Innovative Toowoomba RSL program getting veterans into drone industry

AN INNOVATIVE Toowoomba United RSL Sub Branch program providing employment for veterans could one day be rolled out across the country.

The Sub Branch recently obtained its remotely piloted aircraft operator’s certificate, which allows veterans like Scott Butler to perform a range of additional services through his drone business SHB Aerial Inspections.

Sub Branch president Scott May said so far the sub branch had put four people through the drone pilot training course and had set up their administrative requirements around OH+S, flight logging and data records.

Combining the certificate with the RSL’s high-end software which was donated to them, and the Sub Branch has significantly reduced the cost barrier for entering the drone industry for veterans.

“So basically if Scott (Butler) was to go off and set up a business in the same capacity that we’ve done, it would have cost him about $40k before he was off the ground,” Mr May said.

“So we’ve sort of opened up the industry at a cost-effective level for members of the veteran community.”

Scott Butler of SHB Aerial Inspections with his drone.

In return, the Sub Branch gets a small percentage of Mr Butler’s earnings, which he said he was “more than happy to pay” and which “allows the program to grow over time”.

“It takes the RSL to being self-sufficient, providing benefits to other veterans,” Mr Butler said.

Mr May said the other bonus of working in the drone industry was that it could also cater for veterans who had limited work abilities, in terms of injuries and illnesses.

The new program is part of the Sub Branch’s push to reinvigorate the organisation.

“It’s got the potential where we could make it a national program if we can engage the RSL at a state level,” Mr May said.

“The beauty of it is that the more people we have working around the country the more income comes back to the Sub Branch so we can deliver more welfare.

“It’s like a big closed loop employment initiative.”