Royal Australian Navy – CONTACT magazine

Defence is implementing recommendation 23 of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veteran Suicide. Story by Michael Hoare.

Service convictions to be available for police checks

29/10/202529/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 664 Views 2 Comments

From December, ADF personnel who have been convicted of a serious service offence since 2015 will have those details recorded

HMAS Penguin's ship's company exercises freedom of entry through the City of Mosman, NSW. Story by Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photos by Leading Seaman David Cox.

News Royal Australian Navy

Penguin march delights Mosman locals

28/10/202528/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 489 Views 0 Comments Freedom of Entry, HMAS Penguin, Navy Band

Living up to their motto of ‘Proud to Serve’, officers and sailors from HMAS Penguin marched through the streets of Mosman, NSW,

Nominees in the 2025 Women in Defence Awards, Petty Officer Brionee Harvey and Lieutenant Commander Shafiqah Shariff Ali, both of HMAS Brisbane. Story by Warrant Officer Caraline Enniss. Photo by Leading Seaman Danyellah Hill.

ADF People News Royal Australian Navy

Navy women recognised on the national stage

28/10/202528/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 411 Views 0 Comments HMAS Brisbane, Women in Defence Awards

When excellence is measured across the entire Defence community, it is rare for one ship to stand out twice, but

STS Young Endeavour sails from Sydney Harbour, embarking on her last voyage around Australia. Photo by Able Seaman Lauren Pugsley.

History News Royal Australian Navy

Young Endeavour’s last lap inspires new generation

22/10/202522/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2605 Views 0 Comments Young Endeavour

Australia’s national Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour has completed her final circumnavigation of the continent, marking a significant milestone in her 37-year

Incoming Commanding Officer HMAS Kuttabul Captain Iain Hutchins, left, receives the weight from outgoing Commanding Officer HMAS Kuttabul Captain Rebecca Levitt at the Heritage Centre, Garden Island, Sydney. Story by By Lieutenant Hinako Shiraishi. Photos by Able Seaman Abdus Chowdhury.

ADF People Royal Australian Navy

Gravity of changing the watch

21/10/202521/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 829 Views 0 Comments HMAS Kuttabul

Commanding a Navy base is never a simple task, and for Captain Rebecca Levitt, her tenure as Commanding Officer HMAS Kuttabul has

Brother and sister Joey and Elise with crew aboard the Royal Australian Navy Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour during a Young Endeavour Youth Scheme voyage 2025. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Peta Binns.

News Royal Australian Navy

Siblings share sailing sensation

21/10/202521/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 583 Views 0 Comments Young Endeavour

Not every sister and brother get to say they’ve sailed Australia’s coast on board national Sail Training Ship Young Endeavour – but

Australian Defence Force candidates complete challenging physical and cognitive activities during the 2025 Special Forces Integrator Selection Course. Story by Major Jacqui Day.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Selection course identifies Special Forces Integrators

17/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1157 Views 1 Comment Special Forces Integrators, Special Operations Command (SOCOMD)

The next generation of Special Forces engineers, medics and signallers were selected to serve in Special Operations Command (SOCOMD) during

Members of the Defence Force School of Signals and the Australian Army Band Melbourne march through Montmorency, exercising their freedom of entry right granted by the City of Banyule. Story by Major Sarah Kelly. Photos by Private Hamid Farahani.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

City honours school with freedom of entry

14/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 2328 Views 0 Comments Australian Army Band, Defence Force School of Signals, Freedom of Entry

The streets of the Melbourne suburb of Montmorency came alive on October 5 with ceremonial splendour as the Defence Force

Navy’s second offshore patrol vessel NUSHIP Eyre arrives at Fleet Base West to begin her transition to operational release phase. Story by Lieutenant Jacques de Villiers. Photos by Able Seaman Jaxsen Shinners.

News Royal Australian Navy

Eyre arrives at her home port

14/10/202514/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1282 Views 0 Comments Arafura-class, Fleet Base West, NUSHIP Eyre, offshore patrol vessel

Navy’s newest offshore patrol vessel (OPV) NUSHIP Eyre has arrived at her home port of Fleet Base West for the first time.

News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology

Navy launches new eye in the sky

03/10/202503/10/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1254 Views 0 Comments 822X Squadron, Integrator, Jervis Bay, Uncrewed Aircraft Systems (UAS)

A sunny day in Jervis Bay was the backdrop for 822X Squadron’s first launch and recovery of Navy’s newest uncrewed

An Australian Army M1A2 Abrams main battle tank boards HMAS Adelaide during sea transportability trials at the Port of Townsville, Queensland. Story by Eamon McCaughan. Photo by Lieutenant Commander Anthony Martin

Australian Army News Royal Australian Navy

Army’s new armour makes waves at sea

30/09/202530/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 1461 Views 0 Comments 3rd Brigade, Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG), HMAS Adelaide, M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams

A trial conducted with HMAS Adelaide this month has demonstrated Navy’s ability to move some of Army’s newest and heaviest land combat

Bomana War Cemetery, located near Port Moresby, is the final resting place of more than 3300 Australians. Photos by Leading Seaman Daniel Goodman.

