Deputy PM Visit: See Differently's Veterans Program Impact

See Differently with the Royal Society for the Blind was honoured to welcome the Deputy Prime Minister, the Honourable Richard Marles MP, to our South Australian headquarters, highlighting the significant ways the not-for-profit sector is supporting both our sovereign defence capability and veterans whose lives are impacted by PTSD.

Accompanied by the Federal Member for Sturt, the Honourable Claire Clutterham MP, the Deputy Prime Minister saw first-hand how See Differently is strengthening Australian manufacturing capability while providing meaningful, award wage employment to people with disabilities.

Executive Director at See Differently Damian Papps, said the Deputy Prime Minister commented on the wide range of industries we support and the scale of our manufacturing operation.

“Manufacturing has always been a core service to us, and we are in expansion, with new contracts like manufacturing Carman’s fruit straps allowing us to offer more supported employment,” Damian said.

[Image Description: Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles touring See Differently’s Manufacturing & Packaging Facility at Gilles Plains.]

“While we already work with some defence businesses, we know there is an opportunity to do more with this sector, and for the government to support local supply chains, especially those that are delivering both great quality services as well as social impact.”

The other life changing program that the Deputy Prime Minister experienced on the day is the See Differently OPK9 Program, which provides veterans with PTSD with a highly trained assistance dog and ongoing support.

Our internationally accredited program is supported by the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as corporate partners in defence like Daronmont Technologies and Redarc Defence & Space.

Veterans Lucas and Troy met the Deputy Prime Minister and were able to share their experiences of leaving the armed services, their eventual diagnoses with PTSD and the road to recovery which has been possible through a See Differently Assistance Dog.

[Image Description: Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles MP and Federal Member for Sturt, Claire Clutterham MP, talking to Lucas at Gilles Plains.]

“Our OPK9 program changes and saves lives. It was an incredible opportunity to show the Deputy Prime Minister the level of training our team provides to the dogs and the veterans. But the most powerful message was from the veterans themselves – that their lives have been saved by this program.

“We are grateful to the Federal Government for their support of our OPK9 program and in coming years we are investing to expand the program to help even more veterans suffering from PTSD to benefit from an Assistance Dog.”

Deputy Prime Minister’s visit demonstrates impact of See Differently’s life-changing veterans program and Australian manufacturing capability