Leaving the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is a significant life event, and while the journey out of uniform can be challenging, there are numerous resources available to help. From our experience working with veterans, we’ve partnered with organisations like Right Management, Soldier On, and Helping Heroes, and have seen firsthand how they can support a smooth transition into civilian life. This isn’t an exhaustive list of options—there are many great services out there—but these are the ones we’ve worked with and found to be particularly effective in helping veterans navigate the next steps in their careers.
Right Management
Right Management is a career transition and talent management organisation that has partnered with Defence to support ADF personnel transitioning to civilian careers. Through the ADF’s Career Transition Assistance Scheme (CTAS), Right Management offers tailored services to help veterans navigate the civilian job market, including:
Resume building and job application assistance: Translating your military skills into civilian-friendly language.
Interview coaching: Helping you prepare to communicate your experience in a civilian context.
Career coaching: Offering one-on-one guidance to explore career paths and find the right fit based on your skills and interests.
Job market insights: Providing industry knowledge to assist with job searches in specific sectors.
To use Right Management’s services, talk to your ADF Transition Coach.
Soldier On
Soldier On is a national organisation that supports veterans and their families through various stages of transition. Their services focus on four key areas: social connection, employment, education, and health and wellbeing. Here’s how they can help:
Employment Support: Soldier On partners with over 100 veteran-friendly organisations across Australia, helping veterans find jobs and providing opportunities through mentorship and employment pathways. They offer workshops, resume writing assistance, and access to job boards.
Education: Through their Pathways Program, Soldier On provides veterans with opportunities to upskill or gain qualifications that align with their career goals.
Health and Wellbeing: Soldier On recognises the mental and physical health challenges veterans may face during transition. They offer support through counselling services, health education programs, and wellbeing activities.
Social Connection: They provide regular events and activities to help veterans build connections with each other and their community, easing the isolation that can sometimes accompany the discharge process.
To use Soldier On’s services, you can register as a participant on their website, here.
Helping Heroes
Helping Heroes is a veteran-focused organisation that provides personalised support to ex-Defence personnel and their families. Their goal is to help veterans regain a sense of purpose and direction as they transition to civilian life. The services they offer include:
Career transition services: Similar to Right Management, Helping Heroes provides resume writing, interview preparation, and job search assistance. Their approach is personal and targeted, offering tailored plans that match veterans’ skills with potential careers.
Family support: Recognising that the impact of transition affects more than just the veteran, Helping Heroes provides holistic support to families, ensuring they receive the guidance needed to adjust alongside their loved one.
Counselling and Mental Health: Helping Heroes understands the emotional toll of leaving the ADF. They offer mental health support, counselling services, and access to external healthcare providers where needed.
To confirm your eligibility for Helping Heroes services, contact them directly. Their contact details can be found on their website, here.
Another great resource available to Veterans is the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program.
Prime Minister’s Veterans' Employment Program
The Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program was established to help veterans overcome barriers to employment and increase recognition of their skills in the civilian workforce. It provides various resources and support, including:
Veterans Employment Commitment: An initiative encouraging businesses across Australia to commit to hiring veterans, recognising the value that ex-Defence personnel bring to the workforce.
Core Skills Identifier Tool: A resource to help veterans translate their military experience into skills that resonate with civilian employers. The tool aligns military ranks and roles with equivalent civilian skills and qualifications.
Veteran Employment Awards: These annual awards celebrate companies that have excelled in hiring and supporting veterans, fostering a broader awareness of the benefits of employing ex-ADF personnel.
Transitioning out of the ADF can be daunting, but it doesn’t have to be done alone. There are valuable resources, guidance, and support to ensure veterans, and their families can make the move confidently and successfully.
Here, at Kinexus we also host a Veteran CV and LinkedIn Development Webinar bi-annually. Our next Webinar is on the 15th of October. If you would like to attend, register here.
If you’re in the process of transitioning or thinking about your future after the ADF, don’t hesitate to reach out to these services or contact us today. Your next opportunity is just a conversation away.
