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Finding a new way to serve - how Bart changed his life story.

From serving with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) to working with the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), Bart has found a way to continue serving his community, with a little help from you, our Dream Home Art Union VIPs, along the way.

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.”

The pull to return to family.

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.”

“That family separation started to weigh pretty heavily after some time.”

Ultimately, Bart made the decision to leave the Air Force and return to his family and friends.

A big adjustment to civilian life.

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.

From career support to social support.

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.”

Gratitude for support.

Bart is forever grateful to the supporters who make these programs through RSL Queensland possible. “Whether it was in the military or now in my current role, I’ve always wanted to serve the community,” he says. “And thanks to the support I’ve received, I’ve found a way to keep doing that.”

“To all the supporters of Dream Home Art Union, I say a heartfelt thank you. Without you, these services wouldn’t be here.”