Community Involvement Solutions

The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is among the most highly skilled when compared to other military forces from around the world. That is because members of Australia’s military receive world-class training. Over 5,500 members leave the ADF every year, and when they do, they take an array of skills, training, and qualifications with them, and these make them invaluable to the civilian workforce. That said, veteran employment in Australia is a major concern to consider, especially for employers seeking capable individuals. In a highly competitive human capital market, it makes sense to look into veteran candidates when hiring.

There are currently 641,000 veterans in Australia and about 30.2 percent of them are unemployed. Those who are employed earn 30 percent lower compared to what they earned previously, and 19 percent are underemployed for the skills and knowledge they have. Veterans acquire a broad range of skills, which they acquire during their service. Discerning organisations that are looking beyond typical candidates with industry experience find it beneficial to hire veterans. By giving importance to veteran employment in Australia, they are able to bring innovative thinking and new insights into their organisations.

Veteran employment in Australia is varied. There are over 200 different roles in the ADF, including healthcare, hospitality, logistics, project management, engineering, administration, trade, security, and information management. Veterans can bring in critical skills beyond leadership to the civilian workforce, and these can include critical thinking and problem solving, risk management, communication, and values.

Given the number of ADF members leaving every year, organisations can take advantage of that opportunity to add to their professional talent pool. Organisations that look past veteran applicants may be missing out on opportunities to take in great talent. Veterans represent a high-performing, diverse, and unique source of talent, including resilience, organisational skills, and leadership. These are just some of the skills that can easily be transferred to civilian work settings. However, some veterans may need assistance in using those skills in a way applies to the business world. This is where some organisations are working to provide assistance to improve the quality of veteran employment in Australia. They provide training and counselling to veterans who may need those services, so that they can transition back into society more effectively.

About The Author:

Warren Rowe is the director and representative of Community Involvement Solutions. CISAU is established in 2019 in Queensland, Australia. They are a not for profit organisation offering help to the unemployed military veterans, Indigenous community and Aboriginal people in Australia, by providing them education, training, and employment services. They help individuals to get better opportunities and help them transform their future. Their mission is to target especially those in underserved communities so that they have the opportunity to succeed.