Veterans Entry Programme and Student Veterans Support Programme

Your military service will be assessed and converted to an entry rank, like an ATAR. The ACU will then match that rank to the requirements of the undergraduate or postgraduate course you wish to study and make you an offer based on the outcome.

As a guide, completion of general training in the Australian Defence Force with two years’ experience (regardless of military rank held) will result in a rank of 82, which would gain entry into most ACU Bachelor degrees.

If you have attained the equivalent rank of O-1 or above as an officer or chaplain, or E06 and above as a SNCO, you are eligible for direct entry into the Graduate Certificate in Business Administration or Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health, Safety, and Environmental Management.

This entry pathway is also available to any partner, spouse, or child over the age of 18 of current/previous serving ADF personnel. Applications are handled on a case-by-case basis, though as a rule of thumb 2-years of service are required.

The ACU Veterans Entry Programme enables you to enrol in any course available at ACU, provided your selection rank meets the required criteria.

Student Veteran Commencing Student Technology & Book Grant

Valued at $500, the ACU Student Veteran Commencing Student Technology & Book Grant recognises the financial challenges faced by new students commencing study and aims to reduce the financial burden of purchasing textbooks/technology.

All full-time Student Veterans registered with the Student Veteran Support Program (SVSP) at ACU within their first year of study are eligible to apply for this grant.

Recognition of Prior Learning 

Courses completed during ADF service are formally recognised by the ACU. The amount of credit available is dependent on the duration of your Initial Employment Training and the rank you achieved during your service.

There are four packages available depending on your rank:

Package 1 – Private (+RAN and RAAF equivalent)

• IET 4 months – 10 CP unspecified elective
• IET 6 months – 30 CP unspecified elective
• IET 12 months – 60 CP unspecified elective
• IET 18 months – 80 CP unspecified elective

Package 2 – Lance Corporal

• Package 1
• BUSN113 – Managing People and Organisations as specified credit

Package 3 – Corporal

• Package 1
• BUSN113 – Managing People and Organisations as specified credit
• MGMT214 – Leadership and Organisational Sustainability as specified credit

Package 4 – SGT and WOs

• Package 1
• BUSN113 – Managing People and Organisations as specified credit
• MGMT214 – Leadership and Organisational Sustainability as specified credit
• HRMG204 – Organisational Behaviour as specified credit
• OHSE201- Introduction to OHS or 1 unspecified elective

Officers will be eligible for 40 credit points towards the ACU Master of Business Administration if they have completed:

• 3 years at ADFA, 12 months at RMC, and rank LT or higher or,
• 18 months at RMC, Regimental Officer Basic Course/Logistics Officer Basic Course, 3–4 years of service, and rank CAPT or higher.

ACU | Military University Pathway 

Defence Entry Programme

If you have served in the Australian Defence Force, you'll get special consideration for entry into most of the courses on offer at Charles Sturn University. Even if you haven't got an ATAR, you are still eligible. They will use your rank and length of service to work out an equivalent entry rank.

Experience matters (Defence entry program) - Study (csu.edu.au)

Veterans Direct Application Pathway

The Griffith University Veterans Direct application pathway offers you the opportunity to apply for admission to most Griffith undergraduate degrees on the basis of your service directly to the University. A selection rank will be awarded to you based on your armed services training and experience.

Credit and Recognition of Prior Learning

Griffith University recognises that the training, experience and qualifications undertaken by ADF personnel align with our undergraduate programs Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Psychological Science.  

Depending on your experience, you may be eligible to receive:

• Up to 120CP towards Bachelor of Business  
• Up to 90CP towards Bachelor of Psychological Science

Veterans (griffith.edu.au) 

Soldier on Scholarship

The University of Canberra offers a scholarship which aims to assist domestic students who are also former defence persons and have been affected by their service or by the service of an immediate family member. The scholarship is valued at $3000.

Soldier On Scholarship - University of Canberra 

University of Wollongong Veterans Scholar Scheme

The Veterans Scholar Scheme offers you the opportunity to apply for admission to the University of Wollongong. The UOW values your experience in the Australian Defence Force - not only does UOW accept many ADF training qualifications for assessment (where they are equivalent to a Certificate IV or higher) - but they will also assess your service in the Australian Defence Force and convert this to a selection rank (similar to ATAR).

The UOW Veterans Scholar Scheme enables you to enrol in any course available at UOW, provided your selection rank meets the required criteria.

University of Wollongong Veterans Scholar Scheme Scholarship 

Veterans can also save on Postgraduate study through the Veterans Scholar Scheme Scholarship. The Veterans Scholar Scheme Scholarship is a 10% tuition fee discount from UOW. It is available to domestic students studying at UOW.  

