YEAR INREVIEW

2014

Thousands of ausTRalIans aRE affEcTEd by ThEIR sERVIcE - EIThER physIcally oR psychologIcally - and Soldier on suppoRTs ThEm To REcoVER and REconnEcT, cElEbRaTE ThEIR achIEVEmEnTs and acquIRE ThE Tools nEEdEd foR fuTuRE succEss.

2

conTEnTs

IntroductIon 4

A messAge from the chAIrmAn 6

A word from the ceo 8

co-founders IntroductIon 11

strAtegIc frAmework 2014-2017 12

how your money helps 13

reIntegrAtIon And recovery network 14

ActIvItIes overvIew 16

enhAnce 18

connect 20

InspIre 24

empower 26

dIrectors’ report 28

fInAncIAl report 34

corporAte supporters 36

fundrAIsIng heroes And volunteers 38

Let us know what you think about Soldier On, the work we do, and the work that needs to be done by emailing

admin@soldieron.org.au.

We would also welcome any feedback on this ‘Year in Review - 2013/14’; which can be submitted to media@soldieron.org.au.

yEaR In REVIEW 2013/2014

soldier on is about australians coming together to show

their support for our physically and psychologically

wounded. We want to show our service men and women

that we will always have their backs.

soldier on supports our wounded through:

• Support services including direct contact through

wounded liaison officers, delivered from one of three

centres located throughout the country;

• Adventurous and inspirational activities and the

promotion of an active lifestyle;

• Building a community of veterans and their families

to facilitate peer support and the sharing of stories and

experiences between our wounded;

• educational opportunities through courses offered

online and face to face in a variety of fields; and

• A reintegration and recovery network offering a

nationally coordinated approach where anyone can

be linked with support services from organisations

throughout australia.

In undertaking this work, soldier on has grown from humble

beginnings and now proudly provides support to more than

200 veterans and family members each month.

The Reintegration and Recovery network is also expanding

rapidly, with facilities opened in sydney, canberra, and

adelaide and plans to open further centres in perth,

melbourne and queensland by the end of 2015.

more broadly, soldier on has also encouraged conversations

around the issues facing australia’s contemporary service

men and women have, with more than five times the

number of stories on post-Traumatic stress disorder (pTsd)

within the media this year compared to 2012/13.

These conversations have sparked calls to action, with more

than 3,500 people donating to the cause and almost 300

fundraising events held this financial year.

hElpIng ouR WoundEd WaRRIoRs ThRoughouT 2013/2014

2013

2014

COMMUNITYEVENTS

PEOPLE ENROLLEDIN CLASSES

PARTICIPANTS PARTICIPANTS51

PARTICIPANTS TAKING PARTIN 115 EVENTS

THAT’S

422

TOWARDS HELPING OURWOUNDED SOLDIERS

SO FAR WE HAVE RAISED

IN OTHERCOURSES

2

AVERAGE PAGEVIEWS AN HOUR

20

AUSTRALIAN EVENTS108

IN OTHERPROGRAMS

24

VISITORS TO THE WEBSITE INFIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2014

17,500

GROWTH IN JUST 12 MONTHS

THAT’S

250%

EVENTS HELDOVERSEAS

7

28

PEOPLE IN AUSTRALIANBUSINESS ACADEMY COURSES

DONATIONS

3,777

9

287FUNDRAISING

EVENTS

ADVENTUROUSACTIVITIES

NEW ‘LIKES’ ON FACEBOOKIN THE LAST FINANCIAL YEAR

20,613

$1

Soldier on

At A glAnce2013/14

Million +

5

a mEssagE fRom ThE chaIRmanThe last year has seen a remarkable level of activity for soldier on. We are helping many more of our wounded and we have been overwhelmed by the generosity of so many australians. This is particularly true of the community fundraisers who have worked tirelessly to spread the word about soldier on and to raise funds so that we can help those who have been wounded in their service of australia. We are also grateful for the generosity of a large number of australian businesses and corporate leaders for their support and generosity. Thank you for your efforts.

your energy and commitment truly honours the service of australia’s service men and women.

The demand for support is increasing. as a result the demand on our time and funds is increasing. This presents a real challenge. soldier on is now serving more than 10 times the number of veterans we supported this time last year. The challenge is that our funds are not increasing at the same rate. as demand begins to outstretch supply, we will be working with government and corporate australia to achieve more secure and regular funding.

In the years ahead there is even more reason for soldier on to work harder to support our service men and women. military operations continue across the globe and many of our wounded are only just beginning to realise that they need support. We are also realising that the best type of support is that which involves the partner and family of those who have been wounded. They share the journey and need help and support as well.

Peter leahy

chairman, soldier on

semper just at risus. donec venenatis,

turpis vel hendrerit interdum, lorem

ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adip-

isicing elit. proin nibh augue, suscipit a,

scelerisque sed, lacinia in, mi.

cras vel lorem.

This year, australia commenced a journey of commemoration marking the many campaigns and battles of the first World War. This reminds us of 100 years of sacrifice by generations of inspiring and courageous australian service personnel. at soldier on we honour their service and sacrifice. To do this, we will ensure that the service men and women of today are cared for, and that their families are supported, so that their success and their happiness can serve as a tangible and lasting reminder of the sacrifice of those who served before them.

The legacy of generations past must be honoured and respected. What better way to mark the work of those who served in the past than by supporting those who serve today and whose lives have been affected by their service.

