Community
10 December, 2023
Sailors making waves
TWELVE students have graduated from the Cairns-based navy Indigenous development program that prepares young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders for a career in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
With 350 graduates in its ranks across 10 years, the program aims to give Indigenous youth (ages 18-35) the skills to go into the ADF or aspire for better career options as civilians through a framework that connects the students to their culture.
Program head officer Lieutenant Commander Chris Thornton said the six-month program was making waves in Indigenous communities across Australia.
“The biggest component is education because many of the recruits don’t meet the minimum standards to enter the Defence Force and that’s year 10,” he said.
“Three months out of the six months is spent going to TAFE getting the year 10 qualification and then military life. For instance, we spent a week on the Royal Australian Navy training vessel, and they learned how to sail, they came back completely different people. “This program has been very impactful because the recruits, not only receive the qualifications, but we incorporate Indigenous leaders from the community to speak to them as mentors, aunties and uncles who are former Navy to provide that support that I can’t provide.”
Cairns graduate Tia Elisha, 18, said the development program had helped her achieve her dream of going into the navy and connecting her with her culture.
“I barely knew anything about my Aboriginal background, I’m Aboriginal from my mum’s side and Fijian and Indian from my dad’s side,” she said.
“I enjoyed everything about this program. We got to do a lot of Aboriginal dancing and painting and I felt like I was able to connect more deeply with my culture.
“This is a program I’d recommend. I have mates that are joining. From here I’d like to join the navy and travel the world.”
Torres Strait graduate Tayiesha Warria, 18, said she hoped to move on to a career with the ADF. “I joined because I wanted to try something new and get out of my comfort zone, I wasn’t planning to join the Defence Force when I started but after doing the program I am,” she said. “I enjoyed the physical training sessions, the teamwork and working with the recruiting instructors the most and it has helped me connect with my culture.”
