Defence members enjoy supporting Garma Festival

Defence personnel last week celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Garma Festival, Australia’s premier Indigenous event, in Gulkula, north-east Arnhem Land, Northern Territory.

CAPTION: ADF members take part in a dance ceremony during this year’s Garma Festival in Arnhem Land. Photo by Petty Officer James Whittle.

Garma Festival, held from 3-6 August and hosted by the Yothu Yindi Foundation, is a key community-engagement activity.

Yothu Yindi Foundation invited Defence, including a community engagement team from Navy, Army and Air Force, to work closely with them to support the festival in its milestone year.

A team of Defence personnel participated in a range of cultural activities at the Bunggul dance grounds as well as key forum discussions with community leaders and an education fair with Indigenous youths.

Defence representatives, including senior military and public-service members, also attended the festival to learn about and share knowledge of issues relevant to Indigenous Australians.

Participation in the festival also offered opportunities to share information on the meaningful employment and procurement opportunities Defence has in place to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians nationally.

Defence is committed to the whole-of-government ‘Closing the Gap’ strategy and progressing reconciliation in a meaningful and enduring way through its Defence Reconciliation Action Plan.

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