With your help we can work to establish a financial, emotional and physical link with our veterans. by doing this, we aim to achieve the best reintegrated generation of service men and women in australia’s history.

In closing, I want to congratulate the soldier on team of staff and volunteers for their dedication and energy. In two short years they have established soldier on as a national charity that has made a difference in the lives of so many Australians. Their efforts have literally saved lives and given individuals and families a sense of hope for the future.

7

a WoRd fRom ThE cEoSoldier On has achieved some significant milestones in the last year, and we are excited by what lies ahead for this young and vibrant organisation.

It’s not often that we get the chance to step back and take stock of what we have achieved, as we are usually busy moving from one project to the next. The Soldier On team of staff and volunteers should all be extremely proud of what we have achieved in such a short period and the difference we have made in the lives of australia’s wounded and their families. soldier on works to enhance the rehabilitation of our wounded, encourage them to seek help when they need it, and inspire and empower them to live productive and fulfilling lives after they leave the services. We believe we are well on our way to achieving each one of these important goals. Something that defined the charity, and put us on the map nationally, was the Walking With The Wounded south pole allied challenge. having the opportunity to send two wounded australians to the south pole, who trekked alongside prince harry, meant we were able to highlight the potential these brave men and women have and the need to support them in their rehabilitation. The resulting exposure for the charity, and the issue at large, has helped position soldier on as the major organisation in Australia working to support those affected by their service.

The opening of our pilot centre in adelaide, followed by the opening of the Robert poate centre in canberra and the michael fussell centre in sydney were major milestones for the charity. after looking at overseas models of service for wounded veterans and their families, we decided to pilot our own model in adelaide. based on the lessons learned from this pilot, and the successes overseas, the centres in sydney and canberra were established and have allowed for service delivery to be less episodic and more ongoing. having a central hub that allows

8

John Bale

cEo and co-founder,

soldier on

for support has proven to be very successful, and, like the charity, they will continue to grow to meet increasing demand.

soldier on has also professionalised in the last year thanks to several grants and sponsorships, which have allowed us to employ staff to provide direct support and services to our wounded. This small staff, along with our large network of volunteers, has dramatically increased the breadth and depth of our service delivery.

We have seen the way soldier on changes peoples’ lives for the better. seeing this transformation has been such a rewarding and life-changing experience for each one of us involved in the charity’s work. We live and breathe this charity, and do so because we believe in it to our very core - seeing with our own eyes its potential to do so much good. soldier on was started as a way to allow the australian people to connect with our wounded and support them. We are now delivering a range of specific programs to support recovery and reintegration. This is a fundamental change to soldier on’s operations and is an exciting and challenging time for the charity. This change was developed from meeting growing needs across australia by serving and ex-serving members of the australian defence force and also through our increased scope to include those who have served australia in roles within the australian Federal Police, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and other government agencies. Therefore, 2015 is the year to increase these service offerings around Australia and to prepare to support those affected by their service for the long-term. This work continues to be vital for those who have given so much.

Thank you ausTRalIa

for the hours you have volunteeredfor the vital funds you have raised

for the conversations you have hadand the support you have shown

We exist thanks to your passion and support - so from the heart,

thAnk you

10

In late 2011, Danielle Clout, Cavin Wilson and John Bale decided to start a charity to connect Australians

with those who had been wounded, either physically or psychologically, in the service of our nation. The

death of John’s mate, Michael Fussell, to an IED blast in Afghanistan resulted in an incredible community

response to support the Fussell family. However, there was no way for the community to show that

same support to those who were wounded in the same incident that killed Michael. We believed this was

because there was no organisation specifically established to achieve this aim.

Having seen the incredible work of organisations like Help for Heroes in the United Kingdom, we were

inspired to start something that would allow all of us to show our support for those who had given so

much, and help them on their journey of recovery and re-integration.

Since the start of the charity, we have been overwhelmed by the public’s response to Soldier On as a

vehicle to support those who have been affected by their service. The generosity of so many people has

transformed Soldier On from being simply a good idea run by a few volunteers, into an organisation

that is genuinely supporting the recovery and re-integration of wounded men and women, and their

families, throughout Australia. This transformation has also been achieved in record time, with the

charity connecting with hundreds of individuals and their families in just two years, through our pillars of

Enhance, Inspire and Empower.

Soldier On will see a considerable growth in 2015 with the opening of two new centres and the continued

movement towards the creation of a centre of excellence. This does not mean we will be loosing sight of

our humble beginnings. Until late 2013 we ran Soldier On from a donated 20x10m office in Canberra. The

focus we had for the people we are here to help remains the same as it was then. It is all about those who

have given so much, to make sure they have a better life and that the community can support them. That

is our focus, every single day.

This Year in Review is a snapshot of Soldier On’s work - a way to show how we are providing direct support

to our wounded through a range of programs - enabled by the generous support of everyday Australians.

If ever our brave sailors, soldiers, airmen and airwomen are in need of help, Soldier On will be there to

assist. We will make sure the sacrifices made by these brave individuals however large or small - will not

extend beyond the battlefield.

We hope that you take the time to share in our success and then inspired, go out to help raise money for

those how have given so much.

John Bale and Danielle Clout

Soldier On Co-founders

WE WIll alWays haVE youR backs

co-foundERs InTRoducTIon

sTRaTEgIc fRamEWoRk2014-2017

inSPireour wounded and their

families through social and

physical activities that help

our wounded to overcome

obstacles in their lives.

enhAnceAustralia’s ability to care by

providing a national support

network for our wounded and

their families, through a like-

minded and experienced team.

eMPoWerour wounded through

opportunities for training,

education and personal

development to promote

engagement in meaningful

employment.

