BILLING IN PROGRESS [Australia]: Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program

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ARMY ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EXERCISE SAUNDERS)​

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Objective:	To assist remote Indigenous Australian communities through the provision of infrastructure including but not limited to: medical centres, airfields, roads, rubbish tips, sewerage works and houses and to provide for various health services including but not limited to: men's health programs, dental health screening and pet treatment programs.
Date:	2006 - Present
Location:	Australia
Status:	Ongoing

COMMANDERS AND LEADERS​

Nova Peris (Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs) Tanya Plibersek (Minister for Health) Anthony Albanese (Minister for Infrastructure and Transport) Warren Snowdon (Minister for Regional Development, Local Government and Territories) Julie Collins (Minister for Housing) Gary Gray (Minister for Northern Australia) Lieutenant General Natasha Fox (Chief of Joint Capabilities) Lieutenant General David Morrison (Chief of Army) Air Vice-Marshal Tracy Smart (Commander Joint Health Command and Surgeon-General) Brigadier Greg Novak (Commander, 6th Combat Support Brigade) Brigadier Jocelyn King (Commander, 2nd Health Brigade)

FORCES (DEPLOYED ON ROTATIONAL BASIS)​

Australian Army: Forces Command: 1st (Australian) Division: 2nd Health Brigade: 3rd Health Battalion 2nd Health Support Company (100x Regular Personnel) 6th Combat Support Brigade: 6th Engineer Support Regiment 21st Construction Squadron (150x Regular Personnel, 30x RMMV HX77s) 12th/19th Chief Engineer Works 1st Troop (75x Regular Personnel)

 

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For the year of 2009, the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program would finally have funding to deliver the projects that the government promised nearly 3 years. The first community which would be selected for works would be Pukatja (Ernabella) in the far north-west South Australia. Pukatja was considered the centre of the APY lands, which were across north-west South Australia. Construction projects would be led by 21st Construction Squadron, 6th Engineer Support Regiment and health initiatives would be led by 2nd Health Support Company, 3rd Health Battalion and overall project coordination would be done by the 1st Troop of the 12th/19th Chief Engineer Works. In total, 325 personnel would be deployed on this mission along with 30 RMMV HX77 trucks.

The necessary units would assemble in Adelaide at Keswick Barracks, the home of the 3rd Health Battalion. The other units would come across from Sydney and Brisbane via commercial means. Once assembled in Adelaide they would make their way north along the Augusta and Stuart Highways, with the help of the reservists of 9th Brigade and their Mercedes-Benz G-Wagons in order to transport personnel. They would pass through Port Augusta and Coober Pedy to reach the APY lands, where the first town would be Indulkana. From Indulkana they would see the state of the main road through the APY lands across to Pukatja, which was a priority for them while they were there. They would set up camp beside the towns airstrip. The days would be hot during the summer and there was many encounters with various wildlife, but the mission had a purpose. The goals for Pukatja in 2009 would be:

• Construction of 20 new homes in coordination with the Housing Trust of South Australia.
• Administration of vaccines to 95% of the population in accordance with the National Immunisation Schedule in coordination with the South Australian Department of Health.
• Expansion of the Nganampa Health Clinic and Aged Care Facility, including the delivering of new medical equipment.
• Sealing the main access road from the Stuart Highway to Pukatja, through Indulkana, Mimili, Kaltjiti and Umuwa.
• Dental checks for all residents in coordination with SA Dental.
• Veterinary treatment for all animals in the town, including feral dogs.
• Sealing of the Ernabella (Pukatja) Airstrip.
• Construction of a proper waste management facility in coordination with Anangu Regional Services.
• Upgrading sewerage and pipeworks through the town in coordination with SA Water.
• Delivery of education programs in food and hospitality from members of the Australian Army Catering Corps.

Captain Debra Johnson of the Australian Army Catering Corps demonstrating how to cook meals in bulk at the community kitchen​