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Finding a new way to serve - how Bart changed his life story
Meet Bart, who is our dedicated hero for VIP Heroes Draw 21. From the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Bart has dedicated his life to helping others.
After leaving the RAAF, where he served as an Avionics Mechanic, Bart struggled to find direction, cycling through jobs. Then a turning point, through the RSL Employment Program, Bart discovered his passion wasn’t a technical job, it was about helping people.
Bart found a meaningful role at the NDIS and is forever grateful for RSL Queensland’s support.
“To all the supporters of Dream Home Art Union, thank you. Without you, these services wouldn’t be here.”
A career takes off
Bart’s passion for service began early. “As a kid, I was always in the Army Cadets,” he shares. That foundation eventually led him to the Army Reserves, and later, the RAAF, where he built a career that combined his technical skills with his desire to help people.
One of the most defining moments of Bart’s Air Force career was his deployment to East Timor in 1999-2000. As an Avionics Mechanic with 37 Squadron Hercules, he was part of a team managing logistical operations to support troops and cargo. “We stationed in Darwin and flew in and out of Dili several times a day,” Bart recalls. “It was a lot of refitting aircraft, changing configurations, or doing on-tarmac repairs to keep the aircraft flying.”
“East Timor was a highlight in my military experience - getting to put into practice what we trained for.”
While Bart valued the camaraderie of military life, being far from home eventually took a toll, and the pull to return home to family could not be ignored. “While the military community is very close-knit and there’s that feeling of pride, I really missed my family,” Bart explains. “Part and parcel of joining the military is moving to where they need you.”
Ultimately, Bart made the decision to leave the Air Force and return to his family and friends.
“That family separation started to weigh pretty heavily after some time.”
Leaving the military was a challenging time for Bart. “In those very early days, straight after Defence, I went from one job to another, pay-the-bills sort of things,” he says. While focused on supporting his growing family, Bart still felt unsure about his future. “After doing that for a number of years, I decided to reach out to RSL Queensland.”
Help was at hand from RSL Queensland
Bart’s turning point came when he connected with the RSL Employment Program. Through personalised value seeking surveys, career exploration sessions and personal motivation assessments with his Employment Consultant Amy, Bart began to reflect on what truly motivated him.
“I’d always thought I wanted to work in a technical field, like I did in Defence,” he explains.
“But through the program, I found that my real drive is helping people and serving people.”
Bart’s Employment Consultant, Amy, helped guide him toward new career paths and also provided practical support through resume writing and interview skills. “Amy spoke to me fortnightly and got to know me very well,” Bart shares. “She was able to guide me to career opportunities I wouldn’t have looked at before.”
Finding purpose with the NDIS
Today, Bart works in disability support, where he’s found his drive again. “I’m really proud of that. It’s a great place to work,” he says. “There’s no focus on selling or making profits for anyone. It’s all focused on the participant and doing some good for the community, and those people that really need it.”
For Bart, his new role allows him to carry forward the values he embraced in the military - serving others and contributing to the community. “I’ve been very fortunate in that I can still serve the community in my current role,” he says.
Bart also benefited from a sense of community provided by the RSL Queensland Veteran & Family Wellbeing Centre. “The social events and the barbecues are really good,” he says. “It was great to see a lot of veterans of all ages coming together. It’s such a good community hub.”
Bart’s advice for fellow veterans
Bart knows it can be a challenge to navigate life after military service and his advice is simple. Don’t hesitate to ask for help.
“The RSL Employment Program is something definitely worth looking at,” Bart says. “They provided me with services and support I didn’t even realise I needed.”
Bart adds, “I would have pursued a completely different path. The guidance they provided helped me find a direction I wouldn’t have found on my own.”
Frequently asked questions
Funds raised through Dream Home Art Union (the new name of RSL Art Union) allows RSL Queensland to provide practical support, assistance, advice and camaraderie to current and former Australian Defence Force members and their families across Queensland and nationally.
RSL Queensland’s mission is to provide care, commemoration and camaraderie to enable veterans and families to live with dignity and respect.
For example, in 2023, RSL Queensland supported 8,411 veterans and their families with their services, found jobs for 285 veterans and their partners, and helped 202 individuals into safe, permanent housing.
You can read about our services and stories at dreamhomeartunion.com.au/about/impact.
Life always has its ups and downs. But as a veteran, or the partner of a veteran, you don’t have to face them on your own.
Whether you're looking for employment, scholarships, wellness programs, or assistance with DVA claims, RSL Queensland has free programs, and people at the ready, to help you achieve your life goals.
To learn more and get assistance, visit www.rslqld.org or call 134 RSL.
Every year we bring you 10 multi-million dollar prize home properties, some with added gold bullion or even luxury cars. Get a sneak peak at future prizes with up to 5 games available for purchase or pre-order at any time. See the VIP Calendar for more on prize draw dates.
In addition to our 10 prize home draws each year, VIP Club members have exclusive entry in two VIP-only Heroes Draws worth millions in gold bullion (subject to State/Territory Licensing approval). In other words, you must be a VIP Club member to be able to purchase these tickets. See the VIP Calendar for more on prize draw dates. Or find out about how you can become a VIP here from $5 a ticket.
If you purchase a ticket book worth $10 or more in one of our 8 prize home draws, or a ticket book worth $30 or more in one of our 2 Golden Treasure prize home draws, you're eligible to win a Bonus Gold prize!
Ranging between $10,000 and $100,000 in gold bullion, the Bonus Gold prize is awarded to the first prize winner and determined by the value of their ticket book purchase.
For more information, please see the Terms and Conditions.
You have the option of taking possession of the gold bullion or selling the gold bullion to claim its value in cash.
Please note that selling costs and market variations apply when selling gold bullion.
After each draw, we attempt to contact the winner by phone as the priority. The winning ticket number will also be posted on our Winners page, Facebook and Instagram shortly after the draw.
See our latest winner stories.
Full details of our current, and some of our upcoming draws are available online – see Prizes.
For the latest draw updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
If you're signed up for our emails, we'll email you on the open day of each draw, giving you all the draw details and the chance to order tickets.
See the VIP Calendar for draw dates.
The transfer of all our lottery prizes to prize winners is not taxable for the prize winner. There may be tax consequences for the prize winner for the ongoing use or sale of the prize. More detailed information can be found via the Australian Taxation Office.
Please note RSL Queensland is not able to provide financial or taxation advice. We advise all our prize winners to seek professional financial and tax advice to fully understand any implications.
Dream Home Art Union (the new name of RSL Art Union) draws are held at ANZAC House, 283 St Pauls Terrace, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006 or as specified in the Terms and Conditions for each draw. Draw results will be published online, on Facebook and Instagram.
The majority of Dream Home Art Union (the new name of RSL Art Union) prize homes are built brand new, while some are existing homes, expertly renovated. In both instances, RSL Queensland works closely with our accredited partners in the building industry to ensure the highest quality of standards is maintained.
Due to the often residential location and popularity of our prize homes, Dream Home Art Union (the new name of RSL Art Union) has not been permitted by regional councils to conduct open homes because of the disruption to the local community.
Our prize homes might be closed to public viewing, but you can explore them in just as much detail online, any time you like! Visit our Prize page to access draw brochures, photos, videos, floor plans and virtual tours. All addresses are listed on our prize pages, so why not take a drive past and explore the neighbourhood. Dream Home Art Union (the new name of RSL Art Union) will continue to assess opportunities to re-open prize homes to the public into the future.