12 August 2025
2025 marks 28 years of Army’s commitment to the Australian Ailan (previously Aboriginal) Community Assistance Program (AACAP).
One member who is no stranger to the program is Sapper Malcolm Stewart, who has deployed for the 20th time as a tradesman and trade mentor with the training team.
For two months in the Torres Strait communities of Warraber (Sue) Island, Poruma (Coconut) Island and Erub (Darnley) Island, the welder and woodworker has been sharing his knowledge with members of the community, while equipping them with the skills to maintain the construction works delivered by the 6th Engineer Support Regiment.
“It’s a great feeling when a student comes up to you and says, ‘Now I get it, I know how to do this’," Sapper Stewart aid.
“I think it’s a great program for tradies within Army. It’s an opportunity to use my skill and practise my trade, while being able to see some of the most remote parts of Australia that you wouldn’t normally see.
“I’ve been on a lot of these programs but my favourite was my first one in 2002, at Dampier Peninsula, Beagle Bay – I received my Soldiers Medallion following this AACAP.”
In 2008, Sapper Stewart was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal for his meritorious achievement as a tradesman and trade mentor for the AACAP training team.
