Our People in NSW
Lateika Smith and Samuel Sheppard - Young Navy Officers Promoting Indigenous Roles In The ADF
Lateika Smith and Samuel Sheppard are proud of her heritage and their new careers in Defence. Navy Leading Seaman Smith, from Nambucca Heads in New South Wales, identifies culturally with the Gumbaynggirr Aboriginal people while Navy Petty Officer Sheppard, from Mareeba in North Queensland, identifies as a Muluridgi man.
Both young sailors have taken on new roles to promote indigenous employment in the Australian Defence Force. Lateika is employed with the Careers Promotions Team at Defence Force Recruiting Centre in Parramatta while Sam is a member of the Defence Indigenous Affairs team. Lateika enlisted into Navy in 2004.
"My parents are very supportive of what I do. I'm continuing in a family military tradition, I have four other extended family members serving in Navy and my brother is currently at Kapooka doing his recruit training after recently graduating from an ADF Indigenous Pre-Recruitment Course,” Lateika said.
Lateika believes Indigenous employment disadvantage is a real problem in Australia.
“My current role allows me to contribute by working to increase Indigenous numbers in the Australian Defence Force.” she said.
"The work is very rewarding as I get to explain why I am proud to be a sailor in the Navy and how other people can join too. I especially enjoy engaging with other Indigenous Australians about what Navy can offer" she said.
Sam Sheppard is also proud of his heritage and his new career role. The young Navy Petty Officer enlisted in the Navy in 1999 as a Communications and Information Systems sailor after graduating from Mareeba High School. He has deployed to the Arabian Gulf three times and taken part in border protection patrols, many deployments to South-East Asia, and visits to various ports in Australia and New Zealand.
Sam joined the Directorate of Indigenous Affairs team last year.
He works with community and business organisations to offer indigenous groups exposure to the Australian Defence Force through base visits, presentations and mentoring. Sam finds candidates for various programs that provide education, training and life skills in order to foster self-confidence and present themselves as role models in their communities, and ultimately lead to a possible career in the Australian Defence Force.
"I love my work and I welcome the appointment of the first Indigenous Cultural Advisor to the Chief of Navy,” Samuel said.
“I see the role as a great focal point for Indigenous sailors. It’s an important post that I will aspire to,” he said.
Samuel said he enjoys his work because he can raise awareness among Indigenous Australians about the careers on offer in the Australian defence Force.
While Sam and Lateika work primarily with mainstream Defence recruiting, they also provide advice about Defence specialised pathways to Indigenous employment programs, such as the Indigenous Pre-Recruitment Program (IPRC).
The IPRC is a challenging two-month live-in program that prepares Indigenous men and women for the recruiting processes for the Australian Navy, Army or Air Force. The program is delivered primarily by Indigenous positive role models.
To find out more, contact the Australian Defence Force Senior Indigenous Recruitment Officer: Warrant Officer Class One Colin Watego on mobile: 0447 401 185 or Mobile: 0425 326 677 or at: colin.watego@defence.gov.au or indigenous.affairs@defence.gov.au