Employer of the Year – Small | Veterans' Employment Program

**Open to private or public sector organisations with less than 20 employees.**

For the purpose of the Awards terms and conditions, the following definitions apply:

*Private Sector Organisation* is a business that is:

registered in Australia

has been operating in Australia for at least 12 months on the closing date of nominations, and

has an Australian Business Number that has been active for at least 12 months on the closing date of nominations.

*Public Sector Organisatio*n includes:

organisations registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission; or

state/territory and Commonwealth agencies, statutory and local government authorities; or

Higher education institutions recognised under the *Higher Education Support Act 2003*.
Nomination Criteria
1. Demonstrated commitment to recruitment and employment of veterans and/or partners of serving or former serving ADF members as evidenced by policies and/or established business practices. These are intended as a guide only. Nominations will be strengthened by providing examples such as: commitment to employ veterans and/or partners as evidenced by public statements/actions human resource policies or strategies supporting the employment of veterans and/or partners staff undertaking recruitment and HR duties have knowledge and an understanding of the ADF, how ADF skills translate to the civilian workforce, and issues affecting veterans and/or partners job vacancies promoted to veterans by demonstrating how skills typically acquired in the ADF align with those required for the job number of veterans and/or partners working in the organisation relative to the total number of employees flexibility for veterans and/or partners to take leave for ADF-related events flexibility for staff to undertake Australian Defence Force Reserves duties activity undertaken with staff with limited or no experience with the military lifestyle to increase understanding of the ADF and issues affecting veterans and partners.
2. Demonstrated excellence in supporting veterans and/or partners of serving or former serving ADF members in the workplace. These are intended as a guide only. Examples could include: identification of actions to support effective management and development of veteran and/or partners, with a focus on specific initiatives or programs implemented over the last 12 months internships or work placements/trials for veterans and/or partners collaboration with ADF support or Defence-related organisations (public, private or not-for-profit) to identify and support employees from the veteran community employment programs that consider the needs of and/or have been co-designed with veterans and/or partners programs that identify, foster and/or develop veteran and partner talent, including opportunities to learn new skills/undertake different roles across the organisation encouraging veterans and/or partners to become mentors to new employees.