Defence

Army

Army partners up with Indigenous communities

The 17th Construction Squadron working in Kadjina.

Most people would be familiar with the images of soldiers working on operations in remote locations and in difficult conditions. However, few would realise that one of the Army's most challenging operations is conducted every year right here in Australia. The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Services (ATSIS) Army Community Assistance Program (AACAP) has been a part of Army's operational commitments since 1997. Between 1997 and 2004, Army has participated in 13 AACAP projects, located in remote communities in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.

The annual AACAP deployment provides sound operational training for Army engineers and other supporting organisations, and is an opportunity to build experience in working in a multi-agency operation with diverse ethnic and cultural sensitivities. Similarly, it represents an important engagement activity with remote communities.

In 2005, the Army will again work with the Department of Family and Community Services and the Department of Health and Ageing (DHA) to deliver essential environmental health infrastructure to the communities of Yakanarra and Kadjina, which are located approximately 500 kilometres east of Broome in Western Australia.

Engineers from 17 Construction Squadron along with personnel from 21 Construction Regiment, 110th Signals Squadron, 2nd Field Support Battalion, 9th Field Support Battalion, 10th Field Support Battalion, Deployed Forces Support Unit, 26th Transport Squadron and the Joint Logistics Unit have already commenced works for AACAP 05. Design and project management responsibility for the project lies with the Army's 19^th Chief Engineer Works.

Army engineers will focus on environmental health infrastructure including water, sewerage, power and housing and improving access, by road or air, to primary health care facilities.

One of the major tasks to be undertaken by Army engineers will be the construction of a new airfield for Yakanarra, in accordance with standards stipulated by the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Construction of the airstrip is the longest single part of this project, and is anticipated to take around 17 weeks. This will greatly increase the access of the local community to prompt medical services. So far, forty percent of the airfield has been completed.

Work has nearly finished on the Yakanarra medical centre within the community. This facility will provide level one health services to the community and will greatly increase the health standards of the indigenous communities in the region. This work will facilitate practical training in steel frame construction for the carpenters, electricians and plumbers of Resources Troop.

The construction of the medical centre and the airfield has had an international and inter-service flavour, with tradesmen and plant operators from the Papua New Guinea Engineer Battalion and also the RAAF providing excellent trade skills. The next rotation from 14 July will also see the deployment of engineers from Tonga and Fiji.

AACAP also provides significant benefits for the Army through the application of operational planning and project management skills. It enables the Army to undertake realistic training for deployments, construction and redeployment as well as the provision of health and training activities.

During the course of the AACAP deployment, over 150,000 man-hours will be worked by Defence personnel, with some 200 Defence personnel working at any one time on elements of the project such as construction, medical, training and logistic support.

The construction scope of works is only part of the work being performed in the Fitzroy Valley, however. The AACAP 05 training team has been active throughout the region, completing a variety of training activities, ranging from short courses in plumbing, carpentry, welding, small engine maintenance and first aid, and practical on-the-job experience in motor mechanics, welding and food preparation and hygiene.

The training team has also assisted the local communities in projects such as fencing and vehicle repairs, as well as becoming actively involved in community events such as sports carnivals and movie nights. The support that these activities have generated is significant and the communities show a keen interest in Army's activities. As a result, every course conducted by Army to date has been over-subscribed.

The health training team has been providing medical care to the local communities, with a focus on transferring practical skills to the indigenous community, to long-lasting effect. The health team has conducted health and hygiene workshops, physical training activities and even some physiotherapy training skills to the local Aussie rules teams.

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