The Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program (originally called a 'Project') is a program run by Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and Australian Army to assist remote Indigenous Australian communities. It is also known as the ATSIC/Army Community Assistance Program and also Exercise SAUNDERS, after Reg Saunders, the first Indigenous Australian to be commissioned as an officer in the Australian Army.[1]
It was announced by Senator John Herron on 14 November 1996.[2] The first round of AACAP projects occurred between 1997 and 2000. The second round of projects were delivered between 2001 and 2004. The program continued in 2005 with projects funded in the 2004 Australian federal budget. The third round of projects were delivered between 2006 and 2009.[2]
By the program's 10 year anniversary, over 100 houses had been constructed and more than $60 million spent on provision of infrastructure including "medical centres, airfields, roads, rubbish tips...[and] sewerage works". Various health services had also been delivered including "men's health programs, dental health screening and pet treatment programs".[3]
Projects are managed through 19th Chief Engineer Works,[4] and are delivered by a range of corps including the Royal Australian Engineers, the Royal Australian Electrical and Mechanical Engineers, Royal Australian Corps of Signals, Royal Australian Army Medical Corps, Royal Australian Army Dental Corps and the Royal Australian Army Educational Corps. The majority of these personnel are drawn from the 17th and 21st Construction Squadrons, and the 21st and 22nd Construction Regiments.[4] Personnel from NORFORCE and the various Land Warfare Centre detachments are also sometimes involved.[1] Each project consists of construction, health and training elements and are tailored to meet the needs of the community in which the project is undertaken.[2]
Recent locations for AACAP have been Pukatja, South Australia (2010) and Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia (2011). AACAP 2012 will be undertaken on the Dampier Peninsula.[5]
AACAP projects have been undertaken at the following locations:[6] [7] [8] [9]
| Year | Location | Construction agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AACAP 1997 | Bulla, Northern Territory | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 1998 | Oak Valley, South Australia | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| Elcho Island, Northern Territory | |||
| Bickerton Island, Northern Territory | |||
| Docker River, Northern Territory | 17th Construction Squadron | ||
| AACAP 1999 | Jumbun, Queensland | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2000 | Melville and Bathurst Island, as part of the Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory | ||
| AACAP 2001 | Yarralin/Lingara, Mialuni | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| Amanbidji, Northern Territory | |||
| AACAP 2002 | Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia | ||
| AACAP 2003 | Palm Island, Queensland | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2004 | North Peninsular Area (Cape York) | ||
| AACAP 2005 | Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2006 | Borroloola, Northern Territory | ||
| AACAP 2007 | Doomadgee, Queensland | ||
| AACAP 2008 | Kalumburu, Western Australia | ||
| AACAP 2009 | Mapoon, Queensland | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2010 | Pukatja, South Australia, a community located in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands | 21st Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2011 | Fitzroy Crossing, Western Australia, and included the communities of Joy Springs and Bayulu, with works continuing in Joy Springs in 2012 | ||
| AACAP 2012 | Dampier Peninsula, Western Australia, including the communities of Beagle Bay, Lombadina, Djarindjin and Ardyaloon[10] | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2013 | Fregon, South Australia, a community located in the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands | 21st Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2014 | Wutunugurra/Canteen Creek, Northern Territory | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2015 | Titjikala, Northern Territory | 21st Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2016 | Laura, Queensland | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2017 | Toomelah, New South Wales | 21st Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2018 | Yalata, South Australia | 17th Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2019 | Jigalong, Western Australia | 21st Construction Squadron | |
| AACAP 2020 | Pormpuraaw, Queensland | 17th Construction Squadron |