1. develop and maintain the physical recovery and reintegration network across australia

2. Establish a national centre of Excellence to deliver world-leading wounded veteran programs

3. grow and sustain service delivery

4. provide early intervention and increase the incidence of help-seeking behaviour

5. develop and implement strategies to ensure the long term relevance and sustainability

6. develop and enhance relationships with our corporate partners, ex-service organisations and government

To have the best reintegrated generation of service men and women in australia’s history.

soldier on is about australians coming together to show their support for our physically and psychologically wounded. by

acting as a conduit for the public’s support, we want to provide assistance to the men and women who serve our country

and show that the australian people will always have their backs.

ouR VIsIon

ouR puRposE

ouR pIllaRs

ouR sTRaTEgIc pRIoRITIEs

hoW youR monEy hElpsone SeSSion With A PSychologiSt

$200could assist in providing psychological

support for an ex-service person or

family member.

Wounded liAiSon oFFicer - one dAy

$500could cover the costs of having a staff

member work directly with those affected

by their service for one day. This includes

office space, travel and other expenses.

MountAin Bike

$2000can provide acces to a high quality

mountain bike, enhancing recovery and

providing motivation for rehabilitation.

MAJor ProJect to enhAnce

rehABilitAtion

$10 000could fund part of a major project, such

as the refurbishment of a pool at a pTsd

treatment facility.

If you would like to see how you could help soldier on fund these programs, and others like them, please feel free to

contact us at admin@soldieron.org.au.

13

In October 2013, Soldier On opened the first Centre as

part of its Reintegration and Recovery network. The pilot

facility was situated in North Adelaide and in the first two

weeks received the number of drop-in visits from veterans

expected in the first six months. A report was prepared

following the first half year of operation, and due to the

fantastic results achieved, the decision to continue opening

centres throughout australia was made.

In february 2014, the charity’s headquarters and second

Reintegration and Recovery centre, named in honour of

fallen soldier Robert poate, was established in canberra.

In June, the third centre, named after michael fussell who

was killed in action in 2008, was opened by the governor

general at milsons point in sydney.

Thanks to these new facilities, soldier on has grown

from supporting 200 people throughout 2013 to helping

approximately 200 veterans and their family members per

month in June 2014.

In the coming years, the charity will expand in to the

remaining australian states and work towards establishing

a centre of Excellence in sydney. This facility will provide

medium to long-term support for those who are in need

of more comprehensive support. Working with donors,

corporate sponsors, and government, soldier on will work

to provide the world’s best care for australian men and

women - and their families - affected by their service.

REInTEgRaTIon and REcoVERy nETWoRk

14

sydnEymichael fussell centre

suite 907, 6a glen street

milsons point nsW 2060

opened 26 June 2014

canbERRaRobert poate centre

15 Torrens street

braddon acT 2612

opened 27 february 2014

adElaIdETorrens parade ground, Victoria drive

adelaide sa 5000

(previously at baggot st)

opened 11 october 2013

15

acTIVITIEs oVERVIEW

soldier on works to establish long-term, comprehensive

support for Australians who have been affected by their

service.

This is achieved by supporting our wounded throughout

their rehabilitative journey. soldier on will be there for

those affected by their service from whatever point they

are needed. The earlier we can have our service men and

women recognising and addressing the effects of their

service, the less debilitating it will be for them in future.

To achieve this, soldier on works with community groups,

service providers, other not-for-profit organisations

and government to link service men and women with

appropriate and effective support. During their journey

towards recovery, we help enhance their rehabilitation,

connect them with their communities, inspire others to

seek help for their own struggles following service, and

empower them to become productive and successful

members of their community.

16

EmpoWER Difficulties making the transition from military to

civilian life are common amongst all those who have

served, not just those experiencing negative effects.

This is compounded when a service man or woman

is wounded, and through skills, educational, and

employment support, we can ensure that transition

is smoother. Restoring purpose to their lives through

meaningful employment is key to the success of long-

term rehabilitation.

EnhancE soldier on works to enhance the

good work already being done

to support australia’s wounded.

This is achieved through funding

state-of-the-art equipment and

establishing partnerships with key

service providers and not-for-profit

organisations.

connEcT by engaging the local community

and friends and families of those

affected by their service, we set

these men and women up for much

better rehabilitative outcomes. With

better understanding in the broader

australian community, the transition

for service personnel will be smoother

and more successful.

InspIRE There are many service men and women who do not recognise

the effects of their service, or who may be unsure or unwilling to

seek help to address them. by sharing stories of other inspirational

individuals, and giving them opportunities to take part in inspirational

activities, soldier on looks to inspire them to access the support

they need. The earlier we can get our service personnel thinking

about their physical and psychological wellbeing, and taking steps to

preserve and improve it, the better the outcome for all involved.

soldier on funded the refurbishment of

the brother basil’s gym at the st John

of god hospital in Richmond. a premier

rehabilitation facility for those with post

Traumatic stress disorder, the gym

will feature as a way to enhance the

treatment offered to patients.

