and the wider community, with many people becoming unemployed or facing uncertainty in the workplace. The good news is that Soldier On is working hard to grow the Pathways team and adapt our services to meet the needs of veterans and families to provide the best employment and learning support possible.
Soldier On is a not-for-profit organisation and it is thanks to the Australian Government and Department of Veterans’ Affairs funding for the Enhanced Employment Support for Veterans Program, corporate sponsors, trusts, philanthropic support and the generosity of the community that it is able to provide services to those who need them. The Soldier On Pathways Program is supported by funding from the Australian Government and Department of Veterans’ Affairs “Enhanced Employment Support for Veterans” Program. The funding will help the Pathways Program to provide more employment and education support to more veterans and family members across Australia. The Soldier On Pathways team is expanding with new members of Pathways staff and new locations with offices in Albury-Wodonga, Newcastle, Sydney, Canberra, Adelaide, Melbourne, Brisbane, Darwin, Hobart and Perth to help even more veterans and family members to gain meaningful long-term employment.
"The Pathways Program team is expanding into new states across Australia, to ensure we can help even more veterans and their families locally and to secure long-term, meaningful employment."
Soldier On’s Pathways Program prepares veterans and their families for a successful future, by supporting them throughout their career transition. The Pathways Program team is expanding into new states across Australia, to ensure we can help even more veterans and their families locally and to secure long-term, meaningful employment. This means more face-to-face opportunities are available for participants as Soldier On continues to grow. The Pathways Program continues to evolve and rise to the challenges we all face in the current climate, and find new ways to support participants, such as hosting a new series of online Prep4Pathways networking events sharing veteran’s career transition stories and covering topics like ‘Transitioning from Defence to Defence Industry – how to prepare yourself for success’.
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The Soldier On Pathways team looks forward to further growth this year, enabling us to assist even more veterans and their families, to secure their future careers. So, if you’re transitioning out of the Australian Defence Force, are a family member of someone who is, or you have left the ADF and are looking for your next career opportunity, please contact the Pathways team for employment support during this challenging time, on employment@soldieron.org.au
Accommodation and Care for the Ex-Service Community
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Health and wellbeing
When helping hurts Caring for a loved one who suffers from a mental health condition can be very difficult for the whole family. These impacts are often exacerbated for service families when the effects of military service are the source of this suffering. A different person from the one a family once knew may come home from deployments. Whether their symptoms are seen through emotional numbness or over-reactiveness, the family can find it very hard to know what to do to help and can feel quite isolated by their experiences.
The experience of trauma Exposure to traumatic events can potentially lead to mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression. People may have any or all of the following experiences: §§ Being on edge, super alert, jumping at small sounds §§ Sitting with their back to the wall in restaurants and other public places, scanning faces and the environment. Knowing where the exit is at all times §§ Being snappy, irritable, teary, volatile in mood – high highs and low lows §§ Preoccupied with thoughts about injustice, not being able to trust others, the world being unsafe, high levels of selfcriticism or doubt §§ Waking up in the night, not being able to fall asleep, nightmares
“We suffer. Because we take on the burden of our partners. Not the burden of them, but we love them so their pain is our pain.” Fiona (Spouse of Veteran)
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“… you walk on eggshells and he’s going to explode so you just have to go and do something else and wait for him to calm down. People just don’t understand that.” Edwina (Spouse of Veteran)
§§ Avoiding certain places, people or events - especially crowded places with no easy escape §§ The experience of flashbacks – feeling and acting like the trauma event is happening “right now” §§ Shutting down/spacing out/seeming like they are a “million miles away” §§ Reliance on drugs, alcohol or gambling to cope §§ Not being motivated to do the things they used to like. Feeling tired all the time §§ Finding it difficult to maintain a sexual connection with others §§ Thinking of harming themselves or other people All of these experiences can be particularly pronounced at certain times of the year such as ANZAC Day, or on “anniversary dates” such as the date the person discharged from service or experienced a traumatic event or injury. It is important for families to know that when trauma impacts a person, it also changes their brain structures. Military training procedures condition individuals to have a highly responsive ‘flight or fight’ behaviour towards potential danger. The part of the brain activated when we are perceived to be in danger is called the ‘amydala’, and it works like an alarm centre of the brain. Operational service consolidates this alarm system of the body so that the individual can react instinctively, without thought, creating a highly adaptive soldier, sailor or airman. This training is necessary to for military members to have an adaptive response to danger, to keep them and their comrades safe. However, when they return home, their body has stored these instinctual responses and they will often remain well after deployment or discharge.
