Cathy McGowan (Indi, Independent) Share this | Hansard source

Three weeks ago, I had the pleasure of being part of the ADF Parliamentary Program and being an active participant in the Army Aboriginal Community Assistance Program, AACAP. AACAP has been working since 1996 and has assisted over 40 communities. I was absolutely delighted to be hosted at Titjikala, a small rural community an hour and a half south of Alice Springs.

Part of the work the Army is doing there includes the building of a waste management treatment system, the construction of two duplex houses, an extension to the men's training shed, an extension to the AFL shelter sheds next to the footy grounds, the provision of health services to the local communities, a veterinary service and training for certificate II in rural studies, welding, construction, cooking and multimedia. Titjikala is a busy community. As well as hosting the Army construction and training, a new health clinic is being built and there will be a new sewerage system, curb and channelling, links to waste water treatment ponds and the removal of the old and no longer needed septic tanks.

I would like to take this opportunity to say a special thanks to the minister and the parliamentary secretary. This is a great program. Thank you to all of the Army personnel for your warm welcome, support, friendship and professionalism. Thank you to the staff of PM&C who do all of the background work and organisation—impeccable skills. Finally, I would like to recommend that the program be continued and that, in the short term, a review and evaluation take place so that we can well and truly understand the benefit of this program to the whole of Australia.

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