No two career transitions look the same.
Some members of the military community leave Defence with a clear plan for what comes next. Others want to explore study, build new skills, change industries or take time to consider new possibilities. Military spouses and family members often face their own challenges, navigating disrupted career pathways, relocation and changing family circumstances while trying to maintain professional momentum.
What these experiences have in common is that they rarely fit neatly into categories such as education, employment or mentoring. More often, they overlap.
That understanding has shaped the evolution of Soldier On’s Employment, Learning and Education team.
Over the past year, Soldier On has brought together its Employment, Learning and Education services into a more connected and participant-centred model that reflects how people actually build careers.
The result is Soldier On’s new Career and Education Program, which supports current and former serving Australian Defence Force personnel, as well as spouses and family members, through every stage of career development, from exploring options and gaining qualifications to building confidence, expanding professional networks, re-discovering career purpose and pursuing new opportunities.
According to Soldier On’s Head of Employment, Learning and Education, Chloe Van Mulligan, recognising that no two people follow the same path was central to the redesign.
‘One of the biggest misconceptions about transition is that everyone follows the same path,’ Chloe says.
‘The reality is that every participant comes to us with different experiences, strengths and goals. Some people are ready to apply for jobs straight away, while others want to explore study, gain qualifications or need support identifying what they want their next chapter to look like.’
Why the program evolved
For many years, Soldier On’s Employment, Learning and Education services operated as separate streams under the HELP model. While both delivered valuable support, the team increasingly saw that people’s goals, challenges and opportunities rarely sat neatly within a single category.
Someone considering a new career pathway may first need additional qualifications. A person returning to work after relocation may benefit from mentoring, professional development and career planning before they begin applying for roles. A veteran exploring civilian employment may need support understanding how military experience translates into a different industry.
The more the team worked alongside participants, the clearer it became that employment, education and mentoring were not separate conversations. They were often part of the same one.
‘Many people leave Defence with incredible skills and experience, but they can also be asking important questions about identity, confidence, purpose and direction,’ Chloe says.
‘We recognised that employment, learning and education don’t exist in isolation. They are all connected. By bringing these services together, we’re able to better support participants as they explore what they want their future to look like and identify pathways that align with their strengths, values and aspirations.’
Soldier On’s new Career and Education Program reflects that thinking. Rather than focusing on a single outcome, it brings together the support, resources and opportunities people need to make informed decisions about their future.
Supporting the whole military community
While many people associate career transition support with veterans leaving Defence, the Career and Education Program serves a much broader community.
Current serving personnel often begin planning for future opportunities long before they transition. Veterans may be pursuing new qualifications, changing industries or building entirely new careers. Military spouses and family members frequently navigate interrupted career pathways, repeated relocations and the challenge of rebuilding professional networks.
These experiences can create barriers to career progression, but they also develop valuable capabilities.
Adaptability, resilience, leadership, communication and problem-solving are qualities developed every day across the military community and highly valued by employers.
Soldier On Career and Education Manager Jason Isaac says many military spouses underestimate the value of the skills they have developed through Defence life.
‘Gaps on a spouse’s CV caused by relocation are real, but they are not empty. Defence spouses consistently develop high-value skills during posting periods that can and should be represented professionally.’
Just like someone transitioning out of Defence, military spouses and families often navigate career transitions shaped by relocation, career interruptions, extended periods of solo parenting and the need to build new professional and community connections from scratch.
Helping people recognise, articulate and build on these strengths is a key part of the program’s approach. It also helps employers, education providers and corporate partners better understand the depth of talent that exists within the military community.
Starting with the individual
Every participant’s experience begins with a conversation.
Participants work one-on-one with a dedicated Careers and Education Support Officer who takes the time to understand their circumstances, aspirations and goals. Together, they develop a tailored plan designed around what success looks like for that individual.
For some, that plan may focus on exploring study options. Others may be preparing for a career change, building confidence after time away from the workforce or identifying opportunities that align with their skills and experience.
‘Sometimes people come to us thinking they need help finding a job, but the first conversation is often about something much deeper,’ Chloe says.