When military service impacts an individual, they often do not realise what is happening and it may feel confusing about why it feels so frightening to have people close to them. Triggers can be in the form of memories associated with trauma and this can be in the form of a smell, sound, emotion or visual cue. Triggers may or may not be conscious to the individual. They may only feel the emotion and reactive behaviour and try to make sense of this cause by blaming the current external factors around them without seeing the underlying trauma response. There may also be the belief that they should be able to “manage this on their own” or they have to “toughen up”. There may be a fear that if they start talking about their experience it will overwhelm them. Or that their loved ones will be hurt if they knew what has happened (with the traumatic event). We all have our own ‘window of tolerance’ where we can manage our difficult thoughts, feelings, and behaviours without being overwhelmed. Learning about triggers and responses and how to communicate with your loved one when they are within their ‘window of tolerance’ is part of the process that families can help with. Learning together, as a couple or a family, about the impacts of service, the physiological changes in the body and how to communicate within the ‘window of tolerance’ can help with the process of working through trauma. Understanding individual triggers that set off the alarm system, how to respond to them safely and bring awareness to the individual about what is happening to them can also be helpful. Taking care of yourself is also a vital component to assisting the family to recover from the psychological effects of service. This includes taking care of your emotional and physical safety, setting healthy boundaries, and connecting to supports for yourself. Soldier On understands the impact of trauma on families. Our Psychology team has developed a new on-line, interactive group support workshop to assist families caring for loved ones with mental health conditions. This course is free and available to all Veteran’s and their families. If you or someone you know, would benefit from this help, please contact psychology@soldieron.or.au
Quote Excerpts taken from Research Article “Their pain is our pain”: The lived experience of intimate partners in Veteran Recovery from PTSD (2020). Waddell, Lawn, Roberts, Henderson, Venning, Redpath & Godwin. Journal of Military, Veteran and Family Health
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Employment
Share your Career stories and find meaningful employment Career development is something most of us do not think about until we are ready to change jobs – even more so when you are ready to transition from the ADF. Sometimes it could be just waking up and saying ‘enough is enough’ – I need a resume!
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ere at Soldier On, our Pathways team see your career as more than just a quick resume update and to find a job. It is all about planning your next career step through education and employment strategies, along with support from our pledge partners. A great way to start moving forward in your career is to explore your on and off the job experiences, translate and communicate your transferrable skills, through to building your professional network. The pathway to successful employment is supported by job search and digital footprint strategies, effective networking, application tools and interview techniques to navigate the job market and nurture your career. In today’s fast paced world, the key to a successful job search is in understanding of how much the recruitment process has changed. Your marketing tools (aka resume, cover letter, application) need to meet today’s technology and recruitment challenges and it is all about showing, not just telling what makes you different from other applicants. Your skills, qualifications, and experiences – known as career stories – are normally what are shared at the interview, but if they are not in the resume, you will rarely get the call for an interview. If you are unsure what career is right for you, or you would like to design a plan to help you build a new career, maybe your partner is seeking a role, or you are ready for a change - reach out to one of our Pathways Officers today on employment@soldieron.org.au
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Learning
The
Journey of
Reinvention
The word “unprecedented” has never been so well used as in this period of COVID-19. Each and every one of us has felt the effects of the pandemic, and the outcomes of the fallout are yet to be fully realised.
