Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) Army engineers have joined Australian Army engineers to deliver building projects to the remote Indigenous community of Titjikala.
The soldiers are deployed as part of the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme (AACAP), which is a collaborative partnership between the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) and the Australian Army.
AACAP Contingent Commander Major Chris Sampson said this is the third consecutive year that the F-FDTL have participated in AACAP.
“The soldiers arrived in the Northern Territory in June and will work for about four weeks in the Titjikala community, alongside soldiers from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment” Major Sampson said.
“The programme helps the F-FDTL soldiers enhance their engineering capability. This year the soldiers will gain an applied understanding of ‘block laying’.
“The inclusion of the F-FDTL creates a unique multicultural team environment where the cultural diversity of the combined forces produces innovative approaches to construction in remote locations.”
AACAP aims to improve the environmental health and living conditions in remote Indigenous communities.
Resourcing is shared between PM&C, which provides up to $6 million per project, and the Australian Army, which contributes significant personnel and equipment.
Imagery of the F-FDTL participating in AACAP is available at the following link: http://images.defence.gov.au/S20151943
For more information about AACAP visit www.army.gov.au/Our-people/Army-Indigenous-community/Army-Indigenous-initiatives
Media note:
Media wishing to visit AACAP should register their interest with Defence Media.
Media contacts:
Simona Di Toro Bell, Regional Manager NT - (08) 8923 5741 or 0411 885 994
Defence Media - (02) 6127 1999
Issued by Ministerial and Executive Coordination and Communication,
Department of Defence,
Canberra, ACT
Phone: 02 6127 1999 Fax: 02 6265 6946
