Page 3785 - Week 11 - Tuesday, 24 September 2019

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We are currently establishing a veterans mentoring program for launch later this year. The program will be open to veterans and their spouses who are employed in the ACT public service.

MS CODY: Minister, can you update the Assembly on the results of the recent Veteran Connect event?

MR RAMSAY: I thank Ms Cody for the question. The ACT government, in partnership with the University of New South Wales Canberra, hosted a new initiative to match veterans with the ACT defence industry. We want to ensure that we are attracting and retaining the skills of our ACT veterans in Canberra. The event provided a unique and innovative program for our highly skilled veterans to connect with leading defence, cyber, space and related industry employers, including ACT academic institutions. The skills, training and experience that our current and former serving ADF members can bring to this or any industry are highly desirable.

The event, delivered on 8 May, hosted 58 veterans, 10 veteran mentors and 18 ACT defence industry organisations. Defence industry recruitment specialist Ironside Recruitment worked to match the veterans’ skills and capabilities with actual job vacancies on offer. Over 30 live jobs were available with 54 structured 10-minute interviews taking place at the event. Veteran mentors provided support with pitch coaching, translations and help in selling the unique skills and experience of our ADF members ahead of the interview rounds.

One hundred per cent of veterans in attendance said that they would attend that style of event again, that the event gave them access to tangible job opportunities in Canberra’s defence industry, and that they had an increased awareness of potential employers in the industry. Over 10 follow-up interviews have taken place since the event resulting so far in three job offers secured by attendees.

We will continue to see how we can provide these events into the future. Importantly, they are good for people seeking to transition out of the defence force and they are good for the Canberra economy as we attract and retain some of the most capable workers on offer.

Mr Barr: Madam Speaker, further questions can be placed on the notice paper.

Supplementary answer to question without notice

Sport—controlled sports

MS BERRY: I want to correct the record regarding a question that Miss Burch asked me last question time regarding the outsourcing of controlled sports functions to Victoria. At the time of preparing the budget papers, this was considered to be the most viable option to ensure efficient operations. However, after further discussions with Victoria, it was decided by the ACT government to approach and train Access Canberra inspectors to deliver that function locally, with support and training from both New South Wales and Victoria. Access Canberra staff have already attended a number of events as observers to learn the scope of their duties, and will formally


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