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n these turbulent times, we are seeking to be reassured and to find answers to our many questions. Questions surrounding our careers and how we can thrive in the post COVID-19 world both personally and professionally.
become more agile and think outside the proverbial box by rethinking service delivery as well as how to embrace learning and the development of their staff to be able to survive, and then thrive post-pandemic.
There is a definite sense of being betwixt and between. In anthropological terms, this is referred to as “liminal space”. There is a feeling of discomfort in liminality, somehow feeling stuck between two states, that of a clearly gone past and a future which hitherto remains uncertain. It is a space in which we can find ourselves oscillating between holding onto old habits and ideas, then followed by the confronting prospect of “letting go”. As hard as it may be to accept, the concept of liminality is a necessary part of the journey to the new. The question is how do we use the liminal space to our advantage?
The challenge of 2020 and beyond is to develop a learning culture which readily supports new skill development. This is where the value of online learning resources and continuation of education are crucial to success and the ongoing career development of each person in an organisation. Upskilling and reskilling have become so vital both in an organisational and at an individual level.
It would be obvious to point out that the state of limbo that we find ourselves in will be somewhat prolonged. It comes with inherent frustrations but also tremendous opportunities to reinvent ourselves. So herein lies the challenge: How do we go about reinventing ourselves? No crystal ball is there to guide us but by being proactive in researching new trends in employment and how to “plug the gaps” in learning are important initial steps, on the pathway to new opportunities. It takes courage, tenacity and ability to embrace both change and uncertainty. Again, this is the liminal space which tests our resolve and seeks to move us forward. Businesses and organisations alike have had numerous obstacles placed before them. Training providers have had to think long and hard about numerous aspects of their business models, in particular the delivery of courses and how best to support their students to ensure the continuity in their studies. Similarly, organisations have also had to
Some sectors of our economy have been hit extremely hard and many have had their livelihoods disappear overnight. How do we choose a new career pathway wisely? Seeking career guidance, timely advice on learning strategies and meaningful course selection is a smart, strategic start. Harvard Business Review’s timely and highly relevant article “Reinventing Your Career in the Time of Coronavirus” is an inspiring read! To read it, head to: https://hbr.org/2020/04/ reinventing-your-career-in-the-time-of-coronavirus Soldier On is well placed to assist in your career pathway, reinvention and upskilling needs. Soldier On’s Corporate and Education partners are ready to work with our participants to find solutions to career transitions. If you are squarely in the “liminal space” and seeking a new direction for your future, please do not hesitate to contact us employment@soldieron.org.au or education@soldieron.org.au
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IBM and Soldier On Launch Free Online Learning Program IBM and Soldier On have announced an official partnership to launch ‘SkillsBuild’, a ‘microcredential’ initiative to help more than 3,000 former Defence veterans and their families upskill rapidly.
Top Left to right: Ivan Slavich, Christopher Simpson, Tonia Thielmann, Jeff Shapiro, Ben Farinazzo, Scott Morrison MP, Peter Leahy, Jody Hillier and Katrina Troughton.
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he initiative, launched at Parliament House on 14th August 2020 by the Prime Minister of Australia, The Hon. Scott Morrison MP, allows participants to transition into jobs in high demand sectors including technology and cybersecurity. Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the Solider On and IBM SkillsBuild Program makes a meaningful contribution towards solving the nation’s talent deficit problem particularly in areas of digital and future skills. Under the Program, over 3,000 veterans and their families will have access to online learning programs, most of which take between 4 and 40 hours to complete. The subjects covered include web development, data management, customer support and cybersecurity. Participants will also be provided with 1:1 mentoring and access to practical experience including internships at IBM or partner companies. The courses provide industry recognised certifications or ‘micro-credentials’ which can also be displayed as Professional Badges (symbols) in resumes or on platforms including LinkedIn.
