What Veterans Bring to the Workplace
DVA has published the story of Ash Durham’s rehabilitation success and return to work. In a first for the Success Stories project, DVA has also published the story of Ash’s employer at the Wodonga Sport and Leisure Centre, Ms Nicole Roberts. Nicole discusses the value brought to the workplace by a veteran like Ash.
Ash suffered a lower limb injury early on in his career with the Australian Defence Force (ADF). After the extent of his injury became clear, he was eventually medically discharged. Later in Ash’s rehabilitation he was able to begin employment in the fitness industry and, with the understanding and assistance of his employer, he was able to complete his training as Personal Trainer. The full stories of both Ash and his employer, Nicole, are available now.
The DVA Success Stories project aims to encourage DVA clients and providers by publicising positive cases of real people who have gone through the process of being discharged from the ADF and then rehabilitated into the civilian workforce.
By having veterans like Ash participating and sharing their experiences, it is hoped that this will help encourage others who to undertake a rehabilitation program. Nicole’s story further demonstrates the variety of benefits that skilled veterans like Ash bring to the workplace. If you have a client, or know of an employer, who you believe would like to be involved in the DVA Success Stories project please notify us at
Please read some of the other inspirational stories we have collected so far - http://www.dva.gov.au/health-and-wellbeing/rehabilitation/rehabilitation-success-stories
High Res: Learn to Test, Adjust and Optimise
The new High Res mobile application (app) is designed to assist serving and ex-serving Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel and their families to manage the daily stresses of military life, deployment, transition to civilian life and life post-service.
The High Res app has been developed in collaboration with the Department of Defence and is based on Defence’s BattleSMART selfmanagement and resilience training program. High Res joins Operation Life, PTSD Coach Australia and On Track with The Right Mix in DVA’s list of support apps for current and former members of the ADF.
The app is available for free from the App Store or Google Play.
High Res also has a companion website providing the full functionality of the app plus the added ability to create a personal ‘dashboard’ where users can develop a resilience plan, set goals and track their progress.
This app and website is not designed to replace professional help. There are a range of professional help options such as the Veterans and Veterans’ Families Counselling Service (VVCS) on 1800 011 046.
CLIK Update
The CLIK Rehabilitation Library is the resource and guide for rehabilitation policy, process and practice in DVA. It is an excellent resource available to delegate, provider and client alike. There have been some recent updates to the Rehabilitation Library under the following topics:
* To directly access each amended page, right-click on the relevant box and select open hyperlink.
The Rehabilitation Library can be accessed at: http://clik.dva.gov.au/rehabilitation-policy-library
Psychosocial Workshop
After two very productive consultation meetings in late November 2015, the Rehabilitation Review Project team are working with other areas of DVA to look at outcomes, recommendations and potential deliverables to improve the provision of whole-of-person rehabilitation to DVA clients.
Work has already begun on some of the specific areas identified including more effective information sharing, expansion of our policy for providing psychosocial support with policy updates through CLIK to include case studies to assist both providers and DVA staff and clarity of work practices. More detail will be provided in the next newsletter. There will be consultation with both DVA rehabilitation personnel and a representational group of providers as we progress and finalise the changes. Other, more complex changes to the DVA business model will require further time to consider the best way forward.
The procedures for providers to meet the additional criteria to work with DVA and our veterans have been sent to those organisations who worked with DVA in the 2014-15 financial year. The initial consideration of submissions from providers is planned for completion by the end of March 2016. More details will be sent to providers in the near future via email.
Quick Links
Should your client, and even their family, require further assistance for mental health support and counselling, they may be eligible to access Veterans and Veterans’ Families Counselling Service (VVCS).
Please refer to the VVCS webpage for more information on services and eligibility: http://www.vvcs.gov.au/
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