Establishing a veteran employee group

A veteran employee group provides a space within the workplace for employees to build a like-minded community. As well as veterans, your veteran employee group may include employees who are reservists, family members of veterans or supporters of the veteran community.

A veteran employee group can serve as a key advisory body, offering expertise and insights to help you design and refine your veteran employment initiatives. Having support from leadership within your organisation is essential to ensure the group is well-resources and sustainable.

The benefits of developing a veteran employee group include:

• encouraging collaboration and peer support amongst veteran and non-veteran employees
• strengthening a sense of workplace belonging
• enhancing the organisation’s understanding of veterans’ needs and perspectives 
• providing a professional platform to consult veteran employees for advice and feedback
• facilitating a structure for the development of veteran initiatives in the workplace
• providing opportunities for employees to take on leadership roles within the group.

Forming a veteran employee group

There are various considerations that organisations may need to take into account when establishing a veteran employee group. 

Following the steps below can help support your organisation through the process.

Roles and responsibilities

An organisations veteran employee group may act in a variety of roles and hold various responsibilities within a workplace. Below lists some of the areas in which these may fall, and your organisation could benefit from.

Consultation 

Your veteran employee group may become your first point of contact to consult on veteran-related matters in the workplace. By consulting with the group, you can better understand the needs, perspectives, and experiences of your veteran employees. You can use this feedback to improve your veteran-related workplace initiatives or develop something new.

Organisation

Your veteran employee group may organise veteran-specific workplace initiatives. These initiatives may include, for example, commemoration services, veteran social events, or a veteran employee mentoring program.

Expertise 

Your veteran employees have unique expertise based on their ADF careers, lived experiences, and ongoing connection to the veteran space. You may wish to draw on this expertise for:

• interpreting and translating the CVs and experience of veteran job applicants
• participating in job interview panels for veteran candidates
• contributing to veteran-friendly workplace policies
• advising on veteran-friendly workplace adjustments.

Advocacy   

Your veteran group can act as a collective voice for veterans within your organisation. The group may wish to engage in advocacy efforts to improve the workplace experience for veteran employees. This could involve:

• providing feedback to senior leadership on veteran-related workplace policies and practices
• making suggestions to senior leadership to improve the experience of veteran employees.

Community engagement 

Your veteran employee group is well-positioned to identify and strengthen relationships with community partners. The group may act as a liaison between the organisation and the broader veteran community. For example, the group may organise community-focused activities.