Defence releases First Nations Commitment with 5 per cent participation target by 2030

The Australian Defence Force and wider Defence organisation has released a new national plan aimed at lifting First Nations participation and improving support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across both the ADF and the Defence Australian Public Service.

The plan, titled the Defence First Nations Commitment, sets out an enterprise-wide approach to recruitment, retention and long-term wellbeing, including a target to increase First Nations representation across Defence to 5 per cent by 2030. Defence says the commitment is designed to help First Nations people join, thrive while serving, and remain supported beyond their time in uniform or the public service.

Structured around four pillars (Employment and Education; Inclusion and Reconciliation; Health, Wellbeing and Truth-telling; and Economic Empowerment) the commitment outlines actions ranging from stronger cultural recognition on bases to First Nations-led Mental Health First Aid training. It also continues Defence’s work under the Indigenous Procurement Policy, which is intended to grow opportunities for First Nations businesses in Defence supply chains.

In the foreword, Defence Secretary Greg Moriarty and Chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston framed the document as part of a longer-term shift in how the organisation works with communities. “As we progress on this journey, we remain committed to listening and learning from First Nations peoples; engaging respectfully and taking practical action” they said.

The commitment is also positioned as a response to broader national priorities, including the National Agreement on Closing the Gap, the National Defence Strategy and the Defence Culture Blueprint. Defence argues that improving inclusion and cultural safety is not only a matter of fairness, but also directly connected to capability and workforce resilience.

National Indigenous Times reporting on the release noted Defence’s emphasis on the longstanding contribution of First Nations peoples to service and Country, with the foreword stating: “Their knowledge, service and continuing connection to Country strengthen Defence capability.”

For First Nations veterans and current serving members, the announcement is likely to be judged by the practical impact it delivers – including whether recruitment pathways are matched by support systems that keep people safe, valued and able to progress. The commitment’s focus on education, health and truth-telling also signals a broader attempt to move beyond symbolic recognition and into measurable change.

Defence has not presented the commitment as a quick fix, instead describing it as a framework with milestones that will require ongoing collaboration, accountability and community engagement over the coming years.