AIDN Policy Symposium & Sovereign Capability Showcase

I acknowledge that today we gather on the lands of the traditional custodians, the Ngunnawal and recognise any other people or families with connections to the lands of the ACT and surrounding regions. I pay my respects to their Elders, past and present.

I would like to extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who join us today.

And I’d like to acknowledge all who have served in our nation's uniform, and their families.

It’s great to see you all back for another fantastic AIDN Policy Symposium and showcase event – I think it’s so important that there’s an opportunity to showcase in this place the amazing work that Aussie Defence industry is doing, contributing to our overall capability.

I don’t think any of you will challenge me if I were to say that Aussie veterans are an incredible asset to Defence industry – that’s something that since speaking with you last year, our Government has been making sure the civilian workforce more broadly is aware of.

We’ve launched an ad campaign – that being an ex can be a good thing.

I’d like to share a short video with you now.

Ex service personnel

Experienced

Exceptional

Excellent

The skills veterans pick up in service could be exactly what your company needs.

Ok, I’ll stop with the ex’s now.

For many civilian businesses, they simply aren’t aware of, or don’t understand, the skill set they might be tapping into when they consider employing an ex-service person.

It’s not just about the ad campaign – it’s the assets that have been developed to help businesses support and employ veterans too, and the renewal of the Veteran Employment Commitment.

We’ve also been running a recognition of prior learning grant program.
This has a few intended outcomes, including:

• Assisting veterans into tertiary education where their existing skills and experience are recognised as part of the entry pathways;
• Educational institutions adapt, expand or establish direct or assisted entry pathways and study support programs for veterans; and
• organisations share knowledge with other tertiary or education facilities about how they support veterans with uni entry.

This builds upon the vocational education recognition of prior learning program operated through Defence, which we have also expanded.

Last year in this place I announced the first round grant recipients – Flinders University, Australian Catholic University, University of Canberra, University of NSW and Charles Darwin University.

I’m pleased today to share with you the organisations and their projects that have been successful in the latest round.

The University of Newcastle will expand their direct entry portal to include applicants with military service history which will include a fee-free, veteran academic transition program, a peer to peer support program, and dedicated liaison for veteran students.

The University of South Australia will develop a framework to streamline the enrolment process for veterans and help inform them on credit they could receive based on their ADF service.

Flinders University will be enabled to expand their existing recognition of prior learning program to attract veterans to specifically undertake courses in education – early, primary, secondary and special ed.

Charles Sturt University will expand their existing “experience matters” RPL framework to simplify entry pathways, offer credit for skills learned in service and support veterans to transition to formal study.

Queensland University of Technology will develop an ADF specific program to provide veterans with information about options, timeframes and flexibility when selecting courses. This will be supported by peer mentoring and networking opportunities.

And Western Sydney University will create a tailored credit mapping process to support veterans in getting extra credit or recognition of their service in Diploma and Degree programs.

This is all with the intention of supporting veterans during, and after their transition from the ADF.

Because transition is not a single point in time, rather, it is a process.

A life upheaving, game changing process.

For whatever reason someone leaves the ADF, we want to be sure they’re going to be walking into good, fulfilling, well-paying jobs.

You’ll all be aware of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide that’s been ongoing for the last few years.

A key focus of their final report was making sure we improve transition for our veterans.

That’s a massive part of this program.

And that’s where you all come in.

I know Defence Industry is riddled with veterans – in the best possible way.

As part of our Veteran employment program, last year we awarded Australian Catholic University a Recruitment Advisory Service Grant to support veteran and partner recruitment and retention by developing and providing high quality, evidence based resources and advice to employers of veterans and defence partners in Australia.

Through this grant, the ACU has been working to define best policy and practice in both the recruitment, and importantly the retention of veterans and their family members in the civilian workforce.

ACU is working with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to develop fit for purpose resources to support civilian employers, these will be added to the catalogue of resources on the veteransemployment.gov.au website.

I know you benefit from the experience and skills veterans gain in service.

It’s important that veterans benefit at the same time from the support they get from their civilian employers.

And finally – if you’re serious about supporting veterans in your business, check out the veteran employment commitment.

This commitment recognises organisations for their current workplace policies and practices that support veteran employment.

It offers guidance to implement or enhance veteran employment initiatives, so you can better recruit and retain veteran employees.

The VEC now features three levels of recognition –  Depending on the veteran employment activities your organisation has in place, you may be recognised as a:

• Veteran Employment Supporter
• Veteran Friendly Employer
• Veteran Employer of Choice

For those of you familiar with the old Veteran Employment Commitment, you’ll recognise those new levels indicate a changeup of the program, so please, if you’ve been part of this historically, check out the website as you may need to reapply.

Veteran Employment signatories receive:

• exclusive access to a range of resources and guidance to help you attract and retain veterans in your organisation. 
• A logo for use on your website and in other relevant material so your organisation can be recognised publicly for your commitment.
• A profile on veteransemployment.gov.au – a portal supporting veterans seeking employment in the civilian world will point to you as a supportive organisation… and more.

As you’re well aware – we want to keep our people in Defence as much as possible.

We don’t want to see poaching.

That’s why as a signatory to the Veteran Employment Commitment you will need to pledge to not poach serving personnel from within the ADF.

But that doesn’t mean we’re not upskilling while they’re in Defence, preparing them for future careers.

Our Defence Workforce plan was announced a couple of weeks ago.

Part of that goes to a more strategic partnership with defence industry – which I’m sure you’ll learn more about through the course of today.

But thank you all for what you do to back in our defence personnel each and every day.

And to all the veterans in the crowd – thank you for your extraordinary contributions. 

END