"the Solider On and IBM SkillsBuild Program makes a meaningful contribution towards solving the nation’s talent deficit problem particularly in areas of digital and future skills." Prime Minister Scott Morrison
ď ´ Left Left to right: Soldier On Chairman, Peter Leahy, The Hon. Scott Morrison MP, and Katrina Troughton, IBM Managing Director Australia and New Zealand.
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2020 Soldier On Pledge
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Soldier On Launches new Pledge to encourage commitment to veteran and family employment
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n 1st September, Soldier On formally launched the 2020 Soldier On Pledge to encourage more companies to commit to providing veteran-supportive employment opportunities. Pledge organisations work in collaboration with the Soldier On Pathways Program, which provides free education and employment support to veterans and their families. The Pathways Program supports over 3000 veterans and their families across Australia, and guides veteran and their families through the complexities and emotional challenges of transitioning to civilian careers.
The Pledge Launch was held at Soldier On’s Robert Poate Centre in Canberra where our first Platinum Pledge Partner, AeroPM was announced for 2020. Veteran’s Emily and Adam Frizell from AeroPM have pledged to provide veteran supportive recruitment, retention, training and workplace culture initiatives in collaboration with Soldier On Australia’s through an employment and transition support program. Soldier On Chief Executive Officer, Ivan Slavich believes that more companies need to come onboard and recognise the transferable skills acquired by those who have served in the Australian Defence Force. “Many people in Australia are facing employment challenges due to COVID-19 and Soldier On is doing our best to support Veterans and their families at this time by providing holistic support services. Forming strong partnerships with Pledge organisations is another way for us to support the veteran community as it
"Forming strong partnerships with Pledge organisations is another way for us to support the veteran community as it will forge pathways that will enable more veterans and their families to secure long-term meaningful employment." will forge pathways that will enable more veterans and their families to secure longterm meaningful employment,” he added. The 2020 Soldier On Pledge has already attracted almost 200 Australian organisations as pledge-partners who are committed to help veterans and their families secure their future. #sidebyside
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March On SGT
with
BERT
On 15 August 2020, Victory in the Pacific (VP) Day, Sergeant Bert LeMerton (Ret’d) began his mission to walk 96 kilometres in honour of Australia’s contemporary veterans and their families, as part of Soldier On Australia’s March On Campaign.
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oldier On is privileged to have Bert as the Patron of the March On 2021 Campaign. Known as the walking man of St Clair in Western Sydney, World War 2 veteran Albert (Bert) Le-Merton is 101 years old. A Sergeant of the Mortar Platoon in the 2nd/13th Battalion, 20th Brigade, 9th Division of the AIF (Australian Infantry Force), Bert wants to help raise money to make the lives of contemporary veterans better. The March On fundraising initiative calls upon Australians to walk 96 kilometres during the month of March. Bert aims to tackle the 96 kilometres by going around the block a time or two. Soldier On aims to raise $1 million from the campaign to extend the reach of its services for veterans and their families. Participants can choose their own challenge to complete the 96 kilometres. Soldier On CEO Ivan Slavich, said “we are honoured to have Sergeant Bert Le-Merton, an Australian living legend, to support the March On Campaign and enable those who have served, and continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force to thrive. As Patron of March On, Bert is an inspiration to us all, to stand up and in his words “get off your saddle and let the war horse walk behind” to raise much needed funds that will enable Soldier On to support veterans and their families during these difficult times. We want everyone to March On with Bert. If a 101 year old can do 96 kilometres, so can you!”
“get off your saddle and let the war horse walk behind”
“The act of marching is of course an intrinsic activity linked to Defence and with the literal connection to the month of March and the incredible symbolism and military significance of Kokoda, we believe that March On with Soldier On is a campaign that will resonate with thousands of Australians. It’s no secret that many of our servicemen and women – and in-turn their families – face significant and unique post-service struggles including difficulty finding work, post traumatic stress disorder and feelings of isolation. The suicide rate among Australian veterans is simply unacceptable. The challenge we find now is to expand our services across all areas of the nation where veterans are based, but find themselves without support. This requires funding and the demonstrated support of every Australian. This is why we are activating March On,” said Soldier On Australia CEO, Ivan Slavich.
