Working Spirit

03/06/2026

Seven people from the service community secured employment in May through Working Spirit’s Transition Employment Portal.

Whether you are a veteran, partner/spouse or children of a ADF member or first responder, every employment outcome starts with a first step, putting yourself forward and exploring what opportunities are available.

If you are considering a career change, returning to work, or simply wanting to see what’s out there, the TEP is free to join and connects you with employers who value the skills, experience and resilience that come from service.

For employers, the TEP also provides access to a talented pool of candidates from the service community.

Take the next step today:

www.workingspirit.org.au

29/05/2026

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS 🎟️
Join us at the Ipswich Cup 2026 and help make a real difference! We’re looking for legends to assist with selling 50-50 Charity Raffle tickets at Ipswich Turf Club - with every ticket supporting veterans and their families.

📍 Ipswich Turf Club
📅 Saturday, 20 June 2026
⏰ From 10AM
🎉 Free entry!
If you’ve got a few hours to spare and want to give back, we’d love to have you on the team.
Click here to apply - https://www.woundedheroes.org.au/volunteer-with-us

Together, we can support those who’ve served ❤️

Coffee Commune Greater Springfield Chamber Of Commerce Ipswich Region Chamber of Commerce Ipswich City Council Mayor Teresa Harding Councillor Pye Augustine - Ipswich City Council Councillor Marnie Doyle: Ipswich Shayne Neumann MP Milton Dick MP

29/05/2026

As IODS 2026 wrapped up yesterday, the Working Spirit team would like to sincerely thank everyone who took the time to visit our stand and connect with us throughout the event.

Over the past few days, IODS provided a valuable opportunity to engage with businesses, industry leaders, veterans, family members and emergency responders, with many productive conversations centred around workforce capability, practical hiring pathways, workplace integration and the role organisations can play in supporting veterans once they enter the workforce.

There was strong interest from organisations wanting to better understand the value the service community brings to the workforce, particularly around leadership, reliability, adaptability, transferable skills, security clearances and workforce readiness.

It was also encouraging to speak directly with members of the service community about employment opportunities, career pathways and how Working Spirit and the Transition Employment Portal (TEP) can support them.

While IODS created many valuable conversations on the exhibition floor, the broader Working Spirit team also continued supporting candidates and engaging with businesses and organisations through the TEP throughout the week.

The event also provided an excellent opportunity to build new relationships and explore future partnership opportunities across industry and the defence sector.

IODS brought together representatives from across government, with Minister Paul Papalia in attendance, alongside defence industry and the broader business community, creating valuable opportunities for conversations around workforce, capability and future industry needs.

We are incredibly grateful to AMDA Foundation Limited, the Indian Ocean Defence & Security (IODS) Conference and Exhibition team and Defence West for the opportunity to be part of the event.

It was also great to catch up with some of our valued supporters who were exhibiting at IODS, and to have Working Spirit Board members stop by throughout the event.

Thank you as well to our supporters, partners and everyone who stopped by to connect with the team across the week. It was wonderful to see Working Spirit acknowledged during presentations and discussions throughout the event.

The conversations started at IODS will continue well beyond the exhibition floor, and we look forward to building on the connections and opportunities created over the week.

Paul Papalia CSC MLA
Castledex
Business Events Perth

28/05/2026

Another productive day yesterday at Indian Ocean Defence & Security (IODS) Conference and Exhibition for the Working Spirit team.

It has been encouraging to see continued interest from organisations wanting to better understand the value veterans, family members and emergency responders bring to the workforce, particularly around reliability, transferable skills, leadership, security clearances and workforce readiness.

There have also been valuable discussions around practical hiring pathways, workforce capability and how Working Spirit can continue supporting organisations looking to connect with highly capable people from the service community.

We have also appreciated the opportunity to speak directly with veterans and emergency services personnel about employment support, career pathways and opportunities through the Transition Employment Portal (TEP).

It was also great catching up with some of our supporters, including Ryan Gray from Kinetic IT, who stopped by to say hello.

Looking forward to Day 3, the final day of IODS and continuing the conversations.

27/05/2026

What an incredible first day at IODS yesterday for the Working Spirit team.

