Each year, Soldier On’s annual March On challenge is powered by Australians who step up in support of veteran mental health. Among them are our corporate partners, whose teams bring energy, commitment and meaningful impact to the challenge.
We thank all of our March On supporters for your commitment.
Aurecon – Strengthening inclusion through action
March On offers Aurecon an inclusive, active way to reinforce its commitment to the veteran community.
‘March On provides an important opportunity for Aurecon to demonstrate our commitment to Soldier On and the national veteran community,’ says Aurecon Senior Consultant Ross Neuwirth-Tindale.
‘Having a team in this year’s March On Challenge visibly reinforces our support for veterans and strengthens our partnership with Soldier On.’
Participation is designed to bring people together across the business.
‘By participating, our veteran employees can channel their ongoing commitment to service into meaningful action that benefits fellow service members across Australia,’ he says. ‘At the same time, the initiative enables the broader workforce to stand alongside them, enabling inclusion, connection, and shared purpose.’
Creating a team translates commitment into tangible impact.
‘Fielding a team is important because it translates Aurecon’s commitment to veteran inclusion into tangible impact. It demonstrates leadership, builds internal engagement, and helps create lasting positive outcomes for the veteran community.’
The 96 kilometres will be tackled nationally, with teams walking through their respective cities.
‘Aurecon’s state-based teams will unite in a nationally coordinated March On challenge, creating strong connections across our offices. Our teams’ journey through their respective cities, purposefully visiting Defence memorials and sites of military significance,’ Ross says.
The walks are designed to create space for learning and understanding.
‘These walks serve multiple purposes creating spaces for veterans to share their stories and experiences in an inclusive environment; enabling non-veteran colleagues to better understand the unique challenges worked through by veterans, and the strengths veterans bring to civilian careers; whilst fostering deeper appreciation of our defence heritage through supporting current serving members and veterans.’
Ross believes the shared effort also strengthens the organisation internally.
‘Veterans understand the power of teamwork forged through the shared challenges of Defence service,’ he says. ‘Similarly, within Aurecon, overcoming complex challenges requires collaboration, trust, and collective effort.
‘Supporting veteran mental health through March On provides a shared purpose that strengthens these qualities.’
The Aurecon 2026 team has set a clear fundraising goal of $10,000.
‘We are motivated to achieve it together,’ Ross says. ‘Every step of the journey represents our collective commitment to supporting veteran mental health.’
KPMG – Backing veterans beyond the workplace
KPMG has supported Soldier On since its inception in 2012, and for Katie Davis, KPMG Partner – Technology Advisory, that long-standing relationship continues through March On.
‘KPMG has proudly supported Soldier On since its inception in 2012,’ she says. ‘We deeply value the veteran community within our organisation and recognise how essential it is to foster an environment where everyone can thrive. The experience, skills, and unique perspective that veterans bring are invaluable to our business.’
March On provides a visible way to reinforce that commitment.
‘Participating in March On is one way for us to continue demonstrating our commitment to veterans and the incredible work Soldier On does to empower them and their families,’ Katie says. ‘This challenge offers us an opportunity to come together as a team outside of the workplace, strengthen our camaraderie, and raise funds for a cause that resonates closely with our shared values.’
The 96 kilometres will be tackled collectively across the month.
‘We have a range of activities planned to complete the 96 km journey during March,’ she says. ‘These include organising team walks throughout the month, participating in Soldier On-hosted walking events, and sharing personal stories and photos on our internal communications platforms to inspire each other. We are even considering hosting occasional breakfasts and lunches to keep up the morale and encourage participation.’
Beyond the physical challenge, there is also a positive internal impact within the broader KPMG team.
‘At KPMG, supporting Defence and veteran-focused organisations like Soldier On aligns with our values and corporate citizenship priorities,’ Katie says. ‘By participating in challenges like March On, we provide an avenue for our team to make a meaningful difference, reflect on the significance of veteran mental health, and showcase our commitment to giving back. This sense of contribution and camaraderie strengthens our team and organisational morale.’
Last year, KPMG raised around $12,000. This year, Katie says they are pushing further.
‘We’re setting our sights higher this year to maximise our support for Soldier On and their incredible efforts.’
Smart – Putting boots on the ground for veterans
Smart’s involvement in March On builds on more than 20 years of working alongside the Defence community.
‘Smart has worked alongside the Australian Defence Force for more than 20 years. We have helped over 50,000 Defence personnel and their families get more from their pay through salary packaging and novated leasing,’ says Chief Customer Officer Bianca Bates.
That proximity brings insight.
‘That relationship gives us a front-row seat to the realities of service – the sacrifices, the relocations, the time away from family. It also means we see first-hand why supporting veteran mental health matters.’
The symbolism of 96 kilometres resonates strongly.
‘We’ve been a proud corporate partner of Soldier On for several years, and March On is a natural fit for who we are as a business. The 96 kilometres represent the Kokoda Track – a powerful symbol of endurance and mateship that resonates deeply with the Defence community we serve every day,’ she says.
Forming a team is about visible action.
‘Forming a team isn’t just about fundraising. It’s our people putting their boots on the ground to show veterans and their families that they’re not forgotten after they take off the uniform.’
As a national business, the approach mirrors its footprint.
‘Our team is spread across the country – just like the Defence personnel we support on bases from Darwin to Hobart,’ Bianca says. ‘Everyone will be clocking up their kilometres locally, but we’re making it a shared effort.’
To help build team momentum, Bianca says ‘there’s an internal comms channel running with progress updates, tips, and some healthy competition between offices’.
‘The energy has been fantastic – people are already mapping out routes and locking in their schedules.’
For Smart, the motivation is clear.
‘When you give people a shared purpose beyond their day job, something shifts,’ Bianca says.
‘We’ve set a team goal of $5,000, but if you know our people, you’ll know that’s really just the starting line. We’re a competitive bunch in the best possible way, and there’s already talk about how far past the target we can go.
‘We’ll be pushing hard to go well beyond it, because the need is real and the impact is tangible.’
With every dollar raised going directly to Soldier On’s mental health programs and suicide prevention services for veterans and their families, Bianca says ‘when you think about it in those terms, $5,000 isn’t a ceiling – it’s a floor’.
‘We’d also encourage anyone reading this to get involved. Sign up, start walking, donate, or just share the page,’ she says. ‘The more people who march on, the more veterans get the support they deserve.’
To support March On and donate, you can track the progress of everyone involved in this year’s challenge via our leaderboard. Every step counts, and every donation makes a positive difference to support veteran mental health.
