Soldiers, spears and safe spaces

A partnership between The National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA), the Australian army and First Nations peoples, designed to empower Indigenous communities, will celebrate its silver anniversary this October.

Since 1997, the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme (AACAP), originally known as the ATSIC Army Community Assistance Programme, has worked in partnership with First Nations people to build facilities and deliver support to 47 communities.

It's not all about bricks and mortar – at a personal level, AACAP can leave a lasting impact on the life of the people within those communities.

At Gapuwiyak, in the Northern Territory's Arnhem Land, the 48th AACAP project is underway. NIAA Program Manager Lori Richardson says she's already heard positive things from there.

The community have embraced Army and the program. The interest in training has been fantastic with some classes over-prescribed. Trainees are using the skills they've learned to upgrade infrastructure at the local school, with the support of Army trainers.



And the 14 participants in hospitality are learning how to cook a meal which they take home to share.



According to Army trainer Sergeant Nathan Judd, it's more than just hospitality training.

I know that the students and their family are going to eat well that day and if that's how I make a difference, I'm happy,' he says.

These are life-long skills that will remain in community long after AACAP has gone.

Lori, a proud Djabugay, Kuku Yalanji (Far North Qld) and Meriam (Eastern Torres Strait) woman, has been managing the program for the past 5 years.

She says AACAP also provides a safe place – an incubator – for recipient communities to identify opportunities for economic development.

'We say to community it's a safe place for you to try something – be brave! If you want to try something new, AACAP is a safe place for you to do that.'

In the lead up to the 25th anniversary, the Gapuwiyak community has printed t-shirts using a screen printing kit gifted to the art centre through AACAP. On the t-shirt, it reads 'Celebrating 25 years of AACAP'.

'They can now print their own cultural centre t-shirts, bags, aprons, whatever,' Lori enthuses.

So how does AACAP work?

An in-depth selection process between the NIAA, Army and community leads to one project being selected each year (multiple communities can be supported if they are within close proximity). Once a project is locked in, it is a 3 year process from planning to delivery. Army is deployed to community to provide on-Country support for up to 4 months.

To receive an AACAP project, communities have to be remote, distinct Aboriginal communities of at least 200 people, with good governance and an active Community Development Program.

The army must also determine if they can access the community via road and air, and whether they have access to water and land to set up a fully self-sustaining camp for up to 120 personnel.

'It's a bit of a process, but when you get the right scope of works, it works for everybody,' Lori says.

The 2022 Gapuwiyak project includes building a new Youth Centre and much needed upgrades to the barge road, ensuring supplies reach community all year round. However, the army is also helping the community in other ways.

'As happens in the top end during the dry season, you have a lot of funerals, and Army's just been fantastic in helping with firewood and tents and adjusting their work schedule around community needs. Just really supporting the community any way they can,' Lori says.

Some Army personnel love it so much that they come back multiple times.

'We've got a trainer out in the community at the moment in Gapuwiyak and this is his 17th AACAP. One former participant said when he was deployed overseas, AACAP was the best training he could have had because he had already been in a remote desert community and was aware of cultural protocols,' she says.

NIAA regional offices and Indigenous Engagement Officers play a crucial role in ensuring each project – and interaction with community – runs as smoothly as possible. They know the cultural sensitivities on-Country and who the key stakeholders are in community.

'It's really important that we work closely with our regional office colleagues to present ourselves as one NIAA to Army and the community,' says Lori.

Respect has become a cornerstone of the program over the 3 decades.

'At the opening ceremony [at Gapuwiyak], Major Donald Robertson, Contingent Commander, made his opening remarks at the ceremony in Yolgnu Matha, the local language,' say Lori.

Respect is also entrenched through two-way learning.

'At Gapuwiyak, the Army training guys have been teaching welding and other construction skills. The community participants then said 'how about we show you how to make some spears.'

It's these relationships that, according to Lori, have a longer lasting impact on the communities.

'During the AACAP review in 2018, when we asked the community 'do you remember what Army built?' they'd say 'I think they built that house' but if you asked 'what's your memory from AACAP? They'd say 'oh, it was the night of the State of Origin and they put up a big screen and we all had a barbecue and watched footy together.'

A 'lessons learned' project is currently looking at the last 5 years of the program. It is managed by Lori's colleague Peter Hutchings, a Wiradjuri man from Condobolin in New South Wales.

'Over the last 25 years, AACAP is a great example of what can be achieved with strong partnerships, which is a priority under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap'.

The 'lessons learned' project is looking at how program investment can be maximised to achieve Closing the Gap outcomes.

'So it's about continuing to improve the program and increase the benefits to the community,' Peter says.

And 25 years on, the program continues to make strides in bringing First Nations peoples and Army personnel together to co-design solutions that will work for their communities, in place.

The 25th anniversary of AACAP will be marked by celebrations at Gapuwiyak on Thursday 13 October. The Chief of Army, Lieutenant General Simon Stuart AO, DSC, and NIAA staff will be in attendance for this special event.

For more information on AACAP, or to view the latest activities, visit the AACAP Facebook page or check out this YouTube video.