Australian Army History Lest We Forget Overseas Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Bomana visit a moving moment for ADF members

25/09/202527/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3508 Views 0 Comments HMAS Choules, Operation Wantaim, PNG, WWII

Two ADF members paid a special visit to their relatives’ graves at the Bomana War Cemetery in Papua New Guinea

From left, Flight Lieutenant Thomas Ure, Squadron Leader Dee Irwin and Sergeant Michelle Carmona outside the United Nations Mission in South Sudan Force Headquarters in Juba, South Sudan. Story and photo by Squadron Leader Benjamin Clarke.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Supporting peace from behind the scenes

25/09/202525/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 850 Views 0 Comments Operation Aslan, UN Peacekeeping

While peacekeeping operations often spotlight boots on the ground, it is the behind-the-scenes professionals who keep the mission moving. CAPTION:

HMAS Ballarat's boarding party approaches Royal Brunei Navy ship KDB Darulaman during a maritime exercise off the coast of Brunei Darussalam during Exercise Penguin. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photos by Leading Seaman Connor Morrison.

Asia News Royal Australian Navy

Australia and Brunei strengthen defence ties

23/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3630 Views 0 Comments Chief of Navy, Exercise Penguin, HMAS Ballarat, Royal Brunei Navy

For the first time since 2018, the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Brunei Navy have completed Exercise Penguin, a

Leading Seaman Aircrewman Jess Muir observes HMAS Ballarat during a South China Sea transit as part of Regional Presence Deployment 25-4. Story by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior. Photo by Petty Officer Jacob Kambanaros.

News Royal Australian Navy

Frigate and flight find their rhythm

19/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 4611 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, Regional Presence Deployment

HMAS Ballarat recently sailed from her home port in Western Australia on a three-month regional presence deployment throughout the Indo-Pacific.

Sales of Legacy bears support the annual national appeal to raise awareness and funds for the families of veterans who have given their life or health in service to our country. Story by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel. Photo by Emma Taylor.

ADF People Australian Army Health and Wellbeing History Lest We Forget News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Annual fundraiser a big boost for Legacy

12/09/202512/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5045 Views 0 Comments Legacy Week, Vivian Bullwinkel

Across the country, sailors, soldiers and aviators took to the streets selling pin badges and bears to raise funds in

Comedian Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann is awarded the Australian Operational Service Medal (Civilian) by Deputy Theatre Commander Major General Paul Kenny in recognition 20 years of support to deployed troops. Story and photo by Leading Seaman Nadav Harel.

Australian Army News Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Combat comic ‘Lehmo’ honoured

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 5106 Views 3 Comments Afghanistan, Forces Entertainment Tour, Iraq, Middle East

Comedian Anthony ‘Lehmo’ Lehmann has been awarded the Australian Operational Service Medal (Civilian) in recognition of his two decades of

The crew of HMAS Ballarat hold a morning tea during their regional presence deployment to raise funds and awareness for R U OK? Day. Story and photo by Sub-Lieutenant Jake Badior.

ADF People Health and Wellbeing News Royal Australian Navy

HMAS Ballarat crew checks in on R U OK? Day

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3999 Views 0 Comments HMAS Ballarat, mental health, RUOK

The crew of HMAS Ballarat paused their busy regional presence deployment schedule to mark R U OK? Day at sea.

An Australian Army member from the Parachute Training School descend into Sir Hubert Murray Stadium from a PNG Defence Force aircraft during the Military Tattoo at Port Moresby. Story by Captain Katy Manning. Photos by Corporal Jack Pearce.

Australian Army News Pacific Royal Australian Air Force Royal Australian Navy

Military Tattoo showcases unity for PNG50

12/09/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 3824 Views 0 Comments PNG, PNGDF

Music, culture and fireworks lit up Sir Hubert Murray Stadium as Papua New Guinea hosted a Military Tattoo in the

Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Defence Industry Pat Conroy at at Fleet Base East in Sydney, inspect a Ghost Shark prototype before announcing the contract with Anduril Australia to acquire a new fleet of Australian designed and built extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles – known as Ghost Sharks – for the Royal Australian Navy. ADF photo by Kym Smith.

Australian News Royal Australian Navy Science & Technology Sovereign industry

Govt orders “dozens” of Oz-made Ghost Sharks

10/09/2025 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1498 Views 4 Comments Anduril, Ghost Shark

The government is investing $1.7 billion to acquire a new fleet of Australian‑designed and built extra-large autonomous undersea vehicles –

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