Navy visits Red Centre Indigenous College

8 September 2010

Recently, Officers and sailors from HMAS Coonawarra (Commander Richard Donnelly) and Attack Two (Lieutenant Commander Gary List) visited Yirara College at Alice Springs.

Yirara College educates and houses Indigenous students from approximately 40 remote Indigenous communities across Australia and boasts attendance figures of about 140 students, half of which are female.

This visit is in support of the ongoing Indigenous community engagement currently being conducted within the Northern Territory by the Navy in the north through the Navy Community Engagement Program. This program aims to establish a long-term relationship, and a mutual trust between remote and indigenous communities and the Navy.

Many of these communities have never had any experience of the Navy – the visits operate in the hope of informing their understanding of the Navy and eventually building their trust of the organisation.

The icing on the cake was, of course, a fully operational RHIB on display, which proved to be a big hit with the students.

The visit allowed both students and Navy personnel to engage with stories and life experiences. Navy personnel were exposed to the day to day activities of the college and formed personal relationships with several students.

The program has a secondary benefit for participating Navy personnel in developing a working awareness and appreciation of the indigenous and remote cultures. With Yirara College having a culturally diverse student base that allows Navy personnel to experience a wide range of cultural awareness.

Navy personnel from HMAS Coonawarra and Attack Two with students from Yirara College. Warrant Officer Physical Trainer Mike Winter with students from Yirara College.