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The defence industry has gathered to recognise supportive civilian employers during the ACT and South-East NSW Employer Support Awards earlier this month.
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The awards acknowledged the contribution of employers, through nominations by their reservist employees, at the event held at the National Arboretum in Canberra on 6 July. Winners from the regional awards are then considered for the national awards in Sydney in November.
Category winners for the ACT and South-East NSW include Red Group Assurance (small private), AeroPM (medium private), Thales Australia Limited (large private), ANU Sport and Recreation Association Incorporated (not-for-profit), and Department of Finance (public sector).
Honourable mentions include Proviant, Viden Consulting Group, Aurecon Australasia, Downer EDI Engineering Power, Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions NSW and Department of Defence – International Policy Division, Strategy, Policy and Industry Group.
AeroPM interim chief executive officer, head of capture and delivery, Peter Nugent, who won the medium private category, said the employment of reservists has worked in the organisation.
“We are honoured to accept this award. It is in recognition of systems we have put in place to support ADF reservists, where we recognise the value that they bring to our workforce,” he said.
“Eighty per cent of our organisation are veterans and so being able to enlist the best people out of Defence to come and work for us and then release them back to maintain their qualifications, skills, and experience and reinvest them back into the Defence enterprise is really important to us.”
Squadron Leader Nathan Hook was the reservist who nominated AeroPM for its outstanding support of his reservist career.
“It means everything to have a supportive employer,” SQNLDR Hook said.
“The fact that you do not need to worry when you approach your employer when you have an opportunity to render service, and that they are supportive of your ambitions and desires to contribute to Defence capability, is invaluable.”
Acting head Joint Support Services Division Air Commodore Grant Pinder, who hosted the event with senior ADF officials, said there has been an outstanding demonstration of the support employers provide to their staff who undertake ADF service.
“This evening was a showcase of the employers in our region who are exemplary in their support for reservists,” AIRCDRE Pinder said.
“In the last few years, our reserve force has stepped up to respond to some incredibly difficult challenges, and as a nation, we have relied on our civilian organisations for support and flexibility.
“I commend all the nominated organisations and congratulate the award-winning organisations. You have all provided significant support of our ADF reservists and their communities in the ACT and south-east NSW and are key to enabling Defence capability.”