There was overwhelming interest in Working Spirit, the Transition Employment Portal (TEP), and the work being done to support veterans, families and emergency responders into meaningful employment.

It was fantastic connecting with industry, Defence, training organisations and members of the wider service community, with many valuable conversations around workforce pathways, veteran employment and transition support.

Thank you to Castledex for the very comfortable lounge, which quickly became a talking point throughout the day, with many visitors dropping by the stand and commenting on the welcoming setup.

It was also wonderful to catch up with the team from SouthMetropolitan TAFE. We greatly value our ongoing relationship and the support they provide to veterans through training, resume assistance and pathway opportunities.

We are now looking forward to Day 2, Veteran Workforce Transition Day, and seeing what it brings.

If you are attending IODS, come and say hello to the Working Spirit team at Booth 3C83.

21/05/2026

Register now for Veteran Workforce Transition Day at IODS 2026.
https://iods.com.au/program/careers-program/veteran-workforce-transition/

Taking place on Wednesday 27 May at the Perth Convention & Exhibition Centre, the event provides veterans, Defence families and emergency responders with an opportunity to connect with employers, industry representatives and organisations supporting employment pathways across a range of sectors.

Working Spirit will be attending throughout the full IODS exhibition from 26–28 May and would love to meet you. Come and visit the team at Stand 3C83 to learn more about the Transition Employment Portal (TEP), employment initiatives and upcoming events.

We look forward to seeing you there.

13/05/2026

We are proud to be exhibiting at the Indian Ocean Defence & Security (IODS) Conference and Exhibition from 26 - 28 May 2026.

Come and visit the Working Spirit team at Booth 3C83 to learn more about how we connect businesses with skilled veterans, defence families and emergency services personnel through the Transition Employment Portal (TEP).

Whether you are:
- a business looking to strengthen your workforce
- a veteran exploring new opportunities
- a family member seeking career pathways
- or an organisation wanting to support the service community
we would love to meet you.

Did you know?
IODS 2026 will feature a dedicated Veteran Workforce Transition Day, focused on supporting transitioning and former ADF members through industry engagement, networking and career opportunities.

Find out more here:
https://iods.com.au/program/careers-program/veteran-workforce-transition/

08/05/2026

Organisations that recognise the value of service help create real opportunities.

We are proud to welcome Ertech as a new Gold Supporter and Precise Air as a new Supporter of Working Spirit in April.

Their support helps create meaningful employment pathways for veterans, their families, and Emergency Services personnel transitioning into civilian careers.

Organisations like Ertech and Precise Air understand the value service brings to the workplace, leadership, resilience, adaptability, and a strong work ethic.

We are grateful to have both organisations supporting this mission and helping open doors for those who have served our country and communities.

07/05/2026

April saw 6 people from the service community move into new employment opportunities.

Every month, more veterans, family members and emergency services personnel are putting themselves forward, exploring new pathways and connecting with employers through the Transition Employment Portal (TEP).

If you have been thinking about your next move, this is your reminder to get started. The first step can be as simple as registering your profile and seeing what opportunities are out there.

Businesses can also use the TEP to connect with experienced candidates from the service community.

Learn more:
www.workingspirit.org.au

06/05/2026

**********COMMUNITY NEWS***********

Mental Health First Aid International currently has a program funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs to deliver Mental Health Literacy and Su***de Prevention Training Courses to the veteran community. The program is called Mental Health Protect.

Mental Health First Aid will be delivering a free Mental Health First Aid course on 19 June 2026 in Perth, WA, so that staff, clients and veteran community can take up the opportunity to attend.

Course details:
Course method: Blended face-to-face course, 1/2 day
This course has an eLearning component, completed before the in-person Instructor-led session.

When: 19 June 2026
Where: Perth CBD, WA, location provided closer to the course date
Cost: Free, funded by the Department of Veterans’ Affairs
Registration link: https://www.mhfa.com.au/mental-health-protect/mhfa-blended-face-to-face

If any of your staff, clients or veteran community would like to attend, Mental Health First Aid would love to have them participate in the course.

For any questions, please contact Mental Health First Aid directly.
www.mhfa.com.au

Anyone can have a conversation that may save a life. Everyone should know how. Our vision is a community where everyone has the skills to support people with mental health problems.