Former servicemen and women find rewarding careers in industry
Skills learnt in military service can prove essential in industry, as these veterans have discovered.
SA News
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When former naval officer Hayley Matthews was faced with the possibility of missing her son’s first birthday, she knew it was time to look for an alternative career pathway.
Ms Matthews, a Gunggari woman, joined the military at 18 with the vision to set sail for adventure.
Life on the open sea was everything she had hoped for but, ultimately, family had to come first.
“I had a baby and didn’t want to deploy again and leave him … I would have missed his first birthday,” she said.
“I just wasn’t prepared to make that sacrifice.
“So after 10 years of service, I thought to myself … it’s time to move on. So I did.”
The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates around 6000 people leave the military each year.
Many find it difficult to settle back into everyday life but their ability to work in often-stressful decision-making conditions has made them a sought-after addition for some of Australia’s leading companies.
This includes BAE Systems – Australia largest defence contractor, which employs about 550 veterans, including Ms Matthews, who has found her new calling in human resources.
Business development manager Jeremy Satchell said recruiting staff from diverse backgrounds had become the cornerstone for BAE.
Last year, the company won the Prime Minister’s Veteran Employer of Choice Award.
“It’s important to be representative of society, it makes us more relatable to our customers,” Mr Satchell said.
“We have specific initiatives targeting veterans and their families … and policies that guarantee a phone call back within 24 hours.
“Not everyone is successful but at least they get some decent feedback and support along their job application journey.”
Among the company’s newest recruits is Megan Allan, who joined BAE via Soldier On.
The company has been a supporter of the charity since 2015 through the sponsorship of veteran support activities and careers transition.
“I got injured quite early in my career so my experience wasn’t quite up to what I expected,” she said.
“I didn’t get to do the field exercises or got the opportunity to go on deployments … but worked with some really great leaders who helped me reach my full potential … and I’ve been able to bring these skills across.”
War veteran Adam Watson is also among BAE’s success stories.
With multiple deployments under his belt, the former army officer heads the company’s technical innovation and sovereign capability growth centre, Red Ochre Labs.
“The best thing I got from the army was being able to bring across my leadership and management skills,” he said.
”Contrary to what a lot of people think, soldiers don’t just do what you tell them to do.
“They are thinking, creative individuals who are going to solve problems. You just have to make your intent clear and then let them go on and do it.
“And that’s something which I’ve tried to employ in my civilian career as well.”
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