Two weeks after the opening, the

number of patients utilising the gym

more than tripled, benefiting a number

of veterans at the facility and setting up

the rehabilitation program for greater

success.

sT John of god gym REfuRbIshmEnT

EnhancEsoldier on has worked to enhance the work of government, service providers and other charities and not-for-profit organisations. We address the gap in services offered to our wounded by funding worthwhile projects and providing services additional to those already available.

18

a group of seven ex-service personnel

was selected for a pilot support group

in Townsville, meeting weekly for 1.5-2

hours. The peer support group recorded

very positive results, with twelve

members participating by the end of the

financial year and vast improvements in

their rehabilitation.

Rating a range of issues from 1-10, the

men said they went from feeling they

had no where to go for support at the

start (2.9/10), to feeling confident in

being able to find it when they needed it

(9.3/10). They also found, following the

sessions, they had a place to go when

they needed to unwind, and felt they

could deal better with issues relating to

anger, relationships, shame, worthiness,

work, and their families.

The program has been extended and

opportunities to run similar programs

throughout australia are being explored

for next year.

ToWnsVIllE gRoup ThERapy pRogRam

“I feel it is very worthwhile at the men’s group. I feel

relaxed and pretty calm, while during the day I would

have felt angry, irritated and at times depressed and

suicidal. Now knowing suicide is common throughout

the group it is not such a touchy topic.” - Participant

soldier on sponsored the purchase of

mountain bikes for the high performance

Wing in sydney and soldier Recovery

centre, darwin. These bicycles were

provided to enhance the good work

being done at these facilities, providing

motivation for those rehabilitating and

allowing them to take part in soldier on’s

wider community based cycling activities.

Those receiving treatment at the soldier

Recovery centres have been regularly

riding, and their participation in future

mountain biking events will be sponsored

by soldier on.

bIkEs To daRWIn and 2nd commando REgImEnT

“I have struggled to find a place that I belong - and

for now the men’s group is that place where I’m

comfortable to be me.” - Participant

“I believe everybody with PTSD struggles with some

issues. I have found it easier to talk about things at

the men’s group because the others know where you’re

coming from.” - Participant

19

soldier on held two major cycling events

this year in an effort to promote the

activity as a component of a positive

rehabilitation plan.

The first event, the Remembrance Ride,

saw 12 men and women ride as a team

between sydney and canberra - joined

by prime minister Tony abbott for the

final 30km into Canberra.

The Ride coincided with the 60th

anniversary of the Remembrance drive

- which connects canberra and sydney

- and includes rest stops in honour of

australia’s Victoria cross recipients.

The group of veteran cyclists, a mixture

of serving and ex-serving members of the

defence force, were joined by members

of their community and corporate

sponsors.

The Remembrance Ride was made

possible through the generous support

of citadel group, the audi centre

canberra, Trek bicycles, garmin and bike

culture.

soldIER on REmEmbRancE RIdE

connEcT

phoTo couRTEsy of maTT connoRs phoTogRaphy

20

2014 baTTlEfIEld bIkE RIdE

The year’s second major cycling event

was the Battlefield Bike Ride, which

saw another group of ex-service men

and women join more than a hundred

canadian veterans on a riding tour

between numerous battlefields in

belgium and france.

participants shared their stories and

experiences, and used the event as

motivation to get healthy and fit.

This ride came about thanks to the

generous support of Wounded Warriors

canada, one of many ex-service

organisations soldier on continues to

work with around the world.

both of these activities raised the

profile of Soldier On and the benefits

of incorporating cycling as a part of the

rehabilitation of those who have been

affected by their service.

21

soldier on held two major cycling events

this year in an effort to promote the

activity as a component of a positive

rehabilitation plan. The Remembrance

Ride saw 12 men and women ride as a

team between sydney and canberra -

joined by prime minister Tony abbott for

the final 30km into Canberra.

The Remembrance Ride was made

possible through the generous support

of citadel group, the audi centre

canberra, Trek bicycles, garmin and bike

culture.

We also had a group of ex-service men

and women join more than a hundred

Canadian veterans on the Battlefield Bike

Ride between numerous battlefields in

belgium and france. This was thanks

to the generous support of Wounded

Warriors canada, one of many ex-service

organisations soldier on continues to

work with around the world.

both of these activities raised the

profile of Soldier On and the benefits

of incorporating cycling as a part of the

rehabilitation of those who have been

affected by their service.

cyclIng - REmEmbRancE RIdE and baTTlEfIEld bIkE RIdE

connEcT

This event saw those affected by their

service join business leaders in a round

of golf. serving as an informal setting

for each of the groups to share their

experiences, this has been a very popular

and successful program which will be

expanded beyond nsW in the next year.

This pilot project was a great success,

with more than ten wounded and family

members attending the event on the

south coast.

feedback from the sessions was

extremely positive with one couple

commenting that it had been a long time

since they had shared so much with each

other.

lEaRn To suRf

coffEE caTch ups

This event saw those affected by their

service join business leaders in a round

of golf. serving as an informal setting

for each of the groups to share their

experiences, this has been a very popular

and successful program which will be

expanded beyond nsW in the next year.

sydnEy golf

Established around the country in most

major cities and in areas like cairns and

newcastle, these sessions see wounded

come together to discuss the issues they

face, share experiences and advice, and

build a community in local areas. We

have had hundreds of wounded and their

families attend the catch ups this year.

22

In areas where our centres are

established, yoga and/or physical

training sessions have been set up as an

accessible way for people to enhance

their rehabilitation using group exercise.

