The Hon. Scott Morrison MP
Prime Minister
The Hon. Darren Chester MP
Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Wednesday 22 January 2020
PRIME MINISTER’S VETERANS’ EMPLOYMENT AWARDS FINALISTS
Australian businesses have proved they are getting the message — veterans are good for business. Following the largest number of nominations received for the annual Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards, the 24 finalists were today announced.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the finalists, spread across eight categories, demonstrated how veterans are excelling in the civilian workforce, and how businesses are supporting them and their families.
“The Veterans’ Employment Awards recognise and celebrate the achievements of veterans in the civilian workforce, as well as how organisations and individuals create employment opportunities for veterans and support their transition,” the Prime Minister said.
“I commend all those who submitted a nomination this year and congratulate all the finalists.”
Minister for Veterans and Defence Personnel Darren Chester said it was great to see so many individuals and organisations translating their passion for supporting veterans and their families into real action.
“Service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is overwhelmingly positive — it’s good for the individual, good for the community and is in the national interest, and it sets up our personnel with skills and experience that are highly valued in the civilian workforce,” Mr Chester said.
“These finalists represent a variety of organisations in a range of industries that have seen the incredible value in hiring veterans as part of their business and they should be congratulated on their support of veterans and their families.”
The Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Awards are part of a broad program of activity aimed at raising awareness with employers, both in the private and public sector, of the enormous value and unique skills our veterans can bring to their organisation.
There were a record 129 nominations for the 2020 Awards, the highest in the Awards’ three year history. Finalists for 2020 Awards are selected from across the country; from large, medium and small businesses in a range of industries and professions.
Each category is assessed by a three-member judging panel. Judges are independent and impartial and include senior representatives from Australian business, former Australian Defence Force Members and senior representatives from the Australian Public Service.
The Awards ceremony will be held in March 2020 in the Great Hall of Parliament House, Canberra.
Further information on the awards and finalists can be found on the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Program website www.veteransemployment.gov.au.
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Finalists (listed in alphabetical order)
Veterans’ Employer of the Year – Large
- Cubic Defence Australia
- Rheinmetall Defence Australia Pty Ltd
- Tasman Rope Access
Veterans’ Employer of the Year – Medium
- Aero PM
- EPE
- Gateway Motor Services
Veterans’ Employer of the Year – Small
- ECLIPS Pty Ltd
- Emergency Australia
- Hensoldt Australia
Veteran Employee of the Year
- Ms Lisa Conway – Healius
- Mr Davor Strbac – Suncorp Group
- Mr Keith Winsor – Westpack Group
Veteran Entrepreneur of the Year
- Mr Jeremy Holder – TacMed Australia
- Mr Tom Moore – WithYouWithMe
- Mr Glen Powys – Tech 2
Excellence in Supporting Spouse Employment
- Defence Bank
- RSL Queensland
- Wounded Heroes Association Inc.
Public Sector Excellence in Supporting Veteran Employment
- The ACT Public Service
- Australian Taxation Office – Open Doors Program
- Victorian Government – Veteran Employment Program
Excellence in Supporting Veteran Employment
- East Coast Apprenticeships
- Ironside Recruitment
- WithYouWithMe
Media Contacts:
Prime Minister’s office: Press Office, (02) 6277 7744
Minister Chester’s office: Rachel Tharratt: (02) 6277 7820
DVA Media: (02) 6289 6466
The Hon. Scott Morrison MP, Sydney
