Krystal on the front foot to new career

Deep into her Bachelor of Midwifery degree, Krystal Brown has one tip for those who follow her into the Veteran Entry Program (VEP) pathway at Australian Catholic University.

“Don’t get bored, set new goals,” the Army Reserve sergeant said. “If you commence studying and it’s not filling your bucket, be pro-active. Join a club or society, meet new people and immerse yourself in what ACU has to offer.”

ACU acknowledges the challenges involved in moving from the Australian Defence Force into tertiary education. Transitioning out of the military can be difficult for many veterans, with high rates of unemployment and mental health issues.  

Undertaking higher education is an internationally recognised pathway from the military to civilian life and ACU has recently opened a Leadership Centre in Townsville to support that transition. There are already student veterans studying on several of the university’s seven Australian campuses, including in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.

Krystal embodies the many benefits of pursuing education as a launchpad out of the ADF.

She has given more than two decades service either as a reservist or in the Australian Regular Army, including a seven-month deployment in Afghanistan.

While wanting to stay connected through the Army Reserve, Krystal chose to reinvigorate her career and fancied doing that via supporting women through pregnancy and childbirth.

“I wanted to reinvent myself,” she said. “I noticed a gap within the maternal health industry and thought maybe I could do that.”

Now in her second year of study, that career change has been supercharged thanks to the VEP that enables current and former members of the ADF to be granted a selection rank for entry to university based on their military training achievements.

ACU’s Recognition of Prior Learning, a credit mapping framework that recognises military rank and training completed, is another initiative that could expedite Krystal’s transition to a new career.

ACU will assess a student veteran’s record of service to determine if they are eligible for specified or unspecified credit as Recognition of Prior Learning. More than 40 ACU degrees are eligible for RPL through this scheme.  

In recognition of their service to country and community, ACU will grant transitioning ADF members’ credit for the Core Curriculum unit Justice and Change in a Global World. This credit is available for most undergraduate degrees.

That acknowledgement can slash months off the time it takes to complete a course full time, or it can allow student veterans the flexibility to better balance their study, family and work commitments.

“RPL was an added bonus,” the mother-of-three said. “The subjects I received credit for have given me the opportunity to rejig my course map and let me focus on the subjects that are more specific to my discipline.”

Krystal works part-time as an assistant at ACU’s Student Veteran Services, which encompasses the VEP, Veteran Transition Program and Student Veteran Support Program.

“I have been fortunate to have been offered employment in a role where I can connect with other veterans,” she said.  “It’s great to be part of this ACU family.

“For many defence members, being a university student was never on the radar. Making the most of the uni experience can provide a whole new perspective on life.”

All veteran programs can be accessed by the north Queensland Defence community at the recently opened Leadership Centre in Walker St, Townsville.

The centre is a hub for veterans, Defence personnel and their families to connect and receive advice about higher education options and pathways to new careers, short courses, and in-person support for students studying online.   

It will also provide information about how the Townsville Leadership Centre can connect the Defence community to ACU’s SVSP that offers support services and academic resources, including the VTP to help veterans ease into university life. 

“What’s good and unique about the leadership centre is that it provides a space for veterans to work together and support each other,” Chair of The Oasis Townsville Lieutenant General (retired) John Caligari said. 

“Servicemen and women seldom do anything on their own. They fear not being able to complete their studies or having no one to turn to. 

“It doesn’t matter what course they’re doing, they’ll have mates or a mentor at the leadership centre to help guide them through.” 

The Leadership Centre will be known for its education and support for Defence personnel and student veterans in north Queensland. The services provided will be an extension of the current SVSP.