The program has been divided into two separate initiatives:

• the Female Veteran Mentoring Program — open to SA residents only; and
• the Former Non-Commissioned Officers (NCO) Mentoring Program — open to NCOs who have served within the past three to eight years.

“Those with military experience add an unparalleled level of diversity and experience to any workplace or organisation and this mentoring program is specifically designed to further build the capacity of those who have served to continue to lead active and full lives in our community post their military transition,” Premier Marshall said.

“The program will connect veterans to local leaders from a range of different sectors to share industry knowledge and support mentees ongoing professional and personal development.”

The programs are expected to initially target female veterans who have transitioned from the ADF and veterans who have transitioned out of the military over the last three to eight years as non-commissioned officers.

Veterans SA has been tasked with facilitating the programs, which are scheduled to run for six months.

“We talk about the veteran community existing within the wider South Australian community and we hope this mentor program can show those who have recently transitioned out of the military that the community is here to support them,” Veterans SA director Catherine Walsh said.

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“We know over the last five years over 70 per cent of those who have transitioned in South Australia have been non-commissioned officers.

“Nothing like this program has been done before in South Australia and I am very eager to see how a program like this can have a positive impact on those with military service.”

Nominations for the programs opened on 12 April and are set to close on 17 May (female veterans) and 31 May (NCOs).

[Related: New PTSD and substance abuse program for veterans to commence]