College rewarded for Reserve support

Canterbury College at Waterford, Queensland, has won the not-for-profit category of the recently announced Queensland Defence Employer Support Awards.

CAPTION: Major Ben Lanskey from Defence Reserves Support, left, Canterbury College’s Flight Lieutenant Greg Wacker and Canterbury College principal Daniel Walker at the presentation of the Queensland Employer Support Award 2021. Story by Flight Lieutenant Nick O’Connor.

Held annually, the Employer Support Awards formally recognise civilian employers’ commitment over a sustained period or a special effort to workplace practices that enable an ADF Reserve member to complete their ADF service commitments.

Head of the Canterbury College Centre for Entrepreneurship and Leadership Flight Lieutenant Greg Wacker nominated the college for its unwavering support of his Air Force Reserve service as a training systems officer based at RAAF Base Amberley.

“Canterbury is very understanding of my Reserve role, and values the skills and experience this brings into the college including leadership, management and organisation,” Flight Lieutenant Wacker said.

“My role in the RAAF also fits nicely with Canterbury’s vocational training offering and the compliance that comes with it.

“Canterbury’s support has also helped me to develop my RAAF career by allowing me to complete my necessary days and additional training.”

Canterbury College principal Daniel Walker said the college was honoured to win the award and was proud to support ADF Reserve members.

“We provide a day each week for Defence leave to ensure Greg has sufficient time to meet his Air Force commitments,” Mr Walker said.

“We would provide the same support to any current or potential new employee, both from a service point of view, and also as a way of staying connected to other industry sectors.”

Deputy Head of Defence’s Joint Support Services Division Brigadier Nicole Longley congratulated Canterbury College and thanked all employers throughout Queensland for supporting their reservist employees.

“Every day, employers such as Canterbury College support Defence Force reservists through a range of flexible working arrangements and policies,” Brigadier Longley said.

“The support provided is not only valued by the reservist, but by the entire ADF.

“Anyone who employs a reservist has a valuable member on their team – an employee whose training and service ethic drives performance and effectiveness in the workplace.

“Employing a reservist makes good business sense.

“As well as the personal attributes reservists bring to a workplace, there is a range of incentives on offer to support employers.”

For more information on support for ADF Reserve members and their civilian employers, visit www.defencereservessupport.gov.au.

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