These have been very well received and

attendance has been growing steadily in

canberra, sydney and adelaide.

pT and yoga

This activity, planned for the new

financial year, was planned and funded

this year with the help of australian

unity. four families will attend the

program, which will see participants

hiking, canoeing and sharing quality time

together in the australian bush. If this

program is successful, we will look to roll

out more next year.

famIly pRogRam

23

Two australians joined prince harry and

a group of wounded men and women

from the us, uk and canada on a trek to

the south pole. soldier on was invited to

take part in the expedition, organised by

uk charity Walking With The Wounded,

and selected two men who were

physically wounded during their service.

covering more than 250km and battling

biting winds and temperatures below -40

degrees celsius, the group completed the

trek in just over three weeks. generous

sponsorships from Thales australia,

military shop and qantas defence

services made our participation in this

inspiring trek a reality.

WalkIng WITh ThE WoundEd souTh polE allIEd challEngE

InspIRE

24

blinded by an improvised explosive

device in Iraq, liam lost his right eye and

retains only 2% sight in his left. With the

aim of raising money and awareness for

soldier on, he walked between sydney

and canberra over two weeks, joined by

the likes of former prime minister John

howard, current and former service

chiefs, and soldier on volunteers and

staff.

he raised more than $50,000 for the

charity, and is looking to complete a

similar fundraiser in the future, covering

a greater distance and overcoming even

more challenges. Thank you to citadel

group and Jamieson foley for their

support in funding the one foot forward

march, and to liam for his unwavering

spirit and enthusiasm!

lIam’s onE fooT foRWaRd maRch

25

This inaugural program was a

partnership with the australian

business academy, giving individuals

the opportunity to undertake nationally

recognised diplomas in a variety of

subject areas including management,

business administration, Information

Technology, human Resource

management, accounting and graphic

design. With over 30 enrolments this

year, soldier on also provided mentors

to encourage, support and advocate for

participants when necessary, as well as

assistance with access to tuition and

computers to promote successful course

completion.

ausTRalIan busInEss acadEmy

EmpoWER

Soldier On provided those affected by

their service the opportunity to complete

short courses in first aid, mental health

First Aid, and organised direct financial

support for individuals to complete

educational courses.

Through our sponsorship arrangement

with the citadel group, soldier on

also began offering access to the Job

Ready program in partnership with

frontier people. accessible to both

those affected by their service and their

family members, this program offers

career coaching and mentoring, cV

development, and interview preparation

assistance.

shoRT couRsEs and Job REady pRogRam

26

soldier on has partnered with a variety

of sporting organisations, most notably

with st kilda football club. These types

of partnerships give families affected

by service the opportunity to meet and

share their experience with the team,

be introduced to the crowd if desired,

and attend corporate functions at home

games. st kilda also sponsored two

veterans to travel to new Zealand for

the team’s anZac day matches. more

than 12 families have attended matches

as VIp guests, with many describing

the experience as affirming and

unforgettable.

soldier on has also worked with the

australian Ice hockey league, the

cbR braves Ice hockey team, the acT

brumbies, the canberra Raiders and

other passionate teams from a range of

sporting clubs.

spoRTIng paRTnERshIps

27

ThE boaRdThe directors of the company during the year and to the date of this report are:

lieutenAnt generAl Peter leAhy Ac (ret’d) former chief of army and director, national security Institute, university of canberra

Director Qualifications: ac, professor, ba mil studs unsW, mmas usacgsc, gaIcd.

Experience: lieutenant general peter leahy (Ret’d) retired from the army after a 37 year career as a soldier in July 2008 with the rank of lieutenant general in the appointment of the chief of army. since leaving the army, peter has joined the university of canberra as a professor and the foundation director of the national security Institute. he is a member of a number of advisory, commercial and charity boards. he is also chairman of the salvation army’s Red shield appeal committee in the acT. he is a regular media commentator on defence and security matters.

chaIRman

Anthony court partner - defence and national security, kpmg

Director Qualifications: bsc(hons), msc (military Electronic systems Engineering), grad dip acc, aIcaa, gaIcd.Experience: anthony is the kpmg defence partner, has been a management consultant for 18 years and former Army Officer for 14 years.

boaRd mEmbERs

dr PAul AlexAnder Aoformer surgeon general, australian defence force and commander, Joint health command

Director Qualifications: ao, mbbs, mlm, fRacma, faclm, facTm, dTm&h, dip sport med.Experience: Paul is an experienced senior medical officer with over 30 years experience across clinical executive posts, and has held board positions in military, private practice, commercial and not for profit organisations. Paul completed his tenure as commander Joint health and surgeon general, adf december 2011. paul is chairman of the metro north hospital and health service, the largest health service in queensland and chairman of the Immigration health advisory group.

John BAle cEo and co-founder, soldier on

Director Qualifications: ba (hons) unsW, ma unsW, mmgtstud unsW, gaIcd.Experience: Chief Executive and Co-founder of Soldier On. Former Army Officer with 12 years experience. member of the dVa younger Veterans forum.

Michele MillerRoyal australian navy

Director qualifications: bsc (hons) unsW, grad dip mgt (defence studies) uc, grad cert maritime studies uoW.Experience: michele has 26 years experience in the Royal australian navy, with nearly 15 years in seagoing positions, including serving on operations in the middle East, East Timor and in border protection both in the north of australia and in the southern Ocean. As a warfare officer, she has been the commanding officer of a patrol boat and the frigate HMAS PERTH, and staff positions have included the Director of Navy Career management and acting director general of the navy people group.

