Brendan Dumbrell is a proud Wiradjuri man from the Southern Tablelands of NSW who served 15 years as a Maritime Logistics Officer in the Royal Australian Navy and continues to serve in the Naval Reserve. At the Australian Naval College,
Brendan is Vice-Chairperson and Non-Executive Director of Umpi-Korumba, an Indigenous community housing organisation which provides crises accommodation, social support services and affordable housing solutions to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Brisbane. Brendan has mentored over 300 Navy officers in leadership and culture and now, as Managing Director of JY Australia, uses his experience to deliver the company’s Indigenous Development and Employment Program.
The program has supported over 30 transitioning veterans, with 5 joining the company permanently after separating from the ADF. It’s why JY Australia was an Employer of the Year Finalist in The Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards last year. Brendan is my special guest after 8am this morning.
After the First and Second World Wars, Korea, and even Vietnam, the vast majority of our veterans who returned home were left to fend for themselves. Very few services were provided for the men and women who served this country and there was certainly no pathway to meaningful employment. But right now, there are some extraordinary Australians working hard to ensure that these scenarios are a thing of the past.
It was only a few short weeks ago that Australians turned out in their hundreds of thousands to give public recognition and support to our Defence Force veterans on Anzac Day.
But when the fanfare and the marches are over, many people are unaware of the continued support our veterans need in order to help their transition back into civilian life. Finding a suitable job is one of the most important elements of that transition but it can also be one of the hardest things to achieve. Fortunately, there’s a growing number of businesses across the country who understand the unique skills veterans possess and the strong work ethic they can bring to a workplace - businesses who support our veterans by helping them find meaningful employment.
Now, the public has a chance to recognise the great work of these businesses by submitting a nomination in The Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards. The awards are a chance to honour those businesses who champion veteran employment and raise awareness of the skills and experience that veterans can bring to the workforce. Public nominations are open now and close on Friday May 26.
JY Australia (formerly JLB-Yaran) is an Indigenous and veteran-owned professional service provider with a history of supporting Defence and Defence Industry. A veteran-rich workforce is attributed to the company’s career pathways program which targets transitioning service personnel through support, training and mentoring. In the 12 months since launching its Veteran Transition Support Program, JY Australia has supported over 30 transitioning veterans, with 5 joining the company permanently after separating from the ADF. Through its Indigenous Development and Employment Program, the company has also been able to create opportunities to specifically support indigenous veterans gain full-time employment.
JY Australia was an Employer of the Year Finalist in The Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards last year (2022).