A group of 30 Indigenous young people are taking part in adventure training in Adelaide as part of an Australian Defence Force (ADF) exercise aimed at building relationships between the ADF and Indigenous communities.
Soldiers of Adelaide’s 7th Battalion, the Royal Australian Regiment (7 RAR) are running the exercise following a successful pilot program at Port Lincoln last year.
This year’s exercise, Thura Yura will continue until 23 November, with participants taking part in a range of outdoor activities including kayaking, abseiling and a ‘story walk’ themed navigation challenge.
Minister for Defence, Senator Linda Reynolds said the activities aimed to build enduring relationships.
“A key deliverable under the 2019-2022 Defence Reconciliation Action Plan is to establish strong collaborative partnerships with local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities,” Senator Reynolds said.
“The Army has conducted essential training for decades and I am pleased this year’s exercise includes 30 youths from Ceduna and Whyalla.”
She said the activities would involve participants learning from one another, led by experienced Army instructors as well as community elders, who would teach Aboriginal customs and traditions.
“The exercise is divided into three blocks with a different company of 7 RAR soldiers partnering with a local Indigenous youth group each week,” Senator Reynolds said.