Ben FArinAzzocEo, outward bound australia

Director Qualifications: ba (hons), maIcd.Experience: Ben is the Chief Executive Officer of Outward Bound Australia with more than 20 years management experience. ben was previously the cEo of australian Business Academy and Frontier Recruitment and a former Army Officer. He has been awarded the InTERfET medal and australian active service medal for service in East

Timor.

hugh riMintonJournalist

Director Qualifications: ma (macq.).Experience: hugh is a journalist and foreign correspondent with particular exposure to military activity in africa, the middle East, the balkans, East Timor, Iraq and afghanistan.

don roWe president, Rsl nsW

Director Qualifications: oam, maIcd.Experience: don is president, nsW Returned and services league. outside of the Rsl don is also involved with a number of organisations including the anZac memorial building (Trustee), anZac house Trust board of management, Rsl australian forces overseas fund (nsW commissioner), dormant funds committee, united Returned soldiers’ fund, Rsl custodian, centenary of anZac committee and Rsl lifecare national finance & national Executive committees.

corPorAl MArk donAldSon Vcaustralian army

Director Qualifications: corporal – Victoria cross recipient and soldier on patron-in-chief.Experience: mark is an australian soldier and a recipient of the Victoria cross, the highest award in the australian honours system. on 25 January 2010, mark was named the 2010 young australian of the year.

29

dIREcToRs’ REpoRTsoldier on limited was formed as a result of the restructure of soldier on association Incorporated on 19 february

2014, where the incorporated association was ceased and all balances were transferred to soldier on limited on 20

february 2014. There have been no changes in directors since soldier on became a company on 20 february 2014.

30

boaRd and commITTEE mEmbERshIpBOARD CHAIR – lTgEn peter leahy ac (Ret’d)

audIT and RIsk commITTEECHAIR – ben farinazzo

MEMBERSHIp – John bale, Ross beames, anthony court, doug fawns

fundRaIsIng commITTEECHAIR - peter leahy

MEMBERSHIp - John bale, phil hayes-st clair, mark hindle, pearl lee, alistair pearce, hugh Riminton

boaRd REsponsIbIlITIEsThe board consists of directors who have extensive relevant experience to bring independence, accountability and

judgement to the board’s deliberations. This ensures the board acts in good faith, in soldier on’s best interests, and

primarily for the benefit of wounded men and women and their families.

The Board also ensures that Soldier On operates within an effective corporate governance framework.

In particular, the board:

• Ensures legal, regulatory and financial obligations are being met;

• sets and reviews strategic direction;

• Monitors the operating and financial performance of the company;

• Evaluates the performance of the Chief Executive Officer and senior management.

In preparing this statement the board has focussed on its structure, principles and core values.

boaRd sTRucTuRE• The Soldier On Constitution provides for a minimum of five (5) and not more than ten (10) Directors.

• There are currently nine (9) directors.

• The Chief Executive Officer is a Director.

• The chairperson is appointed by the directors from amongst their numbers but may not be the chief Executive

Officer.

• A Director will be ineligible for reappointment after serving two consecutive terms in office unless approved by all

Directors to serve a further term(s) in office. A Director must however, retire from office at conclusion of the third

annual general meeting after the director was last appointed.

• The directors may by resolution appoint additional or replacement directors.

Members and Contributions on Winding up

as at 30 June 2014 there were nine (9) members of soldier on. If the company was wound up, each member would be

required to contribute $2.

Company Secretary

karlie brand (ba, bcom, mIntbus) has served as company secretary since soldier on became a company on 20

february 2014.

31

commITTEEs• The board has created a number of board committees to assist with its role in governing the organisation.

• all committees operate under formal terms of reference which are updated as necessary.

• committees are responsible for considering relevant issues and making recommendations to the board within the

scope of their respective terms of reference.

• The board does not however delegate major decisions to committees.

• The audit and Risk committee assists the board in meeting its audit, accounting and reporting obligations,

financial management, risk management and ensures compliance with legal and statutory obligations.

• The fundraising committee assists the board in the planning, coordination and implementation of all fundraising

activities in support of the services and activities of the organisation.

• membership of the board and committees are detailed on pages 28-31 in this report.

pRocEssEs• meetings are structured to encourage active participation by all directors at all meetings.

• Directors have access to information subject to maintaining its confidentiality.

• The board receives regular management reports from company personnel.

• The Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer certify the accuracy and completeness of financial

information provided to the board.

• The board operates under a formal code of conduct.

• The Board periodically conducts a review of its performance and effectiveness.

ExTERnal audIToR IndEpEndEncE• The board monitors the independence of the external auditors.

• The audit and Risk committee meets on a regular basis including on an annual basis with the

external auditors.

obJEcTIVEs• Soldier On is a company limited by guarantee with 9 members. The company is established as a not-for-profit,

non-political charitable entity to raise and administer funds for the purpose of supporting the health and wellbeing

of Wounded australians and their families.

• Wounded australians include any australian defence force service man or service woman, australian public

servant or any other person who has been wounded physically or mentally on warlike operations since 1990.

• soldier on commenced operations as an incorporated association in January 2012. on february 20th 2014 the

association became a company. The objectives as well as the services and programs provided by the organisation

as an association continue to be provided as a company.

sTRaTEgy foR achIEVIng obJEcTIVEssoldier on’s vision is to give wounded australians access to the world’s best standard of care and support. We will

achieve this by:

• Enhancing australia’s ability to care.

