- I thought about transitioning out of Defence over the last 12 months so started to do some research on using the information that was available on the Internal Defence Web and that led me down the path of the DVA resources and that then led into the VSOs.

- A VSO is a DVA staff member and what we do is speak one-on-one with members to help them get their DVA business sorted, hopefully, long before they transition down the line.

- The veteran support officers actually engage early in the process of your ADF career and the difference that makes is that it's not something that only happens to people who are injured. It's actually part of your entitlements and it's part of this country's recognition of what you do when you pull on a uniform.

- Generally speaking, we're working in both sort of a preventative way as well as those who are transitioning out and may have left their business a bit too late.

- Having the ability to go and talk to a VSO before I transitioned was really important. I've been injured over my career a couple of times and was aware that post-defence service that I'd need support as I got older with managing some of my medical conditions or injuries.

- If they are transitioning unexpectedly, if they are transitioning much earlier than they thought, their career in the ADF is coming to an end at a time when they thought it would be continuing, it can be really difficult to grapple with that process, as well as grappling with what DVA processes are.

- [Sophie] If they're talking about mental health, we can then educate them on services like Open Arms, linking in with peers, getting them involved in Open Arms workshops, as well as educating them about accessing non-liability healthcare.

- VSOs are on 56 bases across Australia. Highly likely they're on your base. Some bases, they're not there full time, but we will have a regular schedule when we visit, but that doesn't mean you can't pick up the phone and call as well. 1800-VETERAN, really easy to remember and ask to be put through to your nearest VSO.

- The role of VSO for me is very important in the sense that all those serving members have been in their shoes and during my time of transition, I did not have that sort of help. So what a VSO provides is very, very vital which is the first point of contact in terms of information and direction in terms of where to seek and when to seek that help.

- Veteran support officers will do everything we can to support you through a smooth transition. And on the other side, you'll still have DVA to support you whenever you need.

- My advice to anyone who's watching this now and feels as though they have everything under control, nothing's out of control until it is actually out of control and your career isn't over until it is actually over. Going through the process myself, it took 14 months and I'm glad that I was still in full-time service and had no time limit on when things actually came full circle for me.

- I'm quite confident that I am leaving defence as prepared as I can be. It's still a terrifying feeling leaving something that you've done for so many years of your life, but knowing that I've been supported through the transition process as well as I have has set me up, hopefully, for success into the future.