Uniting Wimmera has won the 2019 Defence Reserves Support Council National Employer Support Awards in the not-for-profit category.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The awards acknowledge the contributions made by organisations that employ defence reservists in civilian roles.
The organisation's youth and homelessness teams manager Meredith Knoop was at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra on Tuesday to accept the award on behalf of the organisation, after being nominated by Ararat Lieutenant Delphine Astier from the 2nd Force Support Battalion.
Lieutenant Astier is an officer with Uniting's Prison Exit program, which provides specialist housing support across five Wimmera municipalities to people exiting Ararat's Hopkins and Beaufort's Langi Kal Kal correctional facilities.
Lt Astier said Uniting had supported her while she underwent defence training since 2014.
"Uniting Wimmera's support and provision of flexible time arrangements has allowed me to contribute a high level of capability to the battalion, particularly at short notice," she said.
As a reservist Lt Astier has worked as a transport officer providing logistical support to the army. She served as battalion commander of Horsham's 128 Transport Troop on Baillie Street for 18 months, and in April 2018 recently took up a full-time job at the army's 145 Signal Squadron in Sydney.
"I am on extended leave without pay from Uniting while doing my full time service, and it is keeping my position available for me when my contract ends in mid-December," she said.
The Horsham battalion provides qualified drivers of military vehicles. Lt Astier said Wimmera defence force members had also been deployed on operations overseas and taken part in major defence force exercises.
Ms Knoop said the organisation was humbled to have received the award.
"We look forward to years of continued mutual benefits working with our Australian Defence Force reservists," Ms Knoop said.
The organisation won the national category after also winning the Victorian Employer of the Year Award for the same achievement in October last year.
While you're with us, you can now receive updates straight to your inbox twice weekly from the Wimmera Mail-Times. To make sure you're up-to-date with all the news from across the Wimmera, sign up below.
Alexander Darling
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
Alexander has been a member of the Wimmera Mail-Times' editorial team since December 2018, covering politics, business and property among other rounds. He is a passionate St.Kilda and rock and roll fan, and has previously worked as a radio reporter in Port Macquarie and Gosford, NSW.
