Building a Research and Education Legacy: Reflections from the 12 Months On Conference

As the Pro Patria Centre marks 12 months of partnership with Charles Sturt University (CSU), our  “12 Months On” Conference was the perfect occasion to reflect on our achievements and chart our path forward. We were honoured to be joined by Professor Megan Smith, who shared her insights on the collaboration’s impact and the exciting future ahead.

Professor Smith opened her remarks with a warm welcome to the CSU campus on Wiradjuri land, saying, “It’s a pleasure to be here and to welcome you all to Charles Sturt University and our beautiful campus here on Wiradjuri land. It’s wonderful that we’ve turned on a great day for you.”

Professor Megan Smith is a highly experienced leader in regional higher education, currently serving as Executive Dean of the Faculty of Science and Health. With a background in clinical physiotherapy and a PhD in clinical reasoning, she has founded several key initiatives including the Charles Sturt School of Rural Medicine.

Renowned for her inclusive leadership, Professor Smith is committed to improving rural health and science outcomes, making regional education more accessible, and supporting students from diverse backgrounds.

A Milestone Partnership for Regional Australia

It was just 12 months ago that the Pro Patria Centre and CSU signed an historic Memorandum of Understanding, setting the foundation for joint support of veterans, first responders, and their families, particularly in regional areas. Professor Smith reflected, “Charles Sturt University is very proud to be working in strategic collaboration with the Pro Patria Centre to support veterans, first responders and their families, and especially in our regional areas. Through this partnership, we are building evidence to support Pro Patria’s innovative initiatives in making a difference in people’s lives, whether it’s recovery, connection or finding purpose after service. Our research and education programs are designed to honour their experiences and to help you thrive.”

Launching a Two-Year Research Strategy

A highlight of the conference was the launch of our joint research strategy. Professor Smith announced, “We’re excited to be partnering with Pro Patria Centre and to be announcing today our research strategy, and this will be what we’re planning to do for the next two years. So that’s 2025 to 2027.”

She explained, “The development of the research strategy has been a collaborative effort. It is the result of a co-design between the veterans and board members from Pro Patria and our researchers here at Charles Sturt University. What the strategy aims to do is to provide a clear guide for the types of research activities that we will do.”

The strategy will focus on four interconnected domains—health and wellbeing, physical health and performance, family and community, and innovative therapies. These have been shaped to reflect the real-world needs of veterans and their families. Professor Smith said, “The strategy takes a holistic approach, addressing physical, mental, emotional and social well-being. The research spans clinical innovation, community engagement and emerging therapies. Each domain is designed to foster resilience, recovery and belonging, again, especially for our regional communities.”

A Roadmap for Lasting Impact

Professor Smith described the staged approach to the research agenda: “The strategy is guided by a clear and staged roadmap over two years. Each phase builds momentum from planning and evidence base to securing resources and delivering impact. The goal of this is that we will look to investment to enable us to do more.”

She stressed that the timeline “reflects a commitment to sustained progress and long-term outcomes. It ensures that research efforts are purposeful, coordinated and aligned with strategic goals. An important part of any part of our research is the advocacy for which we share the work that we’re doing amongst and so it’s this is the type of audience where we want to be talking about the research that needs to be done and is being done.”

Education Pathways for Veterans

Beyond research, CSU and Pro Patria are collaborating to support veterans transitioning into new careers through education. “We’re committed here at Charles Sturt to recognising the service and knowledge attainment of our veterans and delivering a pathway program that supports veterans to seek the next stage in their career journey. And they’re really looking and focusing on what is that transition from completion of service into a new career,” Professor Smith explained.

She outlined three key streams: supporting direct entry to university programs, recognising prior learning, and providing robust student support systems. “One of the unique things we’re offering is that the equivalence of an ATAR of 73 can provide entry into 50 undergraduate degrees. So someone who’s looking and saying, ‘Well, I don’t have an education that looks very traditional,’ we can say, ‘Well, let’s turn that into something that looks a bit more traditional for you through a recognition process.’”

Professor Smith also emphasised support services: “Some of the things we’ve been looking at are the particular needs that might be from students who’ve had a veteran background, such as mentoring, networking, career support programs, wraparound support and student support, and particularly in some academic learning skills such as library support, careers advice, scholarships and financial assistance and counselling and wellbeing services.”

Looking Ahead

Concluding her address, Professor Smith stated, “Oftentimes you sign an MOU, and we all go, that’s all very nice. But the next step is committing that into action. And I hope just sharing some of the ideas we have, the directions, and I really want to acknowledge the members of all of our teams and the Pro Patria board and team people, everyone who’s been working together to actually realise and turn the MOU into some tangible actions. And I think you can see for the future ahead, we’ve got some great ideas of where we’re going to next.”

As we reflect on the past year, the Pro Patria Centre and Charles Sturt University stand united in our mission—driving research and education that truly makes a difference for our veteran and first responder communities.

Pro Patria Centre, 12 Months On Conference Team