Military and Emergency Services Health Australia (MESHA) is proud to be partnering with BAE Systems Australia on a new mentoring program for veterans.
BAE Systems’ VetNet program will be repurposed for its Australian workforce after successfully launching in the United Kingdom in 2020.
VetNet Australia is an evolution of the work BAE Systems has implemented globally to ensure it is an employer of choice for veterans.
The program provides a network of supports for veteran employees and aims to create a smooth transition into civilian life after a career in the Armed Forces, as well as opportunities and pathways for growth and leadership.
It supports employing and retaining veterans and building a positive workplace culture post-service.
MESHA’s involvement with VetNet includes the development of a bespoke Veteran Mentoring Program, combining three of its flagship programs to ensure career transition is well navigated.
The program merges MESHA’s transition programs StoryRight and MindRight with a military culture training program designed specifically for HR, line managers and veteran employees.
MESHA Associate Director Karen May said: “It is great to see a company like BAE Systems, who are already an award-winning veteran employer, strive for further development and best practice in their approach to supporting veteran employees to not just be onboarded, but to thrive in their careers.”
StoryRight is a one-day, peer-to-peer support workshop that provides veterans with the tools to transfer military lingo, skills and experiences into a language that employers can understand.
The program was founded in 2017 by Dr Sharon Mascall-Dare, OAM, a former journalist and veteran who served on deployment in Iraq.
MindRight, developed by Tom Moore in 2019, is a one-day program paired with StoryRight which helps veterans understand their individual identities, values and sense of purpose after service, as well as the differences between military and civilian life.
As part of BAE Systems Australia’s Veterans Employment Best Practice guide, launched in 2022, the company has taken several steps to make the switch for veterans into the workforce as easy as possible.
This includes establishing a mentor program, educating line managers, supporting veterans’ skills translation, and addressing culture and adjustment issues post-transition.
BAE Systems Australia VetNet Steering Committee Chair, Jeremy Satchell, said: “Our ambition with VetNet is to ensure our business is a familiar, safe and enjoyable place where employees can fulfil their career ambitions after completing service to the nation.”
Alongside MESHA, the new partnership also includes South Australian-based defence organisations Defence Bank, Aimpoint RPL and APOD.
