Defence

Vice Chief of the Defence Force

Expert to review cadet initiatives

In its response last year to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report on the Effectiveness of Australia's Military Justice System, the Government agreed to commission an expert in the human rights of children to monitor and advise the Australian Defence Force on its training and education programs dealing with cadets. Gai Brodtmann reports on the Directorate of Defence Force Cadets (DDFC) work on this key commitment.

Major General Mick Fairweather.

The DDFC has engaged youth human rights expert, Jenni Whelan, to review a number of Cadet Enhancement Program (CEP) initiatives designed to improve the skills of cadet staff in the care and control of minors.

According to Head Cadet Policy, Major General Mick Fairweather, Ms Whelan will review five CEP initiatives (see breakout box), the Cadet Force Regulations, which are currently being amended, and the Code of Conduct that will be incorporated into the updated regulations.

'Our aim is to become the premier youth development organisation in Australia by providing cadets and cadet staff with a fun, challenging and safe military-like experience,' he said. 'That's why we want to ensure that our policies, procedures and processes are compliant with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and fulfill the expectations of the Military Justice Inquiry.'

Ms Whelan, who brings to the review a wealth of experience in human and youth rights, says she is looking forward to the opportunity 'to assist Defence in implementing, in a tangible way, Australia's obligations under the convention'.

'As a solicitor at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, I did a lot of work that was centred around Australia's legal obligations under the convention, how these were being breached and what could be done to remedy those breaches.

'After I left the commission, a body of my work as a consultant focused on how to achieve the practical implementation of those rights, at both a community and an organisational level.

'I assisted in establishing, and then convened, a youth advisory committee for the Centre for Children and Young People at Southern Cross University. This work was really a meshing of the theory and practice of the right to youth participation, as stated in article 12 of the convention.

'The work I will do in the review will incorporate the two arms of my experience,' she said.

While the review is in its infancy Ms Whelan will identify policies, regulations and aspects of the Code of Conduct that need amending to achieve compliance with the convention and make recommendations that can be adopted and acted on.

'I will also contribute to, and assist in developing, the discussion that is already occurring in Defence about the significance of children's rights, and what attitudes, actions and frameworks are required to achieve the practical implementation of the articles of the convention.

'I hope to assist in leading people to an understanding firstly about what the convention is and what it requires, and secondly, that implementing children's rights will assist the organisation both internally and externally without undermining Defence practice and policies. From the discussions I have had with the DDFC and ADFC [Australian Defence Force Cadets] that understanding is already growing,' she remarked.

Once Ms Whelan has conducted the review, she will continue to be engaged to provide further advice and assistance on each of the projects.

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