History

AVEC was founded in November 2017 to support the Prime Minister’s Veteran’s Employment Program.

Founded by six leading Australian organisations, AVEC recognised their collective strength in offering a wide variety of opportunities, across numerous skill levels in almost all sectors and industries.

For more information visit the AVEC website. 

Our involvement

Downer has been there from the start and is proud to be a Founding Member of AVEC.

As a Steering Committee member, we actively drive the ongoing development of AVEC to drive awareness for sustainable engagement and improved employment outcomes for veterans.

This is personal for us

Downer has hundreds of veterans working across different disciplines in other parts of our business including facilities management, major projects, rail, mining, asset services and Zero Harm.

Our very own Andrew Baker, Senior Manager, Downer Defence Systems, is personally committed to our veteran engagement initiatives and has shared his own story of why he’s so passionate.

 

Are you a veteran interested in working with Downer?

AVEC connects transitioning service members, job-seeking veterans and their partners with Australia’s largest community of employers.

If you are interested in working with Downer, we encourage you to visit the AVEC jobs portal and find the Downer profile.  You’ll also find all the other AVEC member organisations listed - offering a wide variety of opportunities, across numerous skill levels in almost all sectors and industries.

AVEC’s Jobs Portal uses your profile information to accurately and appropriately match military skillsets with corporate role requirements – helping you find more meaningful employment.

Is your organisation veteran-ready?

AVEC encourages any organisation seeking to elevate their veteran engagement approach to become an AVEC member organisation. 

Veteran support

Downer has a Reserve Leave Policy because we understand that many veterans remain connected as a Reservist once they transition out of service. Offering provisions for up to 20 days of Reserve Service Leave, our veteran employees can continue to provide ADF service through the reserves should they chose to do so. We hope by supporting veterans by offering these extra leave allowance, it enables our people to create networks with current servicemen and women and to maintain relationships with other veterans and continue to receive support from Defence if necessary.

One of the ways Downer invests in the development of its veteran workforce is through a partnership with Wandering Warriors and the University of Queensland Business School. Wandering Warriors is a fundraising initiative providing support to returning Special Forces soldiers transitioning back into civilian life. The Defence and National Security Scholarship provides the opportunity for a veteran to complete a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) together with on-the-job training. 

For more information visit our 2019 Sustainability Report.

We also actively partner with other veteran initiatives that support ex-servicemen and women during their transition from military service to civilian life. Downer has pledged support to Soldier On, whose mission is to work side by side with those who serve and protect Australia, and their families. Downer provides both funding and in-kind support to Soldier On’s health and wellbeing services, employment programs, earning opportunities, and participation activities.