AACAP Archives - CONTACT magazine

An aerial view of the new community store being constructed adjacent to the airstrip in Bäniyala, Northern Territory, as part of the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme. Story by Major Evita Ryan. Photos by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

Australian Army News

Engineering food security for remote community

11/02/2025 Posted by Mike Hughes 803 Views 0 Comments 19th Chief Engineer Works (19CEW), AACAP

Imagine running out of fresh bread or milk when the closest grocery store is more than 200km away. CAPTION: An aerial

Australian Army surveyor Sapper Shaun Jackson from 6th Engineer Support Regiment completes a surveying task as part of the 2024 Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme in Amata, SA. Story by Flight Lieutenant Marina Power. Photo by Private Jack Hayes.

ADF People Australian Army

Army surveyors shoot lasers

19/07/202430/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1492 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP

Shooting lasers is all in a day’s work for the small cohort of Army surveyors. CAPTION: Australian Army surveyor Sapper Shaun

Private Luke Kennedy and Captain Debra Johnson mix cement to create tiles for the Amata Anangu School in remote north-western South Australia. Story by Major Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Michael Cassidy.

ADF People Australian Army

Soldier supporting his own community

09/07/202413/07/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1098 Views 0 Comments AACAP, NORFORCE

Anangu man Private Luke Kennedy is living a once-in-a-lifetime experience. CAPTION: Private Luke Kennedy and Captain Debra Johnson mix cement to

Private Luke Kennedy assists a fellow Amata community member with the construction of a bench seat. Story by Major Evita Ryan. Photo by Private Jack Hayes.

Australian Army News

Army building for Aboriginal community in red centre

28/06/202429/06/2024 Posted by Mike Hughes 1354 Views 0 Comments 19th Chief Engineer Works (19CEW), 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP, NORFORCE

The First Nations community of Amata in Australia’s red centre welcomed a 100-member Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP) contingent

Sapper Malcolm Stewart, from 6th Engineer Support Regiment, delivers trade training to trainees Jonathon Guyula and Alistair Mununggurr during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

Australian Army News

Sharing trade skills in Gapuwiyak

05/10/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1599 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP, Indigenous

What started out as a commitment to provide basic trade skills for three days a week, soon expanded to a

Warrant Officer Class One Ben Miller oversees the construction of the Independent Youth Centre in Gapuwiyak, NT, during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program. Story by Warrant Officer Class One Ben Miller oversees the construction of the Independent Youth Centre in Gapuwiyak, NT, during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program. Photo: Warrant Officer Class Two Kim Allen. Photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Kim Allen.

ADF People

Community construction works for warrant officer

27/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1154 Views 0 Comments AACAP, Indigenous

Having returned to the NT as the construction works manager on his eighth Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP), Warrant

Sapper Donald Currie, a Plumber from 6th Engineer Support Regiment, works on the construction of an Independent Youth Centre in Gapuwiyak, NT. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

ADF People

Going above and beyond

27/09/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1223 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP, Indigenous

Sapper Donald Currie is not your average plumber. CAPTION: Sapper Donald Currie, a Plumber from 6th Engineer Support Regiment, works

Australian Army dental officer Captain Yuen Dieu and dental assistant Private Jacinta Rooke, from 1st Health Battalion, provide dental support to the Gapuwiyak community during the Army Aboriginal Assistance Program. Story byCaptain Evita Ryan.

Australian Army Health and Wellbeing News

Dental duo brightens smiles in Gapuwiyak

26/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1694 Views 0 Comments 1st Health Battalion, 3rd Health Battalion, AACAP, Indigenous

Walking through the crowd of at AFL game in Gapuwiyak in early July, dental duo Captain Yuen Dieu and Private Jacinta

Private Maria Aniceto re-stocks catering supplies in the deployable catering capability at Camp Birt during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Kim Allen.

ADF People

Chance to engage with Indigenous culture

23/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 983 Views 0 Comments 10th Force Support Battalion, 1st Brigade, AACAP, Indigenous

About 22 hours’ drive from her family in Darwin, Private Maria Aniceto has made herself right at home in another

Private Adrian Fleming completes a daily field test of the purified water at Camp Birt during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo: byWarrant Officer Class Two Kim Allen.

