PODCAST: Supporting Indigenous engagement and participation in defence – Norman Laing, Defence Indigenous Cultural Adviser

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PODCAST: Supporting Indigenous engagement and participation in defence – Norman Laing, Defence Indigenous Cultural Adviser

Indigenous Australians have a proud history of serving with the ADF, from World War I to the specialist recon units of NORFORCE. Now as government shifts its focus to developing a sovereign defence industry capability, Indigenous Australians are emerging as a fundamental input to capability.

Indigenous Australians have a proud history of serving with the ADF, from World War I to the specialist recon units of NORFORCE. Now as government shifts its focus to developing a sovereign defence industry capability, Indigenous Australians are emerging as a fundamental input to capability.

 
 

On this Defence Connect podcast, host Phil Tarrant is joined by Defence Indigenous Cultural Adviser Norman Laing, as they discuss his career in Defence, what attracted him to serving in the Australian Defence Force and the history of Indigenous Australians serving in the ADF. 

Laing also talks about the role of the Defence Indigenous Cultural Adviser and how Defence is working with Indigenous communities around the country to support individuals and their communities. 

Finally, they discuss the growing role of defence businesses in supporting Australia’s defence capability, with a number of Indigenous businesses growing to serve an increasingly important role in the government's sovereign industry capability plans. 

Enjoy the podcast,

The Defence Connect team

Stephen Kuper

Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.

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Listen to previous episodes of the Defence Connect podcast:

Episode 11: CONTESTED GROUND: Australian resilience during a crisis and sovereign industrial capability
Episode 10: CONTESTED GROUND: From Tehran to Sydney – why war could reshape Australian property
Episode 9: SPOTLIGHT: Inside Australia’s AUKUS industrial transformation, with Honeywell Aerospace Australia senior director Lee Davis
Episode 8: CONTESTED GROUND: War without borders – the disinformation threat arriving in Australia
Episode 7: THE PROGRESS REPORT: The mission to make military children visible
Episode 6: PODCAST: Righting the ship, balancing the force, with Senator James Paterson, shadow minister for defence
Episode 5: SPOTLIGHT: Modern electronic warfare, spectrum congestion and the Australian defence ecosystem, with DEWC Services’ Rian Whitby
Episode 4: CONTESTED GROUND: The intersection of finance, organised crime, terrorism and foreign interference, with Keith Bulfin
Episode 3: CONTESTED GROUND: The fragility of Australia’s energy ecosystem, with AVM (Ret’d) John Blackburn AO
Episode 2: PODCAST: The MC-55A Peregrine and the future of ADF airborne reconnaissance, with Alan Clements