• Inspiring wounded soldiers and their communities.

• Empowering our wounded to achieve their goals.

•

our strategic priorities include:

• developing and maintain the physical recovery and reintegration network across australia.

• Establishing a national centre of Excellence to deliver world-leading wounded veteran programs.

• growing and sustain service delivery.

• Increasing incidences of early intervention and help-seeking behavior.

• developing and implement strategies to ensure the long-term relevance and sustainability.

• developinig and enhance strategic relationships with our corporate partners, ex-service organisations and

government.

32

pRIncIpal acTIVITIEssoldier on meets its vision and objectives by supporting our wounded through:

• Support services including direct contact through wounded liaison officers, delivered from one of the three

centres located through the country;

• adventurous and inspirational activities and the promotion of an active lifestyle;

• building a community of veterans and their families through various events, to facilitate peer support and the

sharing of stories and experiences between our wounded;

• Educational opportunities through courses offered online and face to face;

• physical locations where anyone can be linked with support services from a variety of organisations.

pERfoRmancE mEasuREs• Soldier On measures and reports on both financial and non-financial data to the Board.

• These reports include financial performance as well as information on service delivery, work health and safety,

human resource matters, and governance.

fInancIal REsulTs• The Company achieved a surplus of $382,825 for the 2013-2014 financial year. This surplus represents the

consolidation of activities as both soldier on association Incorporated and soldier on limited.

sIgnIfIcanT changEsThere were no significant changes in the nature of these activities during the reporting period.

mEETIngs of dIREcToRsDuring the financial year and since becoming a company as of February 20th 2014, 4 Board meetings were held.

attendance by each director was as follows:

numbER ElIgIblE To aTTEnd numbER aTTEndEd

paul alExandER 4 3

John balE 4 4

anThony couRT 4 3

maRk donaldson 4 3

bEnJamIn faRInaZZo 4 4

pETER lEahy 4 4

mIchElE mIllER 4 4

hugh RImInTon 4 4

don RoWE 4 4

consolIdaTEd sTaTEmEnT of pRofIT oR loss and oThER compREhEnsIVE IncomE foR ThE fInancIal yEaR End 30 JunE 2014 2014 2013 $ $reVenuefundraising 1,724,853 524,110merchandising 94,862 95,211 other Income 292,525 2,374

2,112,240 621,695

exPenditureadvertising andpromotion Expenses 37,414 - cost of sales 143,756 52,227 Employment Expenses 674,986 21,838 Event Expenses 275,954 182,847IT Expenses 7,881 1,827 occupancy Expenses 76,517 1,304 Office Expenses 128,376 21,773 professional Expenses 192,245 1,260 Travel Expenses* 192,286 75,176

1,729,415 358,252

surplus before Income Tax Expense 382,825 263,443Income Tax Expense - - surplus after Income Tax Expense 382,825 263,443 other comprehensive Income for the period - -

accumulated surplus fromprevious year 293,669 30,226

total comprehensive income For the end of Financial year 676,494 293,669

note: These figures are a consolidated extract from our audited statutory financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2014 and include soldier on association Incorporated (from 1 July 2013 to 19 february 2014) and soldier on limited (from 20 february 2014 to 30 June 2014).

The full financial statements and auditor’s opinion are available upon request or via our website at soldIERon.oRg.au

*Less than 7% of travel was related to administrative staff travel

fInancIal REpoRT

34

consolIdaTEd sTaTEmEnT of fInancIal posITIon foR ThE fInancIal yEaR End 30 JunE 2014 2014 2013 $ $ASSetSCurrent Assetscash & cash Equivalent 472,731 291,819other current assets 404,717 -

Total current assets 877,448 291,819

Non-Current AssetsIntangible assets 23,328 3,653 fixed assets 23,845 - other non-current assets 39,276 -

Total non-current assets 86,449 3,653

Total assets 963,897 295,472

liABilitieSCurrent Liabilitiespaybables 287,403 1,803 Total current liabilities 287,403 1,803

statement of cash flows 287,403 1,803

net assets 676,494 293,669

equityTotal Equity 676,494 293,669

35

Thank you

Thank you to these generous organisations for their ongoing and invaluable support!

pRIncIpal paRTnERs

rSl lifecareRsl lifecare assisted in setting up the michael

fussell Reintegration and Recovery centre

in Sydney. Funding staff for the Centre, RSL

lifecare’s support has made it possible for

soldier on to expand much faster than it would

have using fundraised money alone. The success

of the organisation, and its initial programs in

nsW, is in great part thanks to this generous

support from Rsl lifecare.

maJoR paRTnERs

cisco Foundationprovided a grant for staff in the

charity’s HQ In Canberra.

citadel groupprovided 50 cost-free

diploma courses for wounded

individuals and their partners.

Military Shopmaintained, sold and

distributed merchandise for

Soldier On.

