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Veterans honoured for community contribution

Generations of students will benefit from the legacy left by the 2025 cohort of Australian Catholic University Student Veteran Impact Award recipients.

ACU is the sector leader in Australian Defence Force career transition as the first university to implement a comprehensive credit recognition framework for current and former ADF members and their families.

It also lauds individual endeavour with the awards, which recognise continuing and graduating student veterans who make significant contributions to the university and wider community.

More than just recognition of academic achievement, the awards celebrate students from ACU’s veteran entry pathway who have embodied empathy, service and advocacy, either to their peers or via impactful contribution to community groups.

Recipients of the 2025 awards all made lasting contributions to peer support networks.

Carlee Portlock, nominated in the graduating category, has been an inspiration to her peers as vice-president of the Melbourne Student Veteran Society (MSVS) which has grown to more than 65 members.

As a co-designer of the MSVS logo, the Bachelor of Paramedicine student helped shape the society as an organiser of ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day events and driver of engagement within the veteran community, all while serving in the Australian Defence Force Reserves.

“Commitment to service is a common thread within the defence community,” ACU Vice-Chancellor and President Zlatko Skrbis said.

“It is an enormous honour that ACU can recognise and celebrate the contributions made by those who have stood for this country.”

Since expanding its ground-breaking support framework by extending the Veteran Entry Program (VEP) to immediate family members of serving and ex-Australian Defence Force personnel, ACU has removed many barriers to higher education for the defence community.

Among those who arrived via the family pathway were twins Isabella and Chelsea Rosewarne.

The Ballarat campus Bachelor of Physiotherapy students collectively are involved in a host of community groups, including the Physiotherapy Committee, Aquanis Run Club, Campus Ministry, Scouts Australia and Lifesaving Victoria.

“Being part of the student veterans community makes me feel supported and connected,” Isabella said.

“Having those relationships outside the structured uni environment is really important.”

Bachelor of Criminology student Paul Payne was recognised in the continuing student category for an assortment of co-curricular pursuits.

As Secretary of the MSVS, he contributed to Orientation and Open Day activities and steered events in support of Veteran Health Week.

Beyond the MSVS he was involved in Campus Ministry, the Ignite Youth Conference and NAIDOC Week events via Melbourne’s Indigenous Higher Education Unit Jim-baa-yeer.

Student Veteran Impact Awards recipients: