Stephanie Hodson didn't expect leaving the military to be so difficult.
But the 21-year military veteran and psychologist now understands the effort required to adjust to civilian life after losing the camaraderie of the force.
"One day you're part of a team, you wear the same clothes, you speak the same language, and 24 hours later all of a sudden your friends can't tell you what they're doing anymore," she said.
Dr Hodson discharged eight years ago.
She now works as the national manager of Open Arms Veteran and Family Counselling, is active in the German Shepherd Dog Association, and takes part in regular Saturday-morning social park runs.
Her message is clear: a successful transition back into community doesn't happen by accident.
"It's important to make the effort to take that next step and make new connections," she said.
Open Arms is one of the organisations behind 386 events running across Australia to mark Veterans' Health Week, which runs from 24 October to 1 November.
It's encouraging veterans and their families to participate in a self-paced "not-Parkrun" jog, and today hosted a walk between its office and the Australian War Memorial to celebrate veterans and their communities.
Dr Hodson said Veterans' Week was a way to involve all members of a community, not just those who have served.
"We've invited everyone in the building," she said.
"Today's walk is about veterans, their families, and their communities. It's for everyone."
Few people know the challenge of transition to civilian life better than Rob Swanwick.
The former warrant officer ended a 40-year career with the air force just months ago.
Now leading Open Arms' strategic engagement, he described a "grieving process" for veterans who struggle to find purpose after serving their country.
"People talk about military service as being the best part of their life, and that's part of the problem," he said.
"It's a tight team where you belong, where you're doing something meaningful, and you need to find that new purpose in your life when you've actually left. You've picked up a job, but it's not quite the same as serving your country - that's the grief of transitioning out."
Mr Swanwick said community engagement through activities like "not-Parkrun" play an important role for veterans planning their transition.
"In the military, when you're going out in an exercise, you lay out all your gear and make sure you're squared away," he said. "People need to square away [in civilian life]. What will I do for work? What will my family do for social activities? Veterans' Health Week is a really important way to be proactive and get connected."
