Supporting Veteran Transition
In Australia, between 5,500 and 6,000 Australian Defence Force (ADF) members leave the military and defence jobs each year.
Unfortunately 30.2% of these veterans are unemployed, and 19% underemployment according to the Department of Veterans' Affairs Transition Taskforce, highlighting the difficulty veterans face in finding meaningful civilian employment once they leave Defence jobs.
We experienced this challenge first hand when one of our veteran candidates was represented pro bono to over 22 separate companies unsuccessfully due to a lack of non-military experience. For example, if a veteran wanted to obtain an ICT Service Desk Analyst role, they were often overlooked because of their limited experience, despite their attitude, aptitude and work ethic. Unless a veteran had worked extensively in IT in the military, they did not have the pathway to enter into this industry.
There was also a disconnect between the perception of a veteran employee and the diversity they could actually bring to an organisation. Many employers we spoke to, did not understand the complexities associated with military life including the need to be adaptable, fast thinking, resilient and determined. Their military experience was perceived to be substantially different to a civilian career, despite the fact that the ADF has a similar structure to a large corporate organisation, possessing administration, IT, legal and WHS divisions. This perception was compounded by the lack of formally recognised qualifications ADF members receive while operating in the military.
At the same time, the veterans we worked with were struggling to translate their military experience into their CV and during job interviews. For many veterans, they still wanted to serve their country and protect Australia, but did not know what civilian pathways existed. As a security cleared recruitment company and a signatory to the Prime Minister's Veterans' Employment Program, we were frustrated with these challenges in finding meaningful employment and jobs in Canberra for veterans and so we created the WorkPath Australia (WPA) Program to overcome this. WorkPath has since created dedicated jobs in Canberra for ICT and Cyber security career pathways.
What is Workpath Australia?
WPA is an award winning program designed to increase veterans' access to ICT and cyber security employment pathways. The WPA program enables veterans to seamlessly transition out of the military by organising free ICT and cyber security traning courses for participants with Registered Training Providers (RTOs). This program is allowing veterans to utilise their ADF skills to further assist Defence in a civilian and corporate setting and secure jobs in Canberra.
The aim of WPA is to increase veteran's inclusion in the workplace, including equality of opportunities for them with Canberra jobs, and highlighting the diverse values they can bring to civilian employers. To achieve this, our program uses a structured plan for increasing workforce diversity by working with employment partner's HR, Talent and Project teams to develop roles which are mapped to ADF experiences.
This enables us to work proactively with WPA participants up to 24 months out from their discharge and organise formal qualifications for them. A recent example of this was creating an ICT Systems Administrator role with a multinational company which has modified to match the experience and skills of an ADF Information Systems Technician. To increase positive outcomes within our program, we work closely with veterans to identify their strengths and weaknesses and what they would like to achieve in their civilian career. We then match this with our employment partners values and corporate culture to ensure a synergistic relationship.
For example, WPA has assisted transitioning veterans in obtaining an ITIL v4 certification and gaining jobs in Canberra as Service Desk Analysts with the Australian Signals Directorate. The WPA program has enabled our team to make a tangible difference to the lives of veterans, including giving some participants 'a purpose' through the establishment of career goals and a pathway to achieve civilian career success through ICT and Cyber Security training.
Program 4 Key Steps
Identification
The WPA team will work with you to identify your interests, strengths and establish the opportunities and organisations you want to work for and are aligned to. A dedicated Program Success manager will help you navigate your ADF transition up to 24 months from discharge.
Selection
Once a meaningful employment pathway for you has been identified, we guide you through the assessment and interview process and any specific security clearance requirements with the WPA partner. If successful, you will receive a Conditional Letter of Offer, outlining the requirements for you to successfully join the organisation.
Pathway
You commence your pathway towards meaningful employment. Any training, certification and security clearance requirements outlined in your job offer must be completed prior to joining the organisation.
Placement
Upon meeting your employment conditions, you commence transitioning from the Australia Defence Force or current employer and begin your exciting new career!
Program Advantages
Ensure a seamless transition from the ADF into meaningful employment and Canberra jobs
Utilise your security clearance and transition into aligned industries
Find meaningful corporate and government employment pathways
Enhance and adapt your existing skills to new enviroments
Identify the right training programs for your new career
Access our extensive professional network
Ongoing support throughout the program
Join veteran-friendly employers
Partner Focus - Red Hat
Vertical Scope Group are excited to have the world’s leading provider of enterprise open source solutions, Red Hat, join our award winning WorkPath Australia program as one of our premier ‘employment partners’.
“We appreciate the support Red Hat have shown us and our veteran community. This partnership has created multiple WorkPath employment pathways for veterans to receive fully paid for training and certifications, then successfully transition and join the amazing Red Hat.”
David Jam – Vertical Scope Group - CEO
“This strategic collaboration between WorkPath and Red Hat aims to provide veterans with dedicated ICT employment pathways, solving a common, security-cleared workforce challenge that many Australian companies face.
