The long line of Defence, Researcher acknowledged for service
With lived experience in understanding the impacts of Defence service on work, family and personal life, CQUniversity lecturer and avid researcher Dr Amy Johnson was recently placed as a finalist in the prestigious 2023 Prime Minister’s National Veterans’ Employment Awards.
Initiated in 2018, the Veterans’ Employment Awards recognises organisations that employ and support veterans and partners of current and former Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel, alongside celebrating the remarkable achievements of veterans and partners in their careers and business.
“Being a Defence partner has significantly influenced my life, and my career, and drove me to pursue my full-time occupation as a researcher and lecturer at CQUniversity,” Dr Johnson said.
Dr Johnson was nominated in the Partner Employee of the Year category, which recognises those who have mitigated the career challenges that can arise for the partners who support ADF members. Dr Johnson’s nomination acknowledged how she’s built a successful academic career while supporting her partner, a Royal Australian Navy (RAN) veteran, as well as serving as a reservist officer in the RAN herself.
Dr Johnson said that the main aim of her research is to showcase the resilience and strength of Defence partners and families, with her research outputs serving to benefit the Defence community and broader society, through providing support, acknowledgement, and advocacy for the ‘home front’.
“There are profound impacts and challenges that arise as being part of a military family or the spouse of Defence personnel or a veteran.
“As a family, we’ve experienced several overseas deployments, many short-notice absences and multiple interstate relocations,” Dr Johnson said.
“And while it of course largely impacts individuals, families and Defence communities directly, these impacts also have a ripple effect on the broader community, so my research seeks to better understand these impacts and how the best support can be provided, alongside acknowledging the hard work that exists on the home front that allows our ADF personnel to do what they need to do.”
Being nominated as a finalist in the awards acknowledges how Dr Johnson has leveraged her firsthand experience in Defence service directly to her work at CQUniversity.
“I didn’t take out the winning place in this year’s awards; the award went to Julie Hall from the Commonwealth Bank, and it was well deserved,” Dr Johnson said.
“Trying to build a career isn’t easy when you are connected to the military, but amid the challenges and frustrations, I learnt some valuable skills which have set me apart in the workplace.
“I’m also very privileged to work for CQUniversity whose values of engagement, collaboration and inclusion have been critical to my success, and so it is really wonderful to be recognised as a finalist in the Awards.”
