National charity Mates4Mates has joined forces with employment and education support specialists to land jobs for veterans and transitioning ADF personnel.
Mates4Mates General Manager Operations Suzanne Desailly said the prospect of having to find a suitable and secure job after a career in the military could be daunting.
“Leaving Defence can be difficult enough, but managing mental health issues or physical injuries on top of navigating the civilian training, education or job search process can prove particularly challenging,” Desailly said.
“Being supported through the transition into civilian employment can be a crucial part of their rehabilitation journey.”
As part of its support for injured, ill and wounded current and ex-Defence personnel and their families, Mates4Mates provides free employment and education support services through partnerships with Ironside Recruitment, Churchill Education, MRAEL Group, and In & Out Fitness.
“Employment support includes career coaching, identifying suitable jobs, organising interviews and even negotiating employment contracts,” Ms Desailly said.
“Our education support offers certified training courses, apprenticeship programs, personal training programs, leadership and management courses.”
Ironside Recruitment is staffed and operated by ex-service personnel and headed by director Glen Ferrarotto whose career spanned more than 10 years with the Australian Army, serving in Afghanistan as part of its Special Operations Task Group.
“We know that identifying and engaging in long-term and meaningful employment really does change and shape the mindset of veterans,” Ferrarotto said.
“We assist everyone from 18 and 19 year-olds right through to 69 year-old Vietnam veterans, from unskilled labourers to highly qualified mechanical engineers.
“The employment and education support provided through these partnerships is all about unlocking the true potential of our current and ex-Defence personnel.
“We transfer the skills they’ve learnt during demanding and often dangerous military service into ‘real world’ success in the civilian job market.”
Find out more at http://mates4mates.org/our-services/employment-and-education-support/