Mr Hartsuyker said the Veterans’ Employment Awards would recognise businesses and organisations that created employment opportunities for veterans and spouses of serving Defence members. It would also recognise veterans who had made significant contributions to their workplace.

The Veterans’ Employment Awards have been established as part of the Prime Minister’s Veterans’ Employment Initiative, which aims to improve the post-service employability of veterans.

“Men and women who are prepared to lay their lives down for their nation clearly excel in high-pressure environments and have acquired skills such as problem-solving, teamwork, leadership and the ability to adapt to new technologies,” Mr Hartsuyker said.

“Those talents are in demand in the modern economy and are skills highly valued by businesses in our region,” he said.

“I’m encouraging local businesses and local veterans to look at the award categories and nominate so their achievements can be recognised.”

The Veterans’ Employment Awards were developed by the Industry Advisory Committee (IAC) on Veterans’ Employment.

Nominations for the Veterans’ Employment Awards are open until 22 December 2017 and can be submitted at www.veteransemployment.gov.au. 

The categories for the awards include:

•           Leadership in Recruitment of Veterans

•           Veteran Employee of the Year – Workplace Contribution

•           Veterans’ Employer of the Year – Large Business

•           Veteran’ Employer of the Year – Small to Medium-Sized Business

•           Veterans’ Employer of the Year – Public Sector Organisation

•           Excellence in Supporting Veterans’ Employment

•           Outstanding Contribution by an Individual to Veterans’ Employment

•           Excellence in Supporting Spouse Employment

•           Outstanding Contribution by an Organisation to Veterans’ Employment