What’s happening?
First Nation high school students from across North Queensland spent a week at Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Base Townsville in March, gaining a close look at life in the Australian Defence Force.
RAAF Townsville and the Australian Army’s 16th Aviation Brigade hosted the students through the Australian Defence Force’s (ADF) Indigenous Youth Program and the Defence Work Experience Program.
During the week, students joined physical fitness training, watched military skills demonstrations, toured aircraft, and took part in cultural experiences in a safe setting where they could share identity.
They also met serving personnel and explored Defence roles including engineering, maintenance, logistics, air traffic control, health services, firefighting, piloting and air crew work.
Why it matters?
The program gave students real contact with Defence life before they finish school, helping them test their interests and better understand where a Defence career could lead.
It also gave them direct access to ADF Careers recruitment specialists, who explained entry options and pathways, including the Gap Year program.
RAAF Townsville Indigenous Liaison Officer Leading Aircraftman Chris Morganson said the week had a strong effect on the students.
“It is amazing when you see the young people begin to open up and realise there’s a world of opportunities out there for them,” Leading Aircraftman Morganson said.
“They see the men and women in uniform and understand everyone starts basically from the same place. It’s recognising opportunities, committing and working toward your goals that takes you places you never imagined possible.”
Local Impact
Townsville’s Defence base played a direct part in showing First Nation students what military careers can look like in North Queensland.
The program also gave young people from regional communities a chance to connect with Defence opportunities in a hands-on setting, close to where many of those roles operate.
By the numbers
- 16 students took part in the Townsville intake, giving a group of First Nation high school students direct exposure to Defence life.
- Five days were spent on base, allowing enough time for training, aircraft tours, career talks and cultural activities.
- Eight role areas were explored with serving personnel, from engineering and logistics to flying, health services and firefighting.
Zoom In
Year 12 Cairns student Marli came to the base with a clear goal. She wanted to find out if becoming a RAAF loadmaster was the right fit.
“I wanted to see if the role was right for me and learn more about what the job involves,” Marli said.
After meeting an ADF Careers recruitment specialist, her thinking widened. She is now also considering the Navy’s Nuclear Submariner program as a medic.
“Obviously, I don’t know what it would be like in a submarine, but I like the idea of doing something different and challenging, and while I’m young, I don’t want to pass up opportunities,” she said.
Year 10 student Jett travelled from Middlemount and left with a stronger interest in technical work with the Army or Air Force.
He said learning more about aircraft including the Army’s CH-47F Chinook and the new AH-64E Apache helped shape that interest.
“There’s so many cool machines in the ADF and it looks like you can do some fun stuff like play sports and travel around the world,” Jett said.
Zoom Out
This experience may leave a lasting mark as students weigh their next moves after seeing Defence life up close.
It also highlights a broader aim, giving First Nation students a culturally safe way to explore careers in the ADF while seeing a wide mix of roles across air and land operations.