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"We are honoured to have Sergeant Bert Le-Merton, an Australian living legend, to support the March On Campaign and enable those who have served, and continue to serve in the Australian Defence Force to thrive."
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Soldier On was quick to respond to the implementation of social and physical distancing measures in March with the rapid development and rollout of the Connect Hub support initiative, via the Soldier On website. The goal of Connect Hub is to support participants in meeting and conquering the personal and societal challenges of living through the coronavirus pandemic. It achieved this by adapting Soldier On’s core HELP services to make them accessible to participants in isolation and support veterans and their families with targeted and relevant information and activities aimed at helping them thrive while socially and physically isolated. These have been consolidated under the themes of Stay Connected, Keep Informed and Be Engaged.
Staying Connected Championed by the Social Connections team, participants have been staying connected with family, friends and Soldier On via a range of online activities. Hosted over several Facebook groups, Soldier On has provided something for everyone. Here’s an overview and of their activities…
Soldier IrOn Chef Before Master Chef or My Kitchen Rules there was Iron Chef, a 1990’s Japanese cook-off style television program, pitting guests against the show’s resident chefs. Inspired by this concept, Soldier On put the challenge out to participants to prepare the most creative dish each month, based around or using a specific ingredient. So far, some amazingly creative (and delicious) dishes and treats have been prepared using risoni pasta in April, ANZAC biscuits in May and tuna in June.
Veterans Review Club Given the recent opportunities afforded many to reacquaint themselves with their DVD collection, or binge-watch their favourite streaming service, this group has allowed participants to engage around the joy of media. Voting from a range of genres, our group of amateur cinephiles has watched, discussed and reviewed blockbusters such as Forrest Gump, Good Morning Vietnam and Avatar.
Operation Dinnertime We reached out to Nutrition Australia ACT, who developed a healthy and affordable cooking program specially for Connect Hub participants to wow their families and lockdown mates. Presented as a weekly video hosted by Leanne, an Accredited Practising Dietician, participants are guided through the preparation of different nourishing dishes guaranteed to broaden our repertoire of home cooked meals.
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Coffee Connection Since we’re unable to hold our usual face-to-face coffee catch-ups, we’ve taken the concept online, expanding the usual state-based offering to a wider audience. Co-hosted by our Social Connection and Psychology teams, these virtual catch-ups have proven to be a valuable avenue to meet new people, be entertained and find out more about the other services and activities that Soldier On facilitates for participants and families whilst at home. In addition, the value and success of Coffee Connection in engaging with more remote participants, who would not otherwise have access to the these gatherings in person, has meant that this will remain as a continued service to our participants into the future, beyond the pandemic restrictions.
Sweat On Personal trainer and Soldier On volunteer, Naeem, presents a weekly workout program to provide some motivation to our participants and get them moving in their own homes. Fun, challenging and suitable for any fitness level, these are presented as short videos, explaining the program and demonstrating each exercise.
Family Competitions Soldier On have been staging monthly competitions aimed at keeping participants engaged and working together with challenges designed to be fun for the whole family. These activities facilitated opportunities to work together and strengthen family bonds in the comfort of participants own homes. Our first family competition asked participants to show us their family super-power, which we found in the costumed garden heroes, Team Green Thumbs. We also found our very own master builders who, given the challenge to build a tower from things found at home, stacked a freestanding tower of shoes almost to the ceiling!
Keeping Informed A true team effort, ideas for a wealth of online resources were drawn from across Soldier On, with the goal of ensuring our participants have the relevant information they need to negotiate the challenges of working and living in isolation from their normal social routines and networks. As well as resources to support participants in preparing for the transition out of these restrictions. Available to anyone, these resources bring together some of the most valuable and engaging information, services and activities from both Soldier On and across the web. These have been grouped into the following areas:
Health & Wellbeing
Participant Quotes: Family Competitions “This is a great idea guys. The kids and I had a lot of fun thinking and putting together our photo. It was fun to have a whole morning filled.”
