Rise Together Initiative
Building career confidence for defence and veteran partners
Expressions of interest are open for the 2026 Rise Together Initiative — a fully funded, two-day online program helping defence and veteran partners rebuild career confidence and step into leadership. Up to 30 places are available this year, more than double the twelve places offered in 2025.
Expressions of interest open 1 August 2026 and close 2 September 2026.
Why defence & veteran partners need the Rise Together Initiative
Families of veterans make unique sacrifices when supporting their loved one, both during and after ADF service. Partners balance relocations, deployments, extended absences, transition out of service, and caring roles due to illness or injury — often at the cost of their own career.
Career satisfaction is a key part of wellbeing, yet veteran families face real barriers to building and maintaining a career. In the Defence Families Survey 2022, career progression was named as one of the top three challenges families faced because of their connection to the ADF (35%). More than 90% of civilian partners said they had made employment sacrifices because of their partner’s military career, and around 20% were not in paid work at the time of the survey.
More recent data confirms the pattern is ongoing:
- Veteran families are three times more likely to be under- or unemployed than the general population.
- 92% of affected partners are women.
- 52% of veteran families are concerned about their family’s current financial situation.
Sources: Defence Families Survey 2022; 2025 Veteran Families Survey (Families of Veterans Guild/YouGov).
The Rise Together Initiative exists to change that. It gives partners the space to build career confidence, understand their value beyond their role as a veteran partner, and step into leadership — in the workplace, at home, and in the community.
The story of Rise Together
The Rise Together Initiative began with one war widow who wanted to support career development for defence and veteran spouses. She privately funded four spouses to complete a leadership development program, then funded two more in 2025. Combined with government funding, this meant twelve spouses accessed the program in 2025.
In 2025, the initiative was announced at Parliament House by Senator Katy Gallagher, after she spent time hearing directly from veteran partners, alongside Board Chair Tricia Hobson and CEO Renee Wilson.
In 2026, the Rise Together Initiative moves online and grows — offering up to 30 defence and veteran partners a fully funded, two-day program to focus on their own development.
2026 program at a glance
| Format | Two-day program, delivered fully online via Zoom |
| Dates | Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September 2026 |
| Who it’s for | Female partners of current and former serving ADF members, including widows. Ex-partners may also be considered. |
| Places | Up to 30 participants |
| Cost | Nil for participants |
| Funded by | Private donor |
| Expressions of interest | Open 1 August 2026, close 2 September 2026 |
| What’s included | Two full days online, plus a wellbeing pack posted to attendees |
What to expect
Day one — building your professional brand
Facilitated by psychologists from People Measures, day one is a full-day online workshop supporting participants to reflect on their strengths, values, and aspirations through guided reflection and practical activities. You’ll leave with greater clarity, confidence, and practical strategies for your ongoing career growth. The day focuses on:
- Building a learning mindset.
- Understanding your personal values and how they shape your decisions.
- Defining and strengthening your professional brand.
- Exploring career development opportunities and creating a future-focused plan.
- Understanding the internal and external barriers to change and growth.
Day two — wellbeing, employment and training pathways
Delivered by our qualified social workers, day two supports defence and veteran partners to prioritise their wellbeing while exploring employment, career, study, and training opportunities. The day opens with a wellbeing session on self-care and exploring emotions and connection through Brené Brown’s Atlas of the Heart, followed by presentations from Employment Services Organisations (ESOs) on employment, career, study, and training pathways, plus resume and job application support tailored to defence and veteran partners.
What you need to bring:
vulnerability, a growth mindset, and a desire for change. Commitment to both full days and a willingness to engage in all aspects of the program.
Who can apply
Expressions of interest are open to female partners of current and former serving ADF members, including widows, whose careers have been affected by their connection to Defence service. Ex-partners may also be considered.
How to apply
- Complete the Expressions of Interest form.
- Email your current resume to wellbeing@fov.org.au.
Applications are reviewed by CEO Renee Wilson and Social Work and Wellbeing Manager Lisa Stephenson. Applicants will be notified of the outcome by email by close of business on 8 September 2026.
Terms and conditions
- Only fully completed applications received by the closing date will be considered.
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Applicants must be available to personally attend and participate in the program online on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September 2026.
- The place in the program is non-transferable.
- Successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their own availability to attend, including any childcare arrangements and time off work required to fully participate in both days.
- Families of Veterans Guild’s decision on places is absolute and final.
- Information provided as part of the application remains private and confidential and will not be used for any other purpose — see the Families of Veterans Guild Privacy Policy.
- Successful applicants will be notified, and Families of Veterans Guild may also make public announcements.
For further information about the Rise Together Initiative, contact Kerrie or Lisa on 02 9267 6577 or wellbeing@fov.org.au.
What past participants say
“Thank you Families of Veterans Guild for the opportunity to attend the Women in Leadership Development (WILD) program of 2024. I am continually evolving in both personal and professional development and through this scholarship opportunity my growth will continue to expand throughout the course across to positive contributions in future roles.”
