The team from the Army Aboriginal Assistance Programme (AACAP), are doing great work and making a significant and very positive impact at the Titjikala community about 100 kms or so south of Alice Springs. Warren Snowdon said today.
Yesterday I had the privilege to spend the morning visiting the army crew at work at Titjikala and was blown away by how much they were achieving and their very positive impact on the community.
,^^^,THE HON WARREN SNOWDON MP
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR NORTHERN AUSTRALIA
SHADOW PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR EXTERNAL TERRITORIES
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR LINGIARI
AACAP TEAM DOING GREAT WORK AT TITJIKALA
The team from the Army Aboriginal Assistance Programme (AACAP), are doing great work and making a significant and very positive impact at the Titjikala community about 100 kms or so south of Alice Springs. Warren Snowdon said today.
Yesterday I had the privilege to spend the morning visiting the army crew at work at Titjikala and was blown away by how much they were achieving and their very positive impact on the community.
A key to their success is their respect for and engagement with the host community, in this case Titjikala.
While they are making a significant contribution in providing new capital works, including the provision of an entirely new waste treatment works and upgraded sewerage facilities, two new two bedroom duplexes, change rooms at the local footie oval and a new undercover area at the mens shed, they are also making a contribution in other ways Mr Snowdon said.
There is a full medical team including a doctor, nursing staff, medics, a radiographer, and pathologist as well as a dentist and dental assistants. This team is engaged working with the Titjikala clinic to improve health outcomes for the community.
They also had an army vet and dog handler visit to work with the community animals, including a horse.
As well the team is providing training opportunities for locals in areas as diverse as welding and catering.
The team is being led by a very impressive group of officers and NCOs under the command LTCOL Amanda Johnston, CO of the 6th Engineer Support Regiment.
LTCOL Johnston and her team are doing an outstanding job and are rightly very proud of their work. Mr Snowdon said.
They are also getting a valuable opportunity to test and further develop their own skills and those of the army.
Next year will be the 20th anniversary of AACAP and over that time I have had the honour of site visits to a number of their projects. All of which have been very successful and popular.”
Without doubt the way in which the AACAP teams have been such good partners with the communities in which they work has been a feature of their success.
The sensitive and mature way they engage with the locals is a valuable lesson they could teach others who work in and with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across the country. Mr Snowdon said.
Tuesday, 1 September 2015
MEDIA CONTACT: CHANSEY PAECH (SNOWDON) 0431 810 758