Australian Defence Force veterans and their families will have more support services and better access to further education.
UNSW Canberra has launched a new Veterans’ and Families’ Strategy that reimagines the role higher education can play throughout military service, transition and beyond, connecting education, employment, research, industry and community to unlock potential.
Through stronger partnerships across government, industry, higher education and the veteran community, UNSW aims to create better long-term outcomes for veterans and their families.
Building on almost 60 years of partnership with the Australian Defence Force (ADF), UNSW Canberra is uniquely placed to deliver that vision. The university has educated military leaders, advanced research and worked alongside Defence, giving it a deep understanding of military service and the contribution veterans and their families continue to make to Australia.
Pathways into higher education and future careers are not always aligned with the realities of military service. Whether it is balancing study with service commitments or translating military experience into recognised qualifications and careers, there is an opportunity to better support current and former serving members.
Creating new pathways
Australian Army veteran, UNSW alumnus and Veteran Education Ambassador Matthew Hand said military service provided a highly structured career, making it difficult to see the breadth of opportunities available beyond Defence.
“It is often not until we begin preparing to leave that we seriously consider life beyond it, and when we do, the most obvious option can be the closest civilian equivalent of our military role or the fastest and easiest way out,” he said.
“There is nothing wrong with that path, but it may not always be the path that allows us to realise our full potential.”
The strategy also recognises that military service affects more than the individual who serves. Veteran families develop resilience, adaptability and capability through the unique demands of service life and are an important part of Australia’s workforce and communities, but are often left without the chance to realise this potential.
Launching the program, UNSW Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Research & Enterprise, Professor Bronwyn Fox said, in the past, the services intended to support veterans had been fragmented, difficult to navigate, insufficiently promoted, or offered at the wrong stage of their journey.
“Veterans are people to whom Australia owes a debt, but they are also people who can make an amazing contribution to building Australia’s future,” Prof. Fox said.
“Military service develops leadership, judgement, discipline, resilience, technical expertise, calmness under pressure and the capacity to be a vital part of a team. These skills are national assets, and Australia is currently leaving too much talent on the table.”
Prof. Fox said it was also important to recognise that the unique demands of military life extended to families.
“Navigating posting cycles, disruption, uncertainty, and repeated adjustment requires unique skills … the network of veterans and families in Australia offers a depth of talent that should be celebrated and nurtured to its full potential,” she said.
The strategy was shaped through consultation with more than 100 people across government, industry, higher education and the veteran community.
“One message came through consistently: support must address the whole journey and the whole family.”
Central to the strategy is the UNSW Veterans Pathway program, which provides a coordinated, veteran-informed gateway into higher education.
“It will offer tailored advice, admission pathways, recognition of military training and experience, recognition of prior learning, scholarships, flexible study options and continuing academic support,” Prof. Fox said.
Speaking at the launch, UNSW Canberra Rector and Dean, Professor Emma Sparks, said: “We need to be trusted partners of Defence and our servicemen and service women throughout their military careers, supporting their transitions into civilian life; and working across a broader ecosystem to support lifelong opportunity and contribution to Australia.”
Veterans are people to whom Australia owes a debt, but they are also people who can make an amazing contribution to building Australia’s future.
