Chief Petty Officer Neil Stanley is a proud Wakka Wakka and Bigambul man from South-East Queensland. He has served in the Royal Australian Navy for more than 30 years. A Combat Systems Manager by trade, he is the Regional Indigenous Development Coordinator for the Sydney region. He works to strengthen cultural connection and community engagement across Navy’s major bases in and around Sydney.

Chief Petty Officer Stanley says one of the challenges of moving from Queensland to Sydney was building connections with local Aboriginal communities and learning the cultural landscape on Gadigal Country. Through engagement with local Elders, communities and Navy members, he has expanded both his professional and cultural networks. This has helped him to bring community and culture into Navy workplaces across the region.

A key focus of his role is supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander personnel throughout their Navy careers. He works closely with members to help them stay connected to culture while navigating service life. A strong emphasis is placed on ensuring their cultural journey and Navy career can grow together as one.

Chief Petty Officer Stanley is passionate about mentoring younger generations and working with First Nations youth. He describes this work as one of the most rewarding aspects of the role. He believes representation is important and takes pride in demonstrating pathways for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to succeed within Defence.

Through his work, Chief Petty Officer Stanley continues to advocate for cultural understanding and inclusion, helping connect Navy to First Nations communities.