Mary Kingsford
2024 WILD Scholarship Recipient
“For me this program was transformative it helped me see that it was me standing in my own way, it was me who chose my then underemployment and chose to break free of that and step into where I should be at the level I should be, that I was ready for and didn’t realize it at the time.”
Renee Wilson
CEO, Families of Veterans Guild
“The Rise Together Initiative gave me the clarity, confidence and professional support I needed to refocus my career ambitions and pursue opportunities I hadn’t previously considered . Connecting with a group of driven Defence spouses gave me a genuine sense of belonging and a supportive network that continues to inspire me.”
Jodie Hutchison
Current serving defence partner
“The Rise Together initiative was a life changing experience. I walked away with the ability to understand my values, fine tune my public speaking skills and begin to create a plan of attack to secure the perfect career. I met wonderful people, that are not only role models but now life long friends. I would highly recommend this program to anyone needed to improve their confidence and motivation to succeed.”
Heidi Eldridge
Veteran partner
“I appreciate the opportunity to undertake the Rise Together Women in Leadership Scholarship. The course provided practical frameworks and valuable insights that strengthened my strategic thinking and self-awareness, supporting my continued development as a leader.”
Shevaun Rhodes
Current serving defence partner
“This course challenged the way I viewed myself in my work, in the most positive way. It has strengthened my confidence, built on my leadership skills and empowered me to lead with authenticity, no matter the role that I am in. I am so grateful to have had this opportunity not only to do the course but to have met and continue to engage with the ladies I met during this journey.”
Deanne Scotman
Veteran partner
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Rise Together Initiative?
Female partners of current and former serving ADF members, including widows, whose careers have been affected by their connection to Defence service. Ex-partners may also be considered.
What does the program cost?
Nothing. The program is fully funded by a private donor, and there is no cost to participants.
What does the program involve?
Two full days delivered online via Zoom on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 September 2026, covering personal and professional development, career and wellbeing support, and a wellbeing pack posted to attendees.
How do I apply?
Complete the Expressions of Interest form and email your current resume to wellbeing@fov.org.au. Applications open 1 August 2026 and close 2 September 2026.
When will I find out if I've been successful?
Applicants will be notified by email by close of business on 8 September 2026.
What if I miss out this year?
Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter or join our Wellbeing Facebook Group to be the first to hear about future opportunities.
What is the Rise Together Initiative, exactly?
It’s a fully funded, two-day online program that helps defence and veteran partners build career confidence and leadership skills. Day one is a psychologist-led workshop on your strengths, values, and professional brand; day two focuses on wellbeing, employment, and training pathways, with support from qualified social workers and Employment Services Organisations. The program gives partners the space, tools, and peer connection to step into the career and leadership roles they’re ready for.
Do I need to live in a particular location to take part?
No. Because the program is delivered fully online via Zoom, defence and veteran partners anywhere in Australia can take part — there’s no need to travel or live near a capital city.
The Rise Together Initiative is a program supporting female partners and widows of current or former ADF members to build career confidence and leadership skills through the Women in Leadership Development.
It all started with one widow wanting to support other women whose loved one has or did serve in the ADF, to mitigate the impacts of that service on their careers. This widow has privately funded 4 defence and veteran spouses to complete the program and in 2025 had funded another two, together with government funding which means 12 spouses had been able to access the program in 2025. Although applications for 2025 have ceased, future opportunities and initiatives like this one are to be expected in the future.
Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter or our Wellbeing Facebook Group to be the first one to hear about future initiatives.
Why defence & veteran partners need the Rise Together Initiative
The aim of the Rise Together Initiative is to build the career confidence of defence and veteran partners. Directly addressing the negative impacts of defence service on their careers.
Families of veterans make unique sacrifices when supporting their loved one, both during and after ADF service. Families of veterans balance the many demands of supporting family, relocations and adjustments, deployments and other absence from home, transition out of service and caring roles due to illness or injury.
Career satisfaction is an important element of wellbeing. We acknowledge that veteran families may face barriers in developing and maintaining their career aspirations due to the unique nature of defence life, increasing their risk of unemployment and underemployment. The purpose of this initiative is to encourage partners of former or current serving ADF members to focus on self-care and expand their careers by engaging in a Women in Leadership Development (WILD) program with like-minded peers, and is only accessible through the accepting application dates. Applications are closed for 2025.
Women in Leadership Development (WILD) Program description
The program was for women from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors, seeking a development experience to help upskill and prepare for future roles.
You may feel like an emerging leader, or you may feel like a ‘re-emerging’ leader, looking for a reset or ready for a sprint in your development. This may be your first leadership development program, or perhaps it has been a while since your last opportunity to pause and focus on your development and you feel the time is right.
