Soldier On CEO celebrates team effort behind Australian Defence Industry Awards honour
National charity Soldier On has been recognised for its exceptional contributions to the veteran community, when it was announced as the winner of the 2025 Veteran Support Program of the Year award at the prestigious Australian Defence Industry Awards held in Canberra on Thursday, 10 July.
Veteran Support Program of the Year 2025
The award acknowledged the expansion and strategic refinement of Soldier On’s Employment Support and Learning & Education Programs which resulted in record engagement, improved participant satisfaction and a significant increase in veteran and family employment outcomes. Soldier On supported career transitions by helping veterans gain industry-aligned qualifications and confidence through accessible, flexible learning opportunities. These programs were developed in direct response to community needs and supported sustainable employment transitions through education, reskilling and confidence-building.
Celebrating a true team effort
Soldier On CEO Paul Singer (pictured with Soldier On COO Kristen Hayes-Charlton) said that being recognised amongst so many impressive industry colleagues at the ceremony is an absolute honour and one that is testament to the broader organisational team who work tirelessly to ensure veterans and their families have access to quality support services.
‘This is for all of you and belongs to all of us,’ he said when he announced the win to the Soldier On team. ‘While we don’t do what we do for awards, it is important to take a moment to acknowledge and celebrate our achievements.
‘They represent the hard work, dedication and passion you all bring to your work each and every day — united by the single, meaningful purpose of supporting veterans and their families. Your work matters, and last night it was publicly acknowledged.’