‘What do you enjoy? What motivates you? What are your strengths? What kind of future do you want to build? When people have clarity around those questions, they’re in a much stronger position to make decisions about education, employment and other opportunities.’
This participant-led approach represents one of the most significant changes within the program.
Rather than acting as a recruitment intermediary, Soldier On now focuses on helping people build the knowledge, confidence, connections and capabilities needed to pursue their own goals.
From there, participants gain access to Soldier On’s Career and Education Hub, a dedicated online platform that brings together learning resources, scholarships, fee-free and discounted education opportunities, career development tools and employment readiness support in one place.
Participants can also access Soldier On’s award-winning mentoring programs, Learning and Development initiatives, employer connections and the national Jobs and Opportunities Board as part of a broader network of support.
Opening doors through education
Education can play an important role in career development, whether someone is pursuing a qualification, developing specialist expertise or exploring a completely new direction.
The team also helps participants navigate funding opportunities, application processes and education pathways that may otherwise feel overwhelming.
For military families, this support can be particularly valuable.
‘Defence Australia provides education and training grants for spouses and partners of serving members, including the $1,500 Partner Employment Assistance Program (PEAP) for employment and training-related costs per year,’ Jason says. ‘These are underutilised because many families are unaware of current entitlements or find the process unclear. Our team is able to support families navigate these opportunities.’
Education support is not simply about identifying a course. It is about helping people understand how learning can support their broader career aspirations and providing the guidance needed to take the next step with confidence.
The value of learning from others
Many people benefit from speaking with someone who has already navigated similar challenges, decisions or career changes.
As part of the new look program, Soldier On launched a new Micro-Mentoring program in April this year, which has taken off with participants, as well as the award winning full 18-week mentoring program.
‘Both of Soldier On’s mentoring programs create opportunities for participants to learn from industry experts and other members of the military community who have successfully navigated their own career and education pathways’ says Mentoring Programs Manager Lynda Simon. ‘These relationships help people broaden professional networks, build capability and gain a clearer understanding of the opportunities available to them.’
Building careers, not just finding jobs
Employment remains an important part of the Career and Education Program, but the focus extends well beyond job placement.
The team regularly works with people navigating uncertainty, career change, financial pressure and the emotional realities of job seeking. Applications do not always lead to interviews, interviews do not always lead to offers and career changes often require patience, persistence and resilience.
The program acknowledges these realities and provides support that extends beyond practical employment tools.
Participants can access newly established Learning and Development opportunities designed to strengthen capability, resilience and performance.
As part of the Career and Education Program, we are currently delivering a series of Learning and Development (L&D) sessions in partnership with Open Loop through a Veteran Wellbeing Grant.
These sessions are designed to support participants to build confidence, strengthen personal and professional capability, and support successful transition outcomes.
Mentors in Soldier On’s mentoring programs provide encouragement and perspective, while Careers and Education Support Officers help people stay focused on long-term goals during challenging periods.
As Chloe explains, success can look very different from one person to the next.
‘For one person, it might be returning to study. For another it could be changing industries, pursuing a long-held passion or building the confidence to take a completely different path. Our role is to help participants identify what success looks like for them and support them along the way.’
Participants can also apply for roles through Soldier On’s national Jobs and Opportunities Board, connecting with employers who recognise the value of military experience and the capabilities developed through Defence family life.
A more holistic approach to career success
The evolution of Soldier On’s Career and Education Program reflects the reality that career development rarely follows a straight line.
People move between education, employment, professional development and career exploration throughout their lives. Their goals change, circumstances change and new opportunities emerge.
By bringing education, employment support, mentoring, professional development, employer engagement and digital resources together, Soldier On has created a more connected approach that reflects how people actually build meaningful careers.
Whether someone is preparing to leave Defence, returning to study, rebuilding a career after relocation or exploring a new professional direction, the Career and Education Program provides the support, opportunities and connections needed to make informed decisions about what comes next.
‘Success looks different for everyone,’ Chloe says.
The role of the program is not to define that success. It is to help people identify it for themselves and provide the support needed to make it possible.