Point Project Management

provided free consultancy

in strategy and planning for

several large scale projects.

tough Muddercreated awareness and

fundraising for Soldier On, as

well as free participation for

wounded and defence personnel

in the spirit of adventure and

camaraderie

36

champIons

In-kInd sponsoRs

thales Australia

MelbourneMilitaryOfficers’Ball

Federal Parliamentary Press gallery Midwinter Ball

assocIaTE sponsoRsAustralian Unity Foundation Newman’s Own

Bike Culture Nine - Footy Show

Boeing patersons Securities Ltd

Carrawa Foundation Queensland Rugby Union

Defcon Technologies RAAF Townsville

Defence Housing Australia SAS Resources Trust

Jamieson Foley Thyne Reid Foundation

Kellogg Brown and Root Trek Bikes

Manpower Wandering Warriors QLD

Audi Centre

Canberra

DpR Accountants

and Advisors

KpMG Minter Ellison

Lawyers

Schiavello

37

ouR fundRaIsIng hERoEs

A Troop - The pilbara

Regiment

ADF Ordnance School

Elizabeth Anne

ANZAC Memorial Chapel of

St paul

Lori Arbogast

Simon Armstrong

Vaughn Armstrong

Kyle Atkins

Australian Defence Force

Wargaming Association

Miss Baker

Battlefield Bike Riders

Owen Batty

Hugo Baxter

Best Friends Birthday

Appeal

Margaret Birchall

Kim Birchell

Stephen Bower

Anne Broadbent

Charles Bryers

Cyndy Burnham

Bronwyn Calver

Canberra Hot Rod

Association

Michael Cantrell

Carrawa Foundation

Tamara Casey

Ty Casey

Tyron Casey

peter Christensen

Jo Ciolpan

Citadel Group

Remembrance Riders

City of Sydney Law Society

Jonathon Clarke

Benjamin Clun

John Coleman

Samantha Cosstick

Anthony Cowan

Jessie Coward

Halliday Cross

Ben Crowther

Dandenong Ranges RSL

Sub-Branch

Kay Danes

Matthew Danos

Matt Davis

Madeline Davis

Kirrily Dearing

Defence Explosive

Ordnance Training School

Alex Drew

E.S.W. Group

Stuart Earl

Glenn Ellis

Fairbairn Golf Club

Megan Farebrother

LM Finnie

Focus on Vermin ACT

Russell Forrest

Freemans Victoria

Freemason’s Lodge of

Australia

Nathan Frkovic

James Fulford-Talbot

Anthony Fuster

pauline Gill

Tate & Hunter Glenn

Amanda Graham

Gavin Grant

Bradley Green

Doug Grififths

Matt Grimley

paul Groenveld

Sarah Grounds

Norbert Hagel

Tania Hanzar

Terence Harch

Vicky Harris

Brian Heilbronn

James Hepworth

Rebecca Higgins

Highfields Spinners & Craft

Group

Dave Hill

HMAS Cerberus

Dai Hockaday

Jon Hoiles

Dutch Holland

Travis Holt

Nicky Hood

Cath Hopgood

David Hopgood

Infidels Motorcycle Club

Karen Inglis

Jennifer Jackett

Scott Jackman

David Jagger

Robert Jenkins

Rodney Kalem

John Keely

Michael Keep

Justine Kennedy

Carole-Ann Kerford

Maxine Kerruish

Chris Kinsella

Anthony Krupa

Andrew & Julie Kuskopf

Law Society of NSW

Simon Lindsey

Troy Lines (Ironman for

Soldier On)

Lions Club Kambah

Bradley Loh

Geoff Lovell

Chris Lucey

Darryl Luck

John Mace

Joanne Mackson

Robin Madders

Malanda RSL

Lee Mansfield

Mareeba RSL

Julia Mathison

Angelique Matthews

Wayne McConnell

Grant McConnell

Benjamin McFarland

Steve McLean

Don McLean

Julian McMahon

Wayne McMurtrie

Melbourne Military Officers

Ball

Brodie Middleton

Will Miles

Military Brotherhood

Military Motorcycle Club

Military police Adelaide

Rob Mills

Casey Millwood

John Mitchell

Filipe Moscoso

Michael Mudie

National Servicemens

Association

New England Vintage

& Veteran Car Club of

Tenterfield

Ngunnawal Combined

probus Club Inc

Jason Nissen

Dennis Nothdurft

Chris O’Connor

Justin O’Keeffe

peter O’Malley

James Orr

Stephanie Otto

Stuart parker

Matthew paton

Christie phillips

Olga poberezovska

phil powderly

Matt pratten

pushing for Mates

Queensland police Credit

Union

Grace Quilty

RAAF Health - Kokoda ‘14

RAAF Townsville -

Sergeant’s Mess

Belinda Reed

Remembrance Riders

Jodie Riddock

Sian Rinaldi

Donald Robertson

Carol Robertson

Keith Robinson

Michelle Rodgers

Roseville Chase Rotary Club

Linda Ross

Karen Ross

Rotary Club of Armidale

Melinda Salter

David Savage

38

Rebecca Sheehan

Darren Smith

Nick Souvanh

Brendan Sproull

St Andrew’s Golfers

Andrew Stagg

Jamie Stait

Renee Stent

Stroud Country Club

Andrew Summers

Tablelands Garden Expo

Annette Taylor

Kokoda Team

Valerie Therese

Kate Thomas

David Thompson

Toorak RSL

Natalie Treloar

Trois Etapes Riders

Steve Trood

Rick Vandermast

Mitch Wade

David Waldon

The Walk Home

War Veterans Village

Narrabeen

Jenny Wells

Brett White

Wildside - AJ & Evo

Mel Williams

Renee Wilson

Lp Wilson

Sarah Woodsell

In lIEu of floWERs

cAPtAin PAul MckAy

following paul mckay’s death in saranac lake, new york, his family generously asked those who attended paul’s funeral to donate to soldier on. Thank you to the mckay family and to all those who showed their support.

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