Ideas, contacts and activities to help you look after yourself and support your family, both during and after pandemic restrictions.
Employment Services Get some great tips and contacts to get you that next job.
Learning Support There's a lot of terrific learning and development resources out there (even for engaging the kids at home).
Participation Stay connected, keep moving and see the world; all from the comfort of your living room.
Being Engaged Led by our team of skilled psychologists and available exclusively to registered participants, Soldier On has facilitated several online discussions working directly with small groups of participants to support them and their families dealing with the unique stressors and challenges of physical and social isolation, as well as working and schooling from home.
Coffee Connection “Partaking in Soldier On’s coffee catch up has surprised me by putting my head into a good space to tackle the rest of the day. The past few weeks I›ve been feeling quite down and I was honestly not going to go through with the virtual catch up. But I’m glad I did because I left the catch up feeling a whole lot better. Thanks guys.”
#sidebyside
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Activities Updates Whilst COVID-19 restrictions have meant Soldier On has been primarily holding virtual social activities, we have been able to organise a small number of faceto-face activities for small groups of people. We have also been able to hire new staff members to support more veterans, or find office space so our veterans can meet our staff face-to-face.
Australian Capital Territory
Sea Glass Workshop Soldier On has held two Sea Glass Workshops over the past couple of months, with each class proving incredibly popular. Beautiful and original jewellery was created whilst attendees laughed and connected over a cuppa. Anna Slavich lead the group, guiding them to find the beauty in worn down glass and metal.
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SOLDIER ON Winter/Spring 2020
Queensland
A new home The new Soldier On Brisbane office recently opened for business on the Northside of Brisbane. ‘The Hangar’, as it has been fondly nicknamed, is located at Kremzow Court Business Park, 2 Pinacle Street, Brendale. This QLD office has been almost 2 and half years in the making and the staff are proud of the new set-up and layout of the premises. Soldier On personnel at ‘The Hangar’ continue to provide holistic services of the HELP model to Veterans Health and Wellbeing, Employment, Learning and Participation. With an ever increasing demand for Veteran services in QLD, Soldier On hopes to continue to expand this much needed service further support our Veterans and their families.
The facility boasts a reception area and office spaces, a large multi-purpose floor area, a participant break-out area and a kitchen. In addition to our regular resources, ‘The Hangar’ will be offering PT, yoga and meditation sessions, along with a drop-in area for Veterans to relax, have a brew, join a lunchtime BBQ and enjoy a chat with our staff and other Soldier On Participants. We are a ‘dog friendly’ office so you can even bring your loyal pooch along with you. Located around 15 km north of Gallipoli Barracks, our location is well positioned for face to face support to both Brisbane, and the Sunshine Coast Participants. So, if you are passing by, or would just like to discuss your support options in persons, please drop-in to the Hangar and say G’day. #sidebyside
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Activities Updates New South Wales
Surfing On 29th June 2016, Surfing Australia and Soldier On were proud to announce an official partnership that was aimed at giving veterans the opportunity to benefit from a unique surfing and rehabilitation experience through the ‘Soldier On Surf Therapy Program’. Created off the back of a successful Soldier On Surf Day, the 4 year program (funded by Nudie Foods), had two separate components - a series of intermediate surf camps at the High Performance Centre (HPC) at Casuarina in Northern NSW, and a program of ‘family learn to surf lessons’ facilitated by Surfing Australia affiliated surf schools around the country. Physical exercise and sports recovery have been proven to improve mental health, and feedback from the veterans and family members who attended the program confirms this. “More confident in the water. Several things that I can take away and implement in my surfing. A few new faces to have a catch up with.” “My participation that I have had with Soldier On is Surfing, Fishing and coffee catch ups. Each event has been an
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SOLDIER ON Winter/Spring 2020
absolute pleasure to be involved with and has given me much satisfaction. The time, effort and resources which are put into these activities is a credit to everyone involved including those behind the scenes that we don’t know about.” The last workshop was held in June, with a group of eight veterans honing and improving their surf skills thanks to the dedicated instructors at the High Performance Centre. Their feedback shows the impact these activities have, both mentally and physically. “Just being back in the water is having a huge effect on my mental and physical health. Surfing has always been a big part of my life and I am just rediscovering myself again.” “I was separated from my ADF family and I wanted to be a part of a club and community that gave me a sense of belonging. This has reminded me this is possible.” Soldier On would like to thank Surfing Australia and Nudie Juice for giving veterans and their family members the chance to learn how to surf, proving that sport and the ocean can heal anything.
