The Minister for Defence Science and Personnel, the Hon. Warren Snowdon MP, today outlined the need for strategies to attract people from diverse cultural groups to serve in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
Mr Snowdon said that the ADF must appeal to a wider range of potential recruits to meet its current and future commitments, and be more representative of the wider Australian community.
“Over the next 20 years it’s predicted that the Australian workforce will be older, more gender-balanced and include increased participation from members of culturally diverse groups,” he said.
“The fact is that the ADF tends to attract young Caucasian males.
“While more can be done to let Australians know about the benefits of life in the ADF, the military must also consider the values that are important to people from a variety of cultural backgrounds.”
Mr Snowdon made his remarks at a meeting in Sydney with the Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, the Hon. Laurie Ferguson MP, community leaders and residents to discuss career, academic and personal development opportunities in the ADF.
“Only 6.5 per cent of military personnel speak a language other than English at home, compared to 21.5 per cent of the wider Australian population, so clearly there is still work ahead to convince ethnic communities that the ADF is an inclusive employer,” he said.
“Joining the military does not mean that ADF members lose their identities or cut ties with their family.
“A career in the ADF instils a sense of pride in Defence personnel, and allows them to directly participate in the security and protection of Australia.”