CENTRE STAGE
Bright Futures We shine a light on one of Bunzl’s charity partners, Soldier On. Every year, an average of 6,000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel leave their military service. The transition from military to civilian life can present significant challenges for our service men and women including loss of identity and purpose, career uncertainty, social isolation, mental health difficulties, trauma, and an increased risk of suicide. As Australia's only national fully integrated and holistic veteran support services provider, Soldier On offers mental health and wellbeing services, education programs, employment and transition support. Following recent events in Afghanistan, Soldier On has also extended these services to members of the Afghan Security Forces and those who have played key roles in the ADF’s responses to this conflict, including those who have supported our troops in Afghanistan, such as interpreters. “Many Afghan citizens have acted as key supporters and allies of our Australian forces in Afghanistan. These individuals face many of the
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challenges that our Australian troops have faced, including mental health difficulties, career uncertainty and social isolation," says Soldier On CEO Ivan Slavich. "As we have done with our Australian troops, we must support our veteran community." Since its establishment in 2012, Soldier On has grown into Australia’s foremost support-services provider for serving and ex-serving members of the ADF and their families with support available in every state and territory across the country. Through the charity’s Pathways Program, thousands of veterans have been able to retrain, upskill, gain formal qualifications, and find meaningful long-term civilian employment. Soldier On is also helping many veterans and their families manage mental-health issues, using in-house evidence-based psychology treatments to tackle such concerns as PTSD and social anxiety, as well as feelings of loss of identity and purpose on leaving the ADF. The not-for-profit organisation hosts events and social activities across the country to encourage the veteran community to interact and connect with others who have served, or continue to serve, in the ADF, as well as Defence family members. Bunzl is a proud Gold Pledge partner of Soldier On, supporting veteran-friendly recruitment, workplace culture and retention, and training and development. As more service personnel enter civilian life, Soldier On is a platform for those who have served in the ADF – and their families – to thrive. soldieron.org.au