ADF People

Connection to country in the Top End

23/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1307 Views 0 Comments 1st Health Battalion, AACAP, Indigenous

A Territorian through and through, 1st Health Battalion’s Private Adrian Fleming is loving the opportunity to spend time in his

Captain Verity Farragher, left, with Warrant Officer Class Two Paul Thompson and Warrant Officer Class Two Phillip Harris conduct a site inspection during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak. Story by Corporal Dustin Anderson. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

Australian Army News Sovereign industry

Civilian engineering placement builds confidence for Army engineers

19/08/202223/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2536 Views 0 Comments AACAP, National Science Week

When Australian Army Engineer Captain Verity Farragher saw the chance to work with one of Australia’s top construction companies, she

Sergeant Nathan Judd, right, with caterer Private Sam O’Brien in the deployable catering capability during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Warrant Officer Class Two Kim Allen.

Australian Army News

Upgraded catering capability on show

09/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2246 Views 0 Comments 10th Force Support Battalion, AACAP, Indigenous

Catering Commander Sergeant Nathan Judd and his team of six chefs from the 10th Force Support Battalion are having the

Army soldier Sergeant Nathan Judd with Gapuwiyak community members enjoying the meal they cooked during hospitality training as part of the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program in Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory. Story by Captain Annie Richardson. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

Australian Army News

Community fulfilment through more than just food

05/08/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2034 Views 0 Comments 10th Force Support Battalion, AACAP, Indigenous

There is so much more to the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP) catering team than just cooking. CAPTION: Army

Australian Army soldiers join members of the Gapuwiyak community in performing traditional dances during the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program 2022 Opening Ceremony in Gapuwiyak, Northern Territory. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

Australian Army News Videos

Program supporting Indigenous communities for 25 years

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 2353 Views 0 Comments AACAP, Indigenous

The Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (AACAP) is in its 25th year of supporting remote Indigenous communities. CAPTION: Australian Army

Plant Foreman Australian Army soldier Corporal Greg McKenzie from 6th Engineer Support Regiment during Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program 2022 at Gapuwiyak, in the Northern Territory. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Petersen.

ADF People

Digging AACAP at Gapuwiyak

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1297 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP, Army Reserve, Australian Antarctic Division

At 63, 6th Engineer Support Regiment plant foreman Corporal Greg McKenzie has experienced a wide variety of careers encompassing supermarket

Australian Army soldier Sapper Jeirome Auda-Muckan from the 6th Engineer Support Regiment uses spare materials to enhance the living quarters of AACAP 2022 contingent members living at Camp Birt near Gapuwiyak, on June 22. Story by Captain Evita Ryan. Photo by Corporal Lucas Petersen.

ADF People

Carpenter fulfills calling at AACAP

01/07/2022 Posted by Mike Hughes 1460 Views 0 Comments 6th Engineer Support Regiment, AACAP, Indigenous, NAIDOC Week

With both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage, Sapper Jeirome Auda-Muckan is excited to be deployed on his first Army

Plant foreman Corporal Greg McKenzie from 6th Engineer Support Regiment brings a backhoe onto site during Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program 2022 at Gapuwiyak in the Northern Territory. Photo by Corporal Petersen.

Australian Army News

Army kicks off 25th year on AACAP

24/06/2022 Posted by Brian Hartigan 1780 Views 0 Comments AACAP

This year the Australian Army celebrates its 25th year of providing support to remote First Nations communities through the Army

Members of the Pormpuraaw Arts Centre Dance Group greet the Army contingent during the AACAP 2021 opening ceremony. Story by Captain Evita Ryan.

Australian Army News

Building skills in Aboriginal community

14/09/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 2167 Views 0 Comments AACAP

About 120 soldiers spent the past three months working on projects in an Aboriginal community on the Cape York Peninsula

Sapper Malcolm Stewart, left, teaches Andrew Poonkamelya, a local member from the Pormpuraaw Community in Cape York Peninsula, welding techniques during AACAP 2021. story by Captain Evita Ryan.

ADF People

Committed to helping Indigenous communities

10/09/202110/09/2021 Posted by Mike Hughes 958 Views 0 Comments AACAP

Throughout his life, Sapper Malcolm Stewart has worked in numerous construction roles at various locations, but since 2002, one constant

Australian Army plumber Corporal Terry Walker (left), who is an Indigenous liaison officer for the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Programme in Laura, northern Queensland, is working with local Mr Kendall Bowen to mentor and pass on his skills. Photo by Sergeant Janine Fabre

Australian Australian Army News

AACAP 2016 concludes in Laura

27/09/2016 Posted by Brian Hartigan 5454 Views 0 Comments AACAP

For the 20th consecutive year, the Australian Government has delivered infrastructure, vocational skills training and health care to a remote Indigenous