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The PKC conducts an annual International Peace Operations Seminar (IPOS) for selected personnel from within the Australian Defence Force, Department of Defence, other Government and Non-Government agencies plus civilian and military personnel from regional nations and traditional allies.

The seminar was formally known as the International Peacekeeping Seminar (IPKS) however the name was changed to reflect the broader nature of Peace Operations

The aim of the IPOS is:

  • To familiarise attendees with the United Nations, Peace Operations (UN and MNF) and the factors affecting national participation.

The Seminar is conducted in Canberra and runs for two weeks and involves 40 to 50 participants from Australia and overseas. 

Content

The Seminar content is adapted annually to reflect the needs of the ADF and current operations. The following topics are indicative of those presented in varying degrees:

  • Conflict, conflict prevention and diplomacy
  • The United Nations, its evolution, structure and reform
  • ADF/Aust Government policy, doctrine and planning for peace operations
  • Training and Operations
  • Civil/Military Coordination (CIMIC)
  • Legal and Humanitarian aspects
  • NGO's and other agencies
  • Gender and Cultural aspects
  • UN Logistic system
  • UN Training Assistance Teams (UNTAT)
  • Media operations

Roles and responsibilities of the other components of a Peace Operation, with presentations from UNHCR, International Committee of the Red Cross, AusAID, CIVPOL, Australian Electoral Commission, diplomats, NGOs and the media;

Seminar participants consider topics in greater detail during syndicate time.

International attendees present their national approach to Peace Operations.

Participants

Participant rank level is at Major O4 (equivalent) to Lieutenant Colonel O5 (equivalent). The Seminars are designed to be topical, and accordingly the content of some subject areas will remain dynamic. Case Studies are sometimes included to address particular successes or short-comings in current or past UN and multi-national missions. The Seminar's approach is specifically aimed at the strategic and operational planning level.

The target audience for the Seminars is: "OPERATION TANAGER" The primary role of the Australian Army Amphibious Beach Team ( ABT), most of whom come from 10 FSB in Townsville, is conducting LOTS Operations (Logistics Over the Shore) from the coastal barges, although its expertise was required to assist the Japanese Navy and engineers when it unloaded the first shipments of heavy engineering machinery over Easter. Here Officer Commanding of the ABT, Lieutenant Ed Hardy watches the unload of heavy engineering machinery. (22kb)

  • Staff officers at strategic and operational headquarters responsible for the planning or management of national involvement in UN and multi-national peace operations.
  • Representatives from Government Departments who have responsibilities for the planning or management of national involvement in UN and multi-national peace operations.
  • Representatives from Non-Government and International Organisations involved in peace operations.
  • Personnel selected for service with a UN or multinational force.

In addition to personnel from the ADF, personnel from the following countries and organisations have attended one or more of the International Seminars held to date:

  • Brunei, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Is, Singapore, Sweden, Thailand, Tonga, United Kingdom, United States of America, Vietnam Vanuatu and Zimbabwe.
  • NATO SHAPE, ICRC, World Vision, CARE, Quakers Australia, Community Aid Abroad, AusAID, ACFID, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Headquarters UN New York, Australian Federal Police, Australian Electoral Commission, Australian War Memorial and Selected Universities.

Presenters

In order to ensure that each subject or topic is well covered, high quality visiting presenters from Australia and overseas are used. For example, a key note speaker on Seminar 1/96 was GEN Sir Michael Rose (UK), the former Force Commander UNPROFOR. Regular presenters on the Seminars have included:

  • Senior Politicians and Diplomats (Ministers' for Defence and Foreign Affairs and Trade, Malaysian High Commissioner to Australia), foreign Defence Attaches based in Canberra,
  • Senior Australian Military Officers (CDF, VCDF, Force Commander UNTAC,  Chief Military Observer UNPROFOR)
  • UN Representatives (DPKO personnel from UN HQ New York, Military Adviser to the UNSG and former COS of UNTSO, Regional Representative from UNHCR),
  • Senior Lecturers from Australian and Overseas Academic Institutions (Brown University, USA, Australian National University, Deakin University, Australian Defence Force Academy, Swedish International Peace Research Institute, United Nations University Tokyo)
  • Personnel from other Military Peace Operations Centres (NATO SHAPE, Swedish International Armed Forces Centre, US Warfighting Centre, British Army Peacekeeping Section), and
  • Senior personnel from Government Departments, Non-Government and Intra-Government Organisations. (AusAID, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Red Cross Australia, Australian Federal Police, Australian Electoral Commission, World Vision, Australian War Memorial).

2008 International Peace Operations Seminar

The 2008 IPOS will be held in Canberra on July 7-18.

For further information please contact the Seminar Manager LCDR Anthony Walton on +61 2 496 46082 or e-mail anthony.walton@defence.gov.au. View the ADFWC Courses Page for course documentation.

Reading Material for 2008 International Peace Operations Seminar

2008 IPOS Joining Instructions:

Copyright © Commonwealth of Australia 2002