There is a strong alignment between Red Hat’s commitment to building a better foundation for the future of IT using the principles of open source, and WorkPath’s aim of preparing the people of today for the jobs of tomorrow.”
Max McLaren - Red Hat ANZ - Regional Vice President and General Manager
Training Partners
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![Pearson]()
Pearson
Pearson is the world’s learning company, with expertise in educational courseware and assessment, and a range of teaching and learning services powered by technology. Their mission is to help people all over Australia make progress through access to better learning. They believe that learning opens up opportunities, creating fulfilling careers and better lives.
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![Churchill Education]()
Churchill Education
VSG have partnered with Churchill Education to offer our WorkPath Australia participants access to nationally recognised qualifications. Since 2006 Churchill has been assisting transitioning veterans to convert their military experience into civilian qualifications through Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
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![International Institute of Business Analysis]()
International Institute of Business Analysis
The International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) is a leading global provider of ICT< cuber security and Business Analyst certifications. VSG have partnered with the IIBA to provide participants with access to the latest certifications and exams to be fit for purpose for employment opportunities.
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![ILX Group]()
ILX Group
ILX Group have assisted us with organising training and bespoke solutions for our employees and contractor personnel. ILX deliver ICT and cyber training to people in 97 countries across 5000 organisations world-wide and has offices in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, USA and the United Arab Emirates.
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![Pro Leaders Academy]()
Pro Leaders Academy
VSG have partnered with Pro Leaders Academy, who are an Australian Registered Training Organisation and a leader in government procurement, contract management project management, business management and leadership development with over 30 years of professional training and consultancy experience.
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![Transformed]()
Transformed
VSG has partnered with Transformed, Australia's leading Registered Training Organisation that specialises in delivering nationally recognised, world-class training and accreditations.
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![The Rogers Group]()
The Rogers Group
The Rogers Group and VSG's provider of personnel assessments, psychometric testing and selection services. They offer the broadest range of psychometric tests available, backed by a tailored consultation approach that is second to none.
Register your Interest or Refer a Veteran
$1,000 TS PV Veteran Referral
VSG are a network focused business who strive to attract the best available talent in the market. We want to actively encourage and reward our network for referring in demand, high calibre, and TSPV veteran candidates to us so if you know someone who needs our assistance finding jobs in Canberra, could fill one of our live jobs or is simply exceptional, please refer them to us and you may be eligible to receive our referral bonus.
if you refer them and they are successfully placed, you will receive a generous $1,000 EFTPOS Gift Card.
Program Reviews & Testimonials
Liam O'Brien
Royal Australian Navy - Communications Information Systems Sailor
WorkPath Australia Pariticipant - Deloitte Cyber Pathway
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"I first enlisted in Jun 2010 as a rifleman. After serving 4 years as a Rifleman, I transferred into an Information Systems Technician role in 2015. Which I served in this role for 7 years when I transitioned out of defence in 2022.
My goal was to remain in the IT industry and seek employment in either Canberra or Melbourne to be closer to family. I intended to study for and certify for with RHCSA and other Linux/Red hat products. I wanted to have a fulfilling career that provides stability for me and my family and to work in an area that is close to family support.
The WorkPath Australia program allowed me to find a job and transition out of defence rather seamlessly and reduced the stress in finding work during the discharge process. The program provided me a solution to all the goals I had in terms of work, location, and position.
My advice would be to give yourself as much time as possible. It's a very intensive process to transition from defence. Especially if study is required to achieve in getting the job you are applying for.
The WorkPath Australia program exceeded all my expectations, it provides opportunities and support to a whole range of careers for those with military experience."
Jason Crisp
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"Stability in my life was the biggest reason why I moved on from the military. Being able to plan for a structured future where we could have a family without the continuous moving or interruptions. Another motivation was to find a career that did set our financial stability into the opposite direction as leaving the military also involves leaving a plethora of benefits and services that keeps one from feeling secure and safe.
The program has changed my life in helping me gain an employment that not only allowed me to discharge with financial stability now and into the future but also gave me a better prospective in what to expect if I ever work with the same team again, which is having the full backing and devotion of a team that wants to see you succeed in your employment.
I would offer this program to any veteran that is considering leaving as the benefits are just too incredible to dismiss. Free courses, a viable contract, all with a support that is second to none. It is difficult for veterans to find something that gives them as much stability and security as what the military does, this program doesn't just set that up for the veteran it offers an opportunity to increase that stability and security into the future without going backwards first.
WorkPath Australia exceed my expectations in every way I could think of. From care and consideration for the individual, making sure that the best outcome whether that be a negotiated contract or just personal growth was conducted with the member in mind and because of this the program still shocks me even after participating to this day.The program is as good as it sounds - take the leap, you are not going to get a chance much better than what the program can offer you."
Stewart Skidmore