Bongo van hits the open road

HEAR THIS: SMNMT Tara Wilson talks to Year 12 student and potential recruit Paul Nurzenski.

By Annie Casey
Volume 49, No. 18 , October 05, 2006

A Navy Community Engagement Strategy (NCES) team of Defence Force Recruiters have been visiting communities and schools in metropolitan and regional Queensland.

The team has been gaining attention in the eye-catching Navy mobile Recruiting Van - affectionately known as the Bongo van.

The van’s nautical maritime look can’t be missed and features scrolling side and rear display and can employ up to seven independent scrolls with the remainder of the van sporting colourful Navy images.

The mobile van contains internet accessible work stations where prospective candidates can check out Navy job profiles and apply to join the Navy online.

The fit out includes a plasma TV, DVD player and Skyline Banners.

The Bongo van’s mobility, and in turn its flexibility is a major asset to Navy’s community engagement and recruiting efforts. The van provides Navy and Defence Force Recruiting with a high profile and visibility at trade displays, schools, fairs and other high value community events. It is particularly effective in reaching remote localities who are not easily reached by Defence Recruiters.

The Bongo van recently hit the road, meeting with remote schools from the Cooktown and Atherton Tableland regions down to Cairns, Innisfail, Townsville and throughout Queensland.

“The team reported face to face interaction by people in uniform is by far the most successful way to get Navy’s message across,” PONPC Noel Christoffel from DFR Cairns said
The team includes two female sailors who provide female students with information from a woman’s perspective. Year 10 to 12 students received presentations and displays featuring Navy career information plus show bags of Brand Navy merchandise. According to feedback from students, school principals and guidance officers, the tour and van were very well received.

Navy, in conjunction with DFR will place the van at venues around the nation as part of creating an authentic and positive Navy profile. Visitors to the van see dynamic images of the Navy, plus information on careers, opportunities and lifestyle on offer in our modern Navy. The technical categories which Navy has designated as experiencing acute shortages are given extra attention by the team in an attempt to stimulate further interest and ultimately possible recruiting in these areas.

NCES was launched by DCN in late 2005 in recognition of the challenging environment Navy competes in. The strategy contains a number of initiatives expressly aimed at reinvigorating Navy’s image, and reinforcing Navy as being integral and a part of our community.

For more information on the Bongo van and its schedule contact LEUT Paul Rowe on (02) 62667690 or email Navy.RLO@defence.gov.au

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