House of Assembly Fifty-Fourth Parliament, First Session (54-1) 54 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Answers to Questions Veterans Employment Program Veterans Employment Program The Hon. A. PICCOLO House of Assembly Light Veterans Employment Program 1384 The Hon. A. PICCOLO (Light) (24 September 2019). With regard to the transition from military service to civilian employment, what programs beyond the Defence Industry Employment Program for ex-service personnel has the state government established or is the state government engaged in developing? The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL House of Assembly Dunstan Premier Veterans Employment Program The Hon. S.S. MARSHALL (Dunstan—Premier): I have been advised: The South Australian Veterans' Advisory Council (VAC) recommended transition as a national priority at the 2017 Veterans Ministers' Round Table. This issue has now become an overarching theme of Veterans Ministerial Council meetings convened by the Australian Government and attended by state and territory Ministers for Veterans' Affairs. The South Australian public sector has a veteran specific page on its 'I work for SA' website that promotes opportunities and advice for veterans seeking employment within South Australia's public sector, developed by Veterans SA and the Office of the Public Sector at https://iworkfor.sa.gov.au/iworkforsa/paths.php?path=veterans The Veterans SA website highlights transition tips for veterans on its website at https://veteranssa.sa.gov.au/helpful-resources/transition-tips/ The government has made an election commitment to gather data relating to our servicemen and women who reside in South Australia. In June 2018, I wrote to the Australian Statistician seeking the inclusion of a question in the 2021 census relating to military service. I am pleased to say that that question is currently under detailed consideration for inclusion in the next census. This will provide all levels of government with a clearer understanding of the number of veterans in our population and where they are. This will enable governments to develop programs tailored to veterans in specific areas where appropriate. Veterans SA has proposed a South Australian veteran community specific area at Australian Defence Force (ADF) transition seminars held in Adelaide. This will be piloted at the upcoming ADF transition seminar to be held on 31 October 2019 in Adelaide and has the potential to be adopted at all future transition seminars nationally. The Partnerships Hub at the Jamie Larcombe Centre provides support and advice to transitioning veterans and their families hosting organisations such as OnMe Careers (a veteran specific employment organisation) and StoryRight (to assist veterans to prepare for interviews and to develop their CVs). This year a Veterans Information Day, that includes the Premier's Veterans Town Hall meeting, has been initiated by Veterans SA and will be held at the Torrens Training Depot on 1 November 2019. The day will include a veterans employment in defence industry forum including a briefing from Prince's Trust Australia on entrepreneurial opportunities for veterans, an update from the Centenary of Anzac Centre of Excellence on research into veterans mental health issues, a briefing from the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, a feedback session on the Partnerships Hub at the Jamie Larcombe Centre. Mr Rob Manton, Director, Veterans SA has engaged with the Department of Veterans' Affairs regarding the federal government election commitment of $16.2 million over four years for the development of veteran employment programs by state branches of the Returned and Services League, Soldier On and Team Rubicon. These discussions are ongoing to ensure South Australia receives its appropriate share of available funding for employment programs for veterans living in South Australia.