Finalists announced for 2022 Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards
The Hon Matt Keogh MP
Minister for Veterans' Affairs
Minister for Defence Personnel
Australia’s top veteran employers, employees and entrepreneurs are being celebrated today as finalists for the 2022 Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards are unveiled.
Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh said the awards provide the opportunity not only to recognise organisations that actively recruit, employ and support veterans, but celebrate the successes of veterans in their careers post service.
“As a nation we value the contributions made by veterans and their ongoing commitment to service, and we recognise the valuable skills they bring to the civilian workforce,” Minister Keogh said.
“Making sure that our community is aware of the great benefit that veterans can bring to business is so important, that’s why these awards celebrate the businesses who work with veterans and families.
“The finalists for this year’s awards have all gone above and beyond to create environments where veterans and their families will have successful careers.
“Judges were impressed with the quality and calibre of nominations received. It is clear to me that many Australian businesses know just how great veteran employees are.”
Minister Keogh said that these businesses have a competitive edge.
“Veterans bring with them great skills that they have gained in Defence. These are individuals with great leadership skills, teamwork capacity, analytical skills, with the ability to work under pressure and to be agile, all critical skills in the modern economy.
“I am also so pleased that there’s some new categories in these awards - ‘partner employee’ and ‘partner entrepreneur’.
“It is very hard to find a good ongoing job or further your own career as a Defence spouse or family member if you are having to relocate regularly. We need to work with business so they can better understand that even if this person is only going to be employed for a short time, they are going to provide huge value to business.
The annual awards are part of the Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Program.
Winners will be announced at an award ceremony taking place in Canberra later this year.
A full list of finalists is below.
Full list of finalists
| Category | Name/Representative | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Veteran Employee of the Year | Rodney Davis | Sonder |
| Nick Elston | GSA Management Consulting | |
| Chris Gray | Vasey RSL Care | |
| Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year | David Ballantyne & Chris Moss | BMCorp |
| Garth Chester | Valenhold | |
| Warwick Penrose | EPE (Explosive Protective Equipment) | |
| Partner Employee of the Year | Lydia Teychenné | Prince’s Trust Australia |
| Tamara Turner | Axon Property Group | |
| Katie Vidal | She Maps | |
| Partner Entrepreneur of the Year | Hayley Boswell | Defence Kidz |
| Jacqueline Brauman | TBA Law | |
| Kelly Willmott | Green Fox Training Studio | |
| Employer of the Year - Large | Cubic Defence Australia | |
| Serco Australia | ||
| Veolia Australia & New Zealand | ||
| Employer of the Year - Medium | Bluerydge | |
| JLB-Yaran | ||
| Veterans in Construction | ||
| Employer of the Year - Small | BRAVO Electrical and HVAC | |
| Precision Technic Defence | ||
| Viden Consulting Group | ||
| Excellence in Supporting Veteran and/or Partner Employment | Brisbane Motorway Services | |
| RSL Queensland | ||
| Vertical Scope Group |
Media contacts
Stephanie Mathews (Minister Keogh’s Office): +61 407 034 485
DVA Media: media.team@dva.gov.au
Open Arms – Veterans & Families Counselling provides 24/7 free confidential crisis support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families on 1800 011 046 or the Open Arms website. Safe Zone Support provides anonymous counselling on 1800 142 072. Defence All-Hours Support Line provides support for ADF personnel on 1800 628 036 or the Defence Health Portal. Defence Member and Family Helpline provides support for Defence families on 1800 624 608