Bryan finds his place after service

After a decade in the Australian Army, Bryan thought he knew exactly what came next. 

As a Telecommunications Technician who had deployed overseas, worked with the Australian Federation Guard and spent the latter part of his military career as a Physical Training Instructor, Bryan loved being part of high-performing teams, developing people and helping others succeed. 

But when he transitioned to civilian life, he found himself unexpectedly adrift. 

“I just felt lost,” Bryan remembers. 

Like many veterans, the skills that had helped him thrive in Defence did not immediately translate into a clear civilian career pathway. While he completed a mature-age electrical apprenticeship and moved into training and assessment roles, something was missing. 

“The same things that helped me excel in the military, weren’t helping me excel in the outside world,” he says.

Bryan in training at Kapooka before eventually moving into the role of Physical Training Instructor later in his military career.

A loss of direction 

For Bryan, service wasn’t just a job. It offered structure, mentorship and a strong sense of purpose. 

“In the military, you have guidance, support and people in higher positions who can help. I didn’t have that,” he says. 

Unsure of his next step, Bryan began searching for veteran employment support and came across the RSL Employment Program delivered by RSL Queensland. 

“I didn’t approach the program with a specific job in mind, and I didn’t know what I was going to gain, but I knew I needed help and direction,” he says. 

“Any push, any support, any ideas; I was just mainly looking for support.” 

More than support 

What Bryan found through the RSL Employment Program was more than practical career guidance. 

From the initial intake process through to ongoing conversations with the team, he said every interaction helped him gain greater clarity about his strengths, interests and future direction. 

“There wasn’t a single conversation that wasn’t useful,” he remembers. 

Bryan credits the Employment Program team with helping him recognise that his greatest strengths were not necessarily technical. 

“My energy, my people skills and leadership were what let me excel in the military,” he explains. 

“I was struggling to find a way to let that show and find the right company.” 

Throughout the entire process, Bryan says the support he received from RSL Queensland felt genuine and personal. 

“Every member of the team went above and beyond,” he explains. 

“It wasn’t just employment support – it became a cheer squad and a source of reassurance for me.”

Bryan found it easy to access support from the RSL Employment Program team over the phone.

Finding the right fit 

One of the biggest lessons Bryan learned during his transition was that fulfilment matters just as much as financial security. 

“After serving for that long, you naturally believe you should go where you can do the most good, not just where you can make the most money,” he says. 

With support from RSL Queensland, Bryan began focusing on opportunities that aligned with those values. 

That ultimately led him to Toowoomba Regional Council, where he now works as Electrical Supervisor within Property Services. 

Interestingly, the role wasn't the one he originally applied for – Bryan had initially interviewed for a project management position, but the recruiting team recognised something else in him. 

“They said, ‘The team really needs someone like you’,” he recalls, and for the first time since leaving the Army, Bryan felt an employer truly understood the value he could bring. 

“They saw my strengths. They saw leadership and my ability to develop a team,” he says. 

In his role as Electrical Supervisor within Property Services, Bryan balances the day-to-day maintenance and upkeep of Council facilities with planning for larger projects, supporting his team and creating opportunities for their training and development. 

His team also contributed to preparations for the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers, an experience that gave Bryan a renewed sense of pride in being part of something larger and community focused. 

“Seeing the result and how beautiful it looks, and having played even a small part in that, is a sense of pride,” he says.

The role has restored the sense of service Bryan had been missing since leaving the Army. “It’s not a pay cheque anymore. It’s true passion and involvement,” he says. “You want to give more, go further and deliver the gold standard of work.”

That change is also being felt at home. Bryan says he is happier, more present with his family and once again feels like he is operating at his best.

For the first time, his young son can see the excitement Bryan has for his work. He understands that, when his dad receives a call-out, it’s because something important needs to be fixed.

“He knows the impact I’m having, and he gets excited,” Bryan says. “He sees my passion. It’s not frustration, it’s not stress, it’s passion.”

Knowing his son can now see that sense of purpose means everything to Bryan. 

Bryan has now found a renewed sense of purpose in his new role as Electrical Supervisor at Toowoomba Regional Council.

A new chapter 

Today, Bryan is helping lead and develop others, drawing on the same skills that served him throughout his military career. 

Looking back, he says reaching out for support was one of the best decisions he's ever made. 

With life after service being uncertain, Bryan hopes his story shows that it's okay not to have all the answers immediately. 

“Sometimes you just need support and direction. I’d recommend [the RSL Employment Program] to anyone who needs a little extra help,” he says. 

In Bryan’s case, that support helped transform uncertainty into opportunity, allowing him to build a career where he can once again lead, mentor and make a meaningful difference.

And in many ways, that's exactly what he was searching for all along.