Nine years of asking a hard question
Kate's doctoral research is the most comprehensive study of post-service employment for Australian uniformed professionals ever undertaken. The findings don't sit on a shelf — they power everything CLET does.
Moving Forward
Kate's doctoral thesis — "Moving Forward: employment post-service for Australian uniformed professionals" — is the most comprehensive study of its kind in Australia.
Drawing on interviews and assessments with thousands of Defence Force, Police, and Emergency Services personnel, it explores why transition is so hard — and what genuinely works.
Service personnel don't lack skills. They lack a system that recognises what those skills are worth.
— Dr Kate Martin, DBA
- Thesis Title
- Moving Forward: employment post-service for Australian uniformed professionals
- Qualification
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Institution
- Charles Sturt University
- Research Period
- 9 years (awarded 2023)
- People Assessed
- 30,000+
What the research reveals
Service members often define themselves entirely by their role. When the role ends, they need structured support — not just retraining.
Formal recognition of experiential learning allows veterans and officers to enter civilian careers at the level they've actually earned.
The research shows meaningful post-service adjustment takes 3–7 years. Rushed processes leave people behind.