Working with Indigenous Australians in 51 FNQR

Note: In this page reference is made to Indigenous (Australian) peoples. This term is used to describe all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people regardless of cultural location or specific clan/colloquial name. All other people are described as non-Indigenous people.

Introduction

Indigenous people have had a long association with the defence of modern Australia. There are numerous examples of individual or small groups of Indigenous people serving in the Australian military since Federation. During the Second World War whole tribes or communities of adult male Indigenous people where employed in both offensive and support roles across the North of Australia. Some Indigenous people aggressively engaged the Japanese and many perished in Japanese bombing raids. The members of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion served with distinction and provided a strong presence to deter Japanese aggression in the Torres Strait.

Regardless of early perceptions by non-Indigenous people, the contribution made by Indigenous people was both significant and effective in helping maintain Australia's sovereignty.

Throughout history Western cultures have conducted warfare on foreign soil and some have recognised that the indigenous, or Aboriginal, people of that country can be employed to improve the combat effectiveness of conventional forces. Experience has shown that to successfully conduct unconventional, special or guerrilla warfare requires the careful selection and training of personnel to operate with the indigenous people of the country concerned. (Example: T.E.Lawrence - Arab Forces, WW1).

Therefore, it is not surprising that during the Second World War Australia selected such people as W.E.H (Bill) Stanner, and Donald Thomson, both Australian anthropologists with detailed experience and knowledge in Indigenous culture, to raise and lead the 2/1 NAOU and NTSRU respectively*. The Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion was raised in 1943 and consisted of 700 members, mainly Indigenous Torres Strait Islanders. The Australian Coastwatchers organisation was also led by expatriate Australians with years of experience  living and working with the indigenous people of New Guinea, and the Solomon Islands. *(Northern Australia Observer Unit - Northern Territory Special Reconnaissance Unit - colloquially known as the Knackaroos).

Members of the Torres Strait Light Infantry Battalion on Parade

The RFSUs

RFSUs were created in the early 1980s with the aim of filling a gap in the ground surveillance capability of Australia's Northern defence. Specifically, RFSUs were to utilise the extensive local knowledge and skills that exist among the population of the North. It was recognised that a force operating in this austere environment would require knowledge and skills that regular forces do not readily possess, indeed these skills must be developed over a period of time.

A key feature of the RFSU concept was the valuable contribution that Indigenous people would be able to make to the Defence of Australia, as they did during the Second World War. Many Indigenous communities are located in remote areas or in the vicinity of the approaches to remote vital assets. The members of these communities know their environment intimately, and can therefore provide invaluable local knowledge to RFSU patrols operating in Far North Queensland and the Gulf Country.

For a number of reasons, the Pilbara Regt has been less active in the employment of Indigenous people. However NORFORCE and 51 FNQR boast a high percentage of Indigenous representation: the former between 25-35%, and the later 45-58%. The RFSUs have the highest Indigenous representation of any other ADF organisation, and possibly any other Australian Government agency (less ATSIC).

The Regional Force Surveillance List (RFSL)

It is now well accepted that many Indigenous people, and indeed non-Indigenous people living in remote Australia are not able to meet the strict criteria for enlistment and service in the wider ADF. Literacy, numeracy and health standards preclude many from meeting these stringent requirements. However, to follow these standards rigorously would deny the RFSUs access to a large portion of a sparse recruiting base, effectively negating the original concept for creating RFSUs.

This was recognised as a key issue on the formation of the RFSUs. It was overcome by the creation of the RFSL (sometimes referred to as the special list). The primary document providing policy for personnel and training issues for RFSUs, previously AOSI 30/85 now DI-A Pers 173-8, details the conditions of the RFSL. This document allows Commanding Officers of RFSUs to enlist, appoint and promote personnel for employment as ECN304 Patrolman, or as part of a Local Observer Element (LOE) network, while waiving specific enlistment criteria.

In many ways, the need to select and train suitable personnel to interact with indigenous people, the concept for creating the RFSUs, and the RFSL, complement each other. Commanding Officers also have the ability to select and appoint local non-Indigenous personnel who have experience with Indigenous people, which is a further strength of the RFSL.

In the case of the regular or full time personnel posted to RFSUs, previous experience in working with Indigenous people is not always a prerequisite. All full time and part time personnel posted to RFSU's undergo a period of induction training, and are instructed in the local customs, traditions and history of the Indigenous members of the Battalion. Some of the general military standards and methods of training are not appropriate when working with Indigenous people, and the way in which non-Indigenous people relate to one another can be foreign to Indigenous people.