Leaving the ADF, or supporting someone who has, can bring a lot of change. For some people, the challenge is finding work or deciding what comes next. For others, it might be their mental health, reconnecting with community, returning to study or finding support for their family.
Sometimes, you may not even know exactly what kind of help you need.
That is where Soldier On can help.
Through our range of programs and services, Soldier On supports current and former ADF members and their families across health and wellbeing, employment, education and social connection.
‘The transition from military service into civilian life can look very different for every veteran and every family,’ says Soldier On CEO Paul Singer. ‘What we want people to know is that they don’t have to work it all out on their own. Soldier On is here to help people find the support, connections and opportunities that can make that transition a little easier.’
Support for your health and wellbeing
Mental health can be one of the biggest challenges faced during or after service, but asking for support is not always easy.
Soldier On provides access to psychology and wellbeing support for veterans and their families, including individual and group support. Our team can also help participants connect with other services when additional support is needed.
For someone who has spent years putting others first, reaching out can be an important first step.
Support doesn’t have to wait until things reach crisis point. Sometimes it is about having someone to talk to, understanding what you are experiencing and working out what might help you move forward.
Finding what comes next
For many veterans, leaving the ADF also means leaving behind a clear sense of purpose, structure and direction.
The skills developed through military service are valuable but translating them into a civilian career isn’t always straightforward.
Soldier On’s Career and Education support team works with veterans and their families to explore employment and career options, identify transferable skills, develop confidence and navigate the transition into the civilian workforce.
That support can include one-on-one career guidance, assistance with employment opportunities and connections with organisations that understand the value veterans bring to the workplace.
Whether you’re looking for your first job after service, considering a career change or trying to work out where your military experience could take you next, you don’t have to figure it out on your own.
Building skills and finding a career path
For many veterans, leaving the ADF means more than finding a new job. It can mean working out what kind of career they want, translating years of military experience into civilian terms, building confidence and deciding whether further education or training could open up new possibilities.
Soldier On’s Career and Education Program brings these different aspects of transition together, supporting current and former ADF personnel, as well as spouses and family members, as they explore what comes next.
A key part of the program is the Career and Education Hub, a dedicated online platform for registered Soldier On participants. The Hub brings together practical resources and opportunities to help people take greater control of their career and education journey.
Through the Hub, participants can access resources for upskilling, mentoring, education and employment, as well as tools to help them prepare for the workforce. They can also explore Soldier On’s national Jobs and Opportunities Board, which connects participants with employers who recognise the value of military experience.
But the online resources are only one part of the support available.
Soldier On’s Career and Education support team work one-on-one with participants to identify their goals, explore career and education pathways and develop a tailored plan. This might involve researching courses, identifying opportunities to upskill or retrain, finding employment pathways or considering how existing Defence skills and experience could translate into a new industry.
For those considering further education, Soldier On can provide guidance on study options, scholarships, training and education providers, including opportunities for free or subsidised courses where available. Mentoring and professional development opportunities can also help participants build their skills and networks as they work towards their goals.
The approach recognises that career and education decisions don’t always happen in a straight line. Someone might begin by looking for a job and realise they need additional training. Another person might start considering study before discovering a completely different career path. A military spouse may need help rebuilding a career after years of relocations.
The important thing is that participants don’t have to navigate those decisions alone.
Whether the next step is employment, study, training, professional development or simply exploring what might be possible, Soldier On’s Career and Education Program provides practical resources, personal support and connections to help veterans and their families build a meaningful future beyond service.
Finding your people
And sometimes what you need most is connection.
Life after the ADF can be isolating. The people around you may care deeply, but they may not understand the experiences that have shaped you or the particular challenges that can come with military life and transition.
Soldier On’s social connection and participation programs create opportunities for veterans and their families to meet people, build friendships, take part in activities and reconnect with their communities.
It might be a regular social activity, an event, a sporting activity, a coffee or simply meeting someone who understands.
Those connections can then become much more than a single activity and may lead to long-lasting friendships, confidence and a sense of belonging that continues well beyond the original program.
Support for the whole family
Transition doesn’t happen to one person in isolation.
Partners, children and other family members can experience their own challenges as they adjust to the changes that come with military service and life after the ADF.
That’s why Soldier On’s support extends beyond the veteran.
Our programs recognise the importance of families and provide opportunities for family members to access support, build connections and develop their own networks.
Because supporting those who serve also means supporting the people standing beside them.
You don’t have to know where to start
There is no single experience of military transition, and there is no single type of person who reaches out to Soldier On.
For some, it may be struggles with mental health, while others might be looking for work or advice and support around study pathways.
You might have lost touch with friends and want to meet people again.
Or you might simply have reached a point where you know something needs to change, but you’re not sure what that change should look like.
You don’t need to have all the answers before you contact Soldier On.
Our team can help you understand what support is available and work with you to find a pathway that makes sense for you and your family.
Because sometimes the most important step is simply knowing where to turn next.