You are eligible for the Scholarship if you:

• Have served, or are currently serving, in the ADF (whether full-time or reservist), completed basic and initial employment training, and rendered at least one day ofcontinuous full-time service;
• Have provided evidence of your service history with your application for admission to UOW; and
• Are commencing a full fee-paying postgraduate coursework degree at UOW

ATAR Adjustment Factors for Veteran’s Dependants 

UOW also acknowledges the sacrifices made by your family, and in recognition of the disruption to education that can ensue service families, spouses, and dependants of veterans will be eligible for three adjustment factors added to their ATAR to calculate their selection rank.

UOW Veteran Scholar Scheme - University of Wollongong – UOW 

Fee-Free-TAFE

The Canberra Institute of Technology offers 600 places for Fee-Free-TAFE each semester. These places are available to Veterans who are Australian or New Zealand citizens that are living or working in the ACT. The list of courses on offer changes each semester, but they are updated on the CIT website.

Fee-Free TAFE: Canberra Institute of Technology (cit.edu.au)

Ranks to Recognition 

Ranks to Recognition offers a wraparound service including career advice, skills assessment, credit transfer, recognition of prior learning (RPL), and training gap analysis to help identify the skills and knowledge acquired in the ADF, and the pathway to civilian qualifications.

Under NSW JobTrainer, veterans and their partners will have access to fee-free training to help them gain skills in emerging Australian industries and help transition to civilian life after service.

Ranks to Recognition | TAFE NSW - TAFE NSW  

Aimpoint is an accredited training provider for defence veterans wanting to transition with a Diploma of Project Management, Diploma of Leadership and Management, and RPL.

Home | Aimpoint Learning Zone

Military Skill Recognition 

Australian Defence Force (ADF) members can have their military skills recognised through a national qualification as part of their transition to the civilian workforce.

ADF Transition and Civil Recognition provides transitioning members, and recently transitioned, the opportunity to have skills recognised through recognition of prior learning (RPL), and accredited where possible.

Military skill recognition | ADF Members & Families | Defence

ADF Transition Support 

RCD Consulting helps veterans and other select candidates to create exciting and meaningful careers consulting in the Defence sector. You will have access to the required training, mentorship, and freedom so you can build the career you want.

RCD Consulting provides experienced and trained project practitioners to the Department of Defence and select Federal Government Departments. They are 100% veteran-owned, and we’re proud to support veterans to continue their service.

RCD offers a range of training options to prepare you for your new role, so you’ve got the skills, knowledge, and confidence before your first day. They can provide 1-on-1 training on Defence systems, policies, and processes.

Home | RCD Consulting 

ADF Career Coaching and Job Connections

Right Management is a global leader in Career Transition, Talent Management and Leadership Development. They help organisations attract, develop and retain their talent in a rapidly transforming business environment – enabling business and talent agility.

Right Management has more than 40 years of expertise partnering with organisations and individuals. The Right Management team are here to work together with ADF members and their families to plan their career transition pathways, or partner employer assistance, which is all provided in collaboration with the Department of Defence.

ADF Career Coaching & Job Connections (rightmanagement.com.au) 

The RSL Veterans’ Employment Programme offers help with the following:

• Career transition (assisting with translating your military skills and experience for a future civilian career)  
• Career navigation (advice for navigating career options and pathways)
• Career coaching (helping you decide what you’d like to do)
• Assistance to create or update your CV
• Assistance with writing cover letters
• Preparation for interviews  
• Advice regarding pathway programs to upskill or retrain
• Connections to potential employers

RSL Veterans' Employment Program — RSL Australia 

Soldier On is a not-for-profit organisation delivering holistic support services that enable current and former Australian Defence Force personnel, and their families, to lead meaningful civilian lives.

Services include employment support and learning and education opportunities.

Soldier On | Empowering veterans and their families 

Solving unemployment by enabling skills-based hiring and workforce management.

Veterans Programme

Conduct an online self-paced assessment which will generate a comprehensive report covering your unique skills, aptitude, preferred learning style, and ideal cultural fit. From there, they'll recommend some high-demand tech roles you would naturally excel at – and give you access to their free, industry-accredited training. Finally, they have a global network of like-minded partners who are looking to employ veteran talent just like you into their teams – and they'll guide you through this process.

First Responders Programme

Conduct an online self-paced assessment which will generate a comprehensive report covering your unique skills, aptitude, preferred learning style and ideal cultural fit. From there, they'll recommend some high-demand career pathways you would naturally excel at – and give you access to their free, industry accredited training. Finally, once you have completed your training, they have a global network of like-minded partners who are looking to employ talent just like you into their teams – and they will guide you through this process.

WithYouWithMe | Skills-based hiring & workforce management solutions

Military and Emergency Services RPL Specialists

3CIR works in partnership with accredited Registered Training Organisation Asset College (RTO#31718) and can provide educational services eligible for DVA funding.

3CIR offers a range of courses covering:  

• Leadership and Management
• Security and Risk Management
• Government
• Business
• Project Management

RPL for Military & Emergency Services Personnel | 3CIR