The Department of Veteran Affairs has announced a new engagement framework to usher in an era of support for Australian Defence Force (ADF) Reservists and their civilian workplaces.
The Department said effective relationships with the employers of Reservists were critical to support recruitment, retention and active participation.
Head of the Joint Support Services Division at the Department of Defence, Rear Admiral Brett Wolski said the new engagement framework highlighted the importance of positive relationships with ADF Reservists employers.
“Defence’s new Strategic Relationship Model uses a tiered approach to relationships with employers at the national, state and local level,” Admiral Wolski said.
“Our Reserve and Employer Support staff across Australia will manage relationships with employers and reservists at the local level, developing and maintaining relationships through inviting employer participation in various engagement activities,” he said.
“A comprehensive employer engagement program provides employers with an opportunity to see and experience first-hand what Reservists do.”
Admiral Wolski said that at the national and state level, Reserve and Employer Support teams would work with organisations which employed Reservists with skillsets that supported areas of current or emerging capability need.
He said support activities included annual state and national Employer Support Awards to acknowledge Reservists’ employers, as well as policy and advice for both Reservists and employers about the Reserve Service Protection Act 2001, which protects employees rendering ADF service.
“This new model will help the ADF better target employer engagement by focusing on areas of current and emerging strategic capability need, and developing mutually beneficial relationships,” Admiral Wolski said.
