Successful Indigenous recruits enlist in the Navy
18 January 2011
The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, Warren Snowdon, and Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, Mark Arbib, today welcomed the enlistment in Townsville of 17 new sailors to the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) – including 11 Indigenous recruits from across Far North Queensland.
Mr Snowdon said this is a significant achievement for the 11 Indigenous recruits, who are from remote island villages and communities in the Torres Strait and Northern Peninsula Area of Queensland.
“This group recently finished a pilot course called the Defence Indigenous Development Program Navy (DIDP-N), it’s a six month live-in course aimed at preparing young people from remote Indigenous communities for a career in the Navy.
“The development program prepared the graduates with literacy and numeracy training, marine studies and life skills and so it’s fantastic to see they have now taken the next step and enlisted,” Mr Snowdon said.
The recruits will be put through an 11 week Naval Induction Training Course at the Royal Australian Navy Recruit School at HMAS Cerberus in Victoria.
They will then commence their 13 weeks of training in seamanship, small arms and boarding party techniques to become qualified Bosuns Mates.
Senator Arbib said once the recruits had finished employment training, they would serve in fleet units and shore establishments on a rotational basis.
“Many Indigenous elders are former serving members and are proud to see a continuation and strengthening of the relationship between the Navy and the Indigenous people of Northern Australia,” Senator Arbib said.
“Congratulations to the new sailors being enlisted today. The Navy is a fantastic career choice and will open up many long term job opportunities. I wish them all the best for their future in the service of their country.”
The recruits first got a taste of the Navy lifestyle as part of their DIDP-N program when they travelled to HMAS Cerberus and completed the week long ‘Boot Camp’, followed by a voyage on the STS Young Endeavour.
The DIDP-N is a practical approach to sustainable economic development for Indigenous Australians and is a whole-of-government initiative, funded federally through the Indigenous Employment Program (IEP), Workplace English Language and Literacy program and the Defence White Paper.
Senator Arbib said the IEP was part of the Australian Government's commitment to close the gap on Indigenous employment. The Gillard Government has a target of creating more than 100,000 jobs for Indigenous Australians by 2018.
The government has committed more than $750 million over five years to the Indigenous Employment Program, to assist Indigenous Australians into ongoing, sustainable work.
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