Ken Orr continues to serve through the Gold Coast Health Veteran Network

Becoming involved in both the military and the medical field came naturally for Southport RSL Sub Branch Deputy President Ken Orr.  

With a father who served as a medic in the New Zealand Army and his grandfather and great-grandfathers having military backgrounds, Ken says it felt right to follow in their footsteps – serving nine years as a medic in the New Zealand Army Reserves.  

“I grew up around a hospital, my dad was one of the first male registered nurses in New Zealand, so I guess I knew I'd always end up in a hospital somewhere,” Ken says. 

“I got involved in St John cadets when I was eight years old and knowing that dad had been a medic in the Army, when I turned 18 it seemed like a great thing for me to then progress onto, something a bit different and a challenge”.  

Today, Ken’s dedication to service has extended beyond his family’s legacy through his active involvement with Southport RSL Sub Branch and the Gold Coast Health Veteran Employee Network. 

Building connections in the veteran community  

Ken and his young family decided to move to Australia, and he accepted a role at Gold Coast Health  in 2003. 

“Big organisations like Gold Coast Health bring some of the same familiarities as the military,” Ken explains. 

“They have various roles and structure which veterans are definitely used to and also opportunities to be a great team player or develop as a leader.”  

After getting settled on the Gold Coast, Ken became a member of Surfers Paradise RSL Sub Branch and then Southport RSL Sub Branch. Since becoming a member over a decade ago, Ken has taken on various volunteer roles with both Sub Branches, RSL Gold Coast District and is now Deputy President at Southport. 

“I decided I wanted to get involved with an RSL Sub Branch after going to many commemorations with my son, who was volunteering at as a Senior Navy Cadet through school,” Ken says. 

“Looking back, I'm very grateful my son inspired me to become an RSL member through his example of volunteering. It keeps me busy, and I enjoy doing a variety of different things to help veterans and their families.” 

Expanding pathways and opportunities 

This sense of purpose and commitment to veterans led Ken to eagerly get involved when Gold Coast Health proposed the concept of a Veteran Network in late 2019. 

“I have gained a lot of skills and experiences through my RSL work that I knew I could apply to being part of a veteran network, and it would also provide me with some new challenges,” Ken explains. 

“The purpose of the Network is about bringing the veteran spirit into our health community, so for our veteran staff and staff in general at Gold Coast Health, but also for our patients, visitors, carers and families.” 

The Network offers veterans support and guidance, organises social activities beyond the workplace, promotes commemorations throughout the year, and advocates for veteran recruitment.  

Since its beginnings in 2019, 60 veterans are currently members of the Network, and Ken has taken on the role of Chair with a steering committee of three others. 

“We are also implementing a buddy support program, recognising when we have any new veteran staff, we want to make sure that we don't just employ them, we actually support them during their early times in the workplace,” Ken explains.  

“Our motto is We Still Serve, which is reflective of the fact that we have served in the military and now continue to serve the community here in the hospital and health service – this is also a part of Gold Coast Health’s ‘Always Care’ philosophy.” 

Fostering collaboration and community for veterans 

Ken says the Network take prides in their promotion of important commemorations which includes services for ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day as well as different activities around Gold Coast Health facilities leading up to these days, including unique initiatives like stations to hand out rosemary and poppies. 

“We try to spread activities out around our health service in as many facilities as we can because we have three hospitals and multiple health precincts. We want to be inclusive and get people involved,” Ken says. 

“The Southport RSL Sub Branch also help with our commemorative activities too by providing poppies. In return, colleagues from the Network attend Southport RSL Sub Branch ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day services.” 

In addition to advancing what the Network already offers; Ken hopes moving forward more awareness can be raised of the transferable skills that veterans can bring into all workplaces. 

“The RSL Employment Program in particular does some great work in that space,” Ken says. 

“The average age of a veteran transitioning from Defence is quite young, late twenties to early thirties, so these are people that have had on average about a decade of service. They've learned a lot and have many skills to bring across to the health and other sectors. 

“A lot of the time it's something that's part of life’s plan to move from military into civilian life, but it can still be a difficult change. It's all about recognising that and figuring out how we can best support veterans along the way.”