Veterans will be skill-matched to fulfilling careers in the NSW public sector as part of a specialist employment program launched by NSW Premier Mike Baird and Minister for Veterans Affairs David Elliott today. 

The NSW Government Veterans Employment Program will offer practical guidance to military personnel who want to change careers and help identify government roles closely matched skills associated with military rank. 

It also includes an education campaign to help employers better understand the unique skills and experience that veterans can offer an organisation. 

Former Army Major Garth Callender, who has served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, has been appointed by the Department of Premier and Cabinet to spearhead the program, with a target of transitioning 200 veterans into the public sector by 2019. 

“We are incredibly proud of this program which is the first of its kind in Australia and we hope it will lead to similar initiatives being rolled out across the country,” Mr Elliott said.

 “Stable, meaningful employment is an effective way to combat a host of welfare issues that can affect veterans and this program will help ensure that veterans have the opportunity to make an ongoing contribution to our community.”

 Mr Callender said former military personnel often struggle to have their skills understood by potential employees, resulting in unemployment and underemployment.

 “This program recognises that the community has already invested significantly in military personnel and their wealth of skills and experience can be of enormous value to employers,” Mr Callender said.