Emerge Foundation announces support for veterans

On the eve of ANZAC Day, the Emerge Foundation has announced a broadening of its fund-raising efforts to help Australia’s former service men and women.

The Foundation, which is a long-standing charity run by financial advisers, fund managers and financial services professional, has set up a scholarship program for veterans to help them transition to tertiary education through a course at the Australian Catholic University (ACU)

According to Emerge founder, Ian MacRitchie the scholarships enable veterans or their immediate family members to attend the bridging course – the Veteran Transition Program.

The program, established in 2020, has already proved highly successful with 140 students attending 86% of whom went on to complete their tertiary studies.

“For many Australians around ANZAC Day our thoughts are with those who have served our country and the sacrifices they and their families have made. In recent years, more attention is being given to the help we can, and should, give to those to transition to better lives at the end of their service,” MacRitchie said

“Each year close to 6,000 members of the Australian Defence Force leave the military, however the transition to civilian life can be a challenging endeavour for many, with high rates of unemployment and mental health challenges prevalent in this community,” Mr he said. “We have partnered with the Australian Catholic University to help create better opportunities for veterans through higher education.”

The Emerge Foundation was established by MacRitchie and his wife Marionne in 2007 with a focus on supporting education and healthcare programs in Timor Leste.

The Emerge Foundation is Financial Newswire’s chosen charity partner for next month’s Women in Wealth Awards.