When Lieutenant Estin Hunter joined Navy in 2018, he never thought he would have an opportunity to work within an Indigenous advisory or First Nations-facing role.

Fast forward eight years, and the hydrographic officer now works directly as staff officer to the Navy Indigenous Adviser (NIA).

Lieutenant Hunter grew up in Kuranda, north of Cairns. He is a Djabugay man like his father, and his mother is Chilean.

“Growing up in Kuranda meant I was around my father’s family,” he said.

“Community and culture were all linked in and we didn’t really know any different.”

Lieutenant Hunter remembers a linguist coming to his primary school to teach the Djabugay language.

From as early as he can remember, Lieutenant Hunter’s father worked as a ranger in Kuranda, and then in numerous cultural heritage roles in different locations. 

Growing up, he was exposed to different First Nations issues, but never really appreciated or understood them until later in life.

“Although I had no family members that have previously served, growing up, my father advocated for Defence as a potential career,” he said.

Lieutenant Hunter began the ADF enlistment process during high school, but decided to pursue tertiary studies instead, undertaking a Bachelor of Exercise and Sports Science through Griffith University, Queensland, hoping to become a physiotherapist.

“Towards the end of uni, the Navy got back in my mind,” he said

“My sister joined the Army in 2016, and I completed both my studies and the enlistment process in 2017, joining Navy in 2018 as a maritime warfare officer.”

'The NAIDOC Week theme is "50 Years of Deadly", but there are still so many firsts that we are going through.'

During his training, Lieutenant Hunter elected to specialise as a maritime geospatial officer hydrographer.

“Hydrography was definitely the most interesting, but it also meant I’d spend a lot of time posted to Cairns,” he said.

Since enlisting, Lieutenant Hunter has served in HMA Ships Canberra, Maryborough, Armidale and Melville, before taking up his current role.

As staff officer, Lieutenant Hunter provides close administrative support to the NIA. He also coordinates the Bungaree dance group and Navy’s Regional Indigenous Development Coordinators (RIDCs). 

“Although the RIDCs are managed by their local commands, they draw their strategic direction from NIA,” he said.

“As NIA’s staff officer, I am the link between him and the RIDCs, and it’s my responsibility to translate his intent to them, essentially operationalising his strategic guidance.”

Lieutenant Hunter is also responsible for ensuring the First Nations Diversity Reference Group within the Directorate of Navy Culture is supported. It is a focus group comprising Navy members in a part-time capacity, which – among others such as women, neurodiversity, and Culturally and Linguistically Diverse – advises Navy directly on cultural issues.

“The most eye-opening thing for me is that this year, the NAIDOC Week theme is ‘50 Years of Deadly’, but there are still so many firsts that we are going through,” Lieutenant Hunter said.

“That said, I think we are coming full circle in our awareness, and now more people know about stories I was told growing up, about Indigenous history and policies such as the Aborigines Protection Act, which are not that old.

“I think this education helps contextualise what Closing the Gap is, and demonstrates that there still is a gap.”

What Lieutenant Hunter enjoys most about his role is being able to influence Navy’s strategic direction.

“There can be a lot of ambiguity in high-level reports, but we are able to weave in our lived experience and what we know, to clarify direction into action and culture,” he said.

“The most exciting part is that we have the opportunity and the freedom to shape the future of Navy Indigenous by going after the initiatives that we believe are most valuable, and importantly, being listened to by the organisation.

“Our work within Navy Indigenous supports the whole-of-Defence First Nations Commitment, so effectively, Navy Indigenous was set up directly to answer the concerns in the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.”

'Sharing culture and continuing to educate is the most important aspect of what we are doing.'

Lieutenant Hunter’s aspiration is to develop Navy’s internal cultural network.

“It’s not just about outward communication and recruitment,” he said.

“We are here to support the people already in the Navy, so it’s essential that we champion a community on the inside that can support our members.

“What’s great about Defence is that when you first join, everyone is treated equally, and you form tight bonds with your peers because you are depending on each other to get through.”

“Navy Indigenous forms part of acknowledging and supporting our differences.”

Lieutenant Hunter hopes to develop a network of First Nations members on different bases, engaged with First Nations activities that are integrated with whole units, not just involving First Nations members.

“Sharing culture and continuing to educate is the most important aspect of what we are doing,” he said.

“When this opportunity came up, I'd always known that I might work in the area later in life, I just didn't know it would be an opportunity within Navy.

“Now that I've got the opportunity, I'm glad that I have had the exposure and chance to do it.

“I want to get back to my Navy job when its time, but I know whether it's in or out of uniform, I'll always be involved in the space.”

Members can find out more about Navy Indigenous and their work at: Navy Indigenous.