Securing our veterans' future:public sector job opportunities for young veterans

NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Victor Dominello today announced a re-elected Baird Government would assist 200 additional veterans to secure jobs in the public sector over the next four years.

Mr Baird made the announcement at the Garden Island base of leading defence manufacturer Thales, which has become the latest signatory to the NSW Government’s Securing Our Veterans’ Future initiative.

“The future looks bright for our young veterans who will now be assisted in securing employment in both the state’s public and private sectors,” Mr Baird said.

“About 1,000 servicemen and women in NSW leave the military each year with unique experience and qualifications that could address skills shortages in the public sector, including NSW Police, Corrective Services and infrastructure delivery agencies.”

A re-elected Baird Government will:

• Create a specialist Veterans Transition Unit within the Office of Veterans’ Affairs;
• Implement a specialised employment scheme to operate within the NSW Public Service to employ young veterans in areas where their unique skills are in high demand;
• Establish a target of transitioning 200 additional veterans into NSW public sector roles by 2019.

“Easing back into civilian life after the military can be daunting for some of our young veterans and the social rewards of finding work can’t be underestimated.

“I’d also like to commend Thales for supporting the NSW Government’s efforts in making our veterans’ transition into the community as seamless as possible,” Mr Baird said.

Mr Dominello said Thales had joined ClubsNSW and the RSL & Services Clubs Association by signing onto the Securing Our Veterans’ Future initiative.

“We’re already working with the private sector to assist young veterans and their spouses find employment once their military careers are over,” he said.

“We hope our new employment scheme will allow the state’s public sector to lead the nation in the way we go about recruiting young veterans as they settle back into civilian life.”