The Veteran Employment Program website provides advice and links to resources and support for veterans, their partners and employers. Including veteran-to-veteran employment advice videos and the Veterans’ Employment Toolkit provides some practical information to assist ADF personnel with their transition to civilian employment. 

The Recruitment Advisory Service for Employers of Veterans Grant Program

The Recruitment Advisory Service for Employers of Veterans Grant Program will support to employers to better target and recruit veterans, and support and retain them in their workplaces.

This program will provide a single grant of up to $800,000 over three years.

This funding will enable the grant recipient to provide advice, support the development of tailor made policies and procedures for workplaces, and create a range of products to enhance veteran recruitment and retention.

This will provide better support for employers who wish to create veteran-friendly workplaces where veterans can perform at their best.

The Veteran Recognition of Prior Learning – Tertiary Support Grant Program

The Veteran Recognition of Prior Learning – Tertiary Support Grant Program will provide funding to universities to establish or enhance recognition of prior learning frameworks to better reflect the skills and knowledge veterans gain during their service.

The grant provides $1.65 million over three years and will ensure veterans who want to pursue a university qualification can do so more easily.

Enhanced Employment Support for Veterans

The Australian Government committed four year Enhanced Employment Support for Veterans grant funding to not-for-profit organisations, Soldier On, Disaster Relief Australia (formerly Team Rubicon Australia) and The Returned & Services League of Australia Ltd (RSL), to deliver innovative programs to help veterans gain meaningful employment. Since 2020, this funding has helped organisations provide direct support for veterans to translate their existing skills, build new skill sets, grow in confidence and find civilian employment.  A one year extension to June 2024 has been provided to RSL Australia and Soldier On to continue their work in this area.

Support for Employment Program (SFE)

If you are unemployed or consider yourself to be underemployed, need assistance to change careers, or want support to adjust to the civilian workplace, you can access additional support under the Department of Veterans' Affairs Support for Employment program. Details are available here. 

New Business Assistance with SEA

If you or a family member are considering starting your own business, help is available through the New Business Assistance with SEA, and the Prince’s Trust Australia (PTA) Enterprise Program will be offered from 1 July 2021. If eligible, individuals may access one or both programs in any order they choose, allowing people to select the type, scope and timing of their participation. Further details are available here. 

Veterans' and Families' Hubs

The Australian Government has committed $42.9 million to develop ten Veterans’ and Families Hubs’ across Australia in areas of significant defence and veteran communities.  This is a key commitment in the Government’s plan to enhance support for veterans and their families and complements the six hubs previously established, which are already delivering supports to the veteran community.

Veterans’ and Families’ Hubs offer a one-stop shop for local veteran services, which may include health and mental health services, wellbeing support, advocacy, employment and housing advice, and social connection.  They provide a space for veterans’ services and advocacy organisations to co-exist and provide integrated support to current and ex‑service personnel and their families.  

For further information please refer to the DVA website here or you can email the team at: veteransandfamilieshubs@dva.gov.au.

Australian State and Territory Governments and Veteran Employment

Australian State and Territory Governments recognise the importance of veteran employment:

Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations – www.dewr.gov.au

A high proportion of ADF partners are female, with the impact of the military lifestyle recognised as creating barriers to employment for many.  As an employer, the Employing and supporting women in your organisation website by the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations provides some great tools and resources that may assist your organisation in attracting and retaining more ADF female partners to your workplace.

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