Newcastle – Karen The Soldier On Newcastle Team has been joined by Karen, who has enjoyed a rich and diverse Recruitment/HR career, encompassing a successful 20-year career serving in the Royal Australian Air Force. Post RAAF. She has also worked in various sectors in Utilities, Community Services, Defence, Engineering, Emergency Services, Steel and Mining as an internal Talent Acquisition Manager, Senior HR Consultant and Career Transition Advisor. Karen is looking forward to HELPing veterans and their families achieve their career transition goals and find their dream job!
Radio Station Contact Front is a radio program that has been part of the 2WAYFM Community radio for the past 25 years. Roger Mika was one of the previous hosts of the program and has used Contact Front as a way to promote news stories about the Army and talk about some of the issues he faced during his service, and as a veteran. Sadly Roger is stepping down as the host shortly, and whilst Paul Davey has taken over the legacy of Contact Front, 2WAYFM Community radio is looking for a second host. The radio station has 6,500 music tracks in memory so there is no need to purchase more music, but there is the option to do so if you wish. You will need to do some training, and there is a membership, but according to Roger, being the host of Contact Front is a thoroughly enjoyable hobby. For those looking for a way to promote the service and veteran community, this is a brilliant opportunity. To find out more, contact our Port Macquarie team at: jody.geosits@soldieron.org.au Tune in and show your support Fortnightly!
Above Past radio rep Adrian on left and Current rep Paul on the right!!
Albury-Wodonga – Sarah Sarah joined the Soldier On team in May as our Albury-Wodonga officer and is looking forward to using her experience delivering a variety of programs, qualifications, and personal connection to the Defence Force to help veterans and their families thrive. Sarah has been assisting veterans and their families through Employment and Education opportunities, and will be working to expand and fully deliver the Pathways programs in the area in the coming years.
#sidebyside
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Activities Updates South Australia
Tasmania
Soldier On's virtual hub opened in July 2020 with a new site coming soon to Hobart to allow for more face-to-face and online discussions. To speak with our one of our Pathway's Officers about Employment or Learning opportunities, email tas@soldierorg.au.
Back in the office The South Australian Soldier On team has successfully transitioned out of working from home restrictions and is now in full swing back in the office. Pathways participants are being welcomed to our offices on Victoria Drive (Soldiers Memorial precinct adjacent the heritage listed Torrens Parade Ground) for face to face sessions. Solidifying inroads into the veteran community have included a welcome connection with the new Director of Veterans SA, a visit to RAAF Base Edinburgh and building of relationships with the Jamie Larcombe Centre, Veterans Partnership Hub, the local Soldier Recovery Centre and NFP DCOs across the state. We have held two highly successful virtual Prep 4 Pathways events with Pledge partner BAE Systems Australia to guide participants through their transition and career changes. These events were both very well received and prompted great feedback with actionable tips as the SA employment market opens up and our Pathways team are looking to significant employment growth opportunities in defence, mining, and the emergent ‘wellbeing’ sector as industries enable veterans and their families to thrive in attractive, secure, and sustainable employment. The SA office is also now in a position to put the “Social” back into Social Connections as we continue to develop fantastic opportunities to keep our veterans and their families engaged with wellbeing programs, as well as fun, challenging and rewarding experiences. Local coffee catch-ups are starting up again and, amongst other activities, we’re negotiating opportunities to get participants out on the “high seas” in one of SA’s historic tall-ships. We are particularly excited about supporting the social and skills development opportunities for veterans who want to give back to the community through the Serving On program, in conjunction with BAE Systems Australia.