WILD provided an opportunity to explore what it takes for women to exercise leadership and take up authority in leadership roles in Australia. This program was not about ‘fixing’ women but looking at leadership through the lens of gender. We look at leadership work as identity work and in this context explore how gender bias and organisational and societal barriers impact women taking up leadership roles.
WILD aimed to support women to focus on their own aspirations, and development goals and to consider the impact they would like to have in their workplaces and communities.
What the Rise Together Initiative & the Women in Leadership Development program provided
The WILD program for 2025 was facilitated by psychologists Jamie and Naomi from People Measures. The program has commenced in May 2025 and applications have officially closed. It runs for four months online and includes a week workshop in Sydney NSW.
Including an orientation, pre-work, a week long immersive in person workshop in Sydney NSW and 2x30min individual coaching sessions, this program was not to be missed. Whilst in Sydney, attendees are having the opportunity to meet with our Social Work and Wellbeing team and hear from the RSL Employment Program and Dress for Success NSW & ACT.
WILD explores several critical topics, including:
- Personal leadership style; understand your individual strengths and style - how you can best leverage those strengths and when they might get in the way.
- Leadership, management & technical work; you will better understand the differences between leadership, management and technical work, when you use each type of work and where they overlap.
- Influence & impact; explore influence at the micro level, and at the system level and draw on tools and models to increase your awareness and impact.
- Resilience & thriving; learn how to build your psychological flexibility and thrive to enable you to manage the challenges presented in your role.
- Leading self & others through change; understand the barriers to change and how to support yourself, others, teams and organisations move through change.
- Leading with purpose; understand and anchor to what matters most; leading with purpose can help sustain you through tough challenges.
- Breakthrough conversations; learn and practise a framework to hold conversations that can feel difficult.
- Reflective practice; a critical part of the learning cycle is creating space for reflection. Learn a framework and practice self-reflection during and between sessions.
Rise Together Initiative program application
Women in Leadership Development (WILD) is a program for emerging female leaders who want to enhance their influence and impact. We understand first-hand that the nature of defence service sometimes means that defence and veteran family member careers have taken a back seat to their loved ones. The Rise Together Initiative offered scholarships to twelve veteran partners in 2025. We are no longer offering positions this year. Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter or our Wellbeing Facebook Group to be the first one to hear about future initiatives.
Cost of the Women in Leadership Development (WILD) program
Applications that were successful have had no cost to the attendees for this program.
What is included in the Rise Together Initiative
- Four-month WILD program.
- Travel costs associated with attending the in-person workshop in Sydney NSW for those outside of the greater Sydney region. This includes flights, accommodation and a meal allowance.
Information & Instructions
Applications were open to female partners of current and former serving ADF members, including widows. No longer accepting applications. Subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter or our Wellbeing Facebook Group to be the first one to hear about future initiatives.
Application
2025 APPLICATIONS CLOSED.
Terms & Conditions
- Only fully completed applications, received by the closing date will be considered
- Applications received after the closing date will not be considered.
- Applicants must be available to personally attend and participate in the program online and in person in Sydney NSW.
- Program includes cost of program, flights, accommodation and a meal allowance for those not residing in the greater Sydney region.
- The application and program are non-transferable
- Successful applicants are responsible for ensuring their own availability to attend the program, including any childcare arrangements and arranging for time off work if required to fully participate in the course.
- Families of Veterans Guild’s decision on beneficiaries will be absolute and final.
- Information you provide as part of this application will remain private and confidential and will not be used for any other purpose see Families of Veterans Guild Privacy Policy here.
- Successful applications will be notified and Families of Veterans Guild may also publicly announce the recipients.
- Applicants must commit to providing a testimonial at the completion of the program.
Applicants have been notified regarding the outcome of their application. If you have missed out, please subscribe to our Wellbeing Newsletter or our Wellbeing Facebook Group to be the first one to hear about future initiatives.
For any further information about the Rise Together Initiative or the WILD program and possible opportunities in the future, please contact Kerrie or Lisa at 02 9267 6577 or wellbeing@fov.org.au.
“Thank you Families of Veterans Guild for the opportunity to attend the Women in Leadership Development (WILD) program of 2024. I am continually evolving in both personal and professional development and through this scholarship opportunity my growth will continue to expand throughout the course across to positive contributions in future roles.”
Mary Kingsford
2024 WILD Scholarship Recipient
“For me this program was transformative it helped me see that it was me standing in my own way, it was me who chose my then underemployment and chose to break free of that and step into where I should be at the level I should be, that I was ready for and didn’t realize it at the time.”
Renee Wilson
CEO, Families of Veterans Guild
“The Rise Together Initiative gave me the clarity, confidence and professional support I needed to refocus my career ambitions and pursue opportunities I hadn’t previously considered . Connecting with a group of driven Defence spouses gave me a genuine sense of belonging and a supportive network that continues to inspire me.”
Jodie Hutchison
Current serving defence partner