AACAP ready to build a better future

oint effort: CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy and Secretary of Department Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Jeff Harmer after signing the new AACAP MOU. Photo by Cpl Andrew Hetherington.

By Cpl Andrew Hetherington
Volume 11, No. 40, April 6, 2006

A MEMORANDUM of Und-erstanding (MOU) on the continuation of the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP) has been signed between the Army and the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA).

The MOU was signed on March 27 by CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy and the Secretary of FaCSIA Jeff Harmer at Army Headquarters.

SO2 Engineer Ops of Land Command Engineers Maj Michelle Breen said the MOU’s main purpose was to commit the two parties to the next AACAP program.

“It sets the strategic direction, working arrangements and funding process for the continuation of AACAP,” she said.
“The MOU also acknowledges the roles of FaCSIA and the Army and sets out broad terms, under which the AACAP will be administered.

“The MOU consolidates the success of the AACAP program to date.”

The MOU will cover the next AACAP round from 2006 to 2009 and Maj Breen said that during this period the Army will be offering assistance in the areas of health, construction and training.

“For this AACAP, Army will be focusing on constructing four, three-bedroom houses and providing associated lot servicing, as well as the delivery of health and training programs,” she said.

“Army will also project manage the construction of six, three-bedroom houses, associated lot servicing and a number of other infrastructure upgrades in the community that will be completed by civil contract.”

A variety of different Army trades are to be involved with this AACAP, and Maj Breen said soldiers would be drawn from various units.

“19 CE Wks will undertake the ongoing liaison with FaCSIA and the community, conduct all project management for construction tasks, and regularly undertake design work required for Army construction deliverables,” she said.

“The primary unit coordinating the delivery of AACAP will be 21 Const Sqn. Other units supporting the project will be 26 Tpt Sqn, 1 Topo Svy Sqn, increased support from Education Corps and a number of other health and engineer units providing individual staff for the health and training teams.

“SME also provides support via the deployment of adult trade trainees, who gain valuable trade experience on the AACAP work sites while contributing to the delivery of AACAP.”

The next AACAP is intended to begin in April this year, when advance parties are planned to deploy to Darwin and Borrolooa.