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SOLDIER ON Winter/Spring 2020
Northern Territory
Soldier On is now on location in Darwin, Northern Territory, as a virtual hub. Staff are offering employment and education support to Northern Territory based veterans and families. Contact nt@soldieron.org.au for more information.
Victoria
Western Australia
Victorian's lockdown has proven challenging over the past few months, so Soldier On has implemented virtual Coffee Catch Ups to replace face-to-face interactions which is a great way to stay connected during these unprecedented times. Online relief support groups are also available through our website to keep you motivated and reminder you that you are not alone. Jump onto our Facebook page or go to www.soldieron.org.au for more information.
New location The new Soldier On Perth office recently moved to the Westside of Perth. Located in the Legacy Building at 1130 Hay St., West Perth, this is a great opportunity for Soldier On and Legacy to work hand in hand to provide veterans with the best service. The team, Larissa and Tyler, are currently providing Dungeons and Dragons on a fortnightly basis,and cycling on a monthly basis. They are also getting other activities set up, including a monthly sailing activity, coffee catchups, and a new book exchange club set to debut in July so stay tuned! Solider On’s office is located in “The Triangle Attic”, so named because we are literally located in the top floor of a building with a distinctly triangular roof. It is a delightful space with its own full kitchen, private meeting room, and two office spaces. We have kitted out the place to make veterans and families feel safe and at home, and we look forward to seeing you in our office soon. Located just 9 km north of Campbell Barracks and 14 km from the Artillery Barracks in Freemantle, we are in an ideal location to support WA veterans from the north, south, east, and west. We hope you stop in to the “The Triangle Attic” and share a cup of coffee and some cake. #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
In Kind Supporters Minter Ellison
KPMG
Gerald Slaven VW
Sporting partners Giants
Principal In-Kind Partners
Champions Harbour Trust
Concord Official and exclusive airline partner
St Kilda
Club Lime or Viva Leisure
Champions The Good Guys Tallagandra Hill Winery Christine Shaw Properties
Australian Military Bank Throttle Media Smack! Design
With special thanks
Major Partners
Howarth Foundation Victorian Veterans Council Victorian Government WA Government Count Charitable Foundation ANZAC Day Trust Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club Toronto Motor Yacht Club Surfing Australia Nudie Juice
Cwa Journal Partner
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SOLDIER ON Winter/Spring 2020
Kirra SLC Manly Surf School Geoffrey Michael Crossfit Currumbin Outward Bound Australia Sally Bromley Calypso Fishing Adventures Path of the Horse RSL Active (Vic) Active Body Conditioning
Free counselling sessions provided by Soldier On Soldier On recognises a service member’s time doesn’t just impact him or her; it can impact the whole family Whether you are the parent, wife, husband, sibling or child of service personnel, you may feel the need to speak to one of our psychologists. Soldier On offers a range of psychology services for service personnel and families, including individual counselling for adults and adolescents, as well as group sessions online for spouse support, raising children, distress tolerance and support during COVID. Our psychological treatment is evidence-based and can address a range of mental health concerns, including trauma and stressrelated issues, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, pain, and injury-adjustment concerns. Contact psychology@soldieron.org.au for more information or to book an appointment. Psychology sessions are available via tele-health (video or phone) and can be delivered anywhere in Australia. We also have face-to-face sessions available in Brisbane
SoldierOn.org.au
/SoldierOnAustralia
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