On Saturday 19 July, it was the 109^th Commemoration of the Battle of Fromelles.  Caela Segon of Year 12 was the guest speaker. Caela's speech was precise, emotive and extremely well written. Many veterans and serving members approached us and thanked Caela for her speech. Congratulations and well done Caela!

Please see the latest edition of e-news, and information on Solider On Mentoring Programs.

Soldier On Mentoring Program

Soldier On invites veterans, current ADF service members, and their adult family members (18+) to apply for the Soldier On Mentoring Program—an award-winning initiative that supports you in achieving employment, education, and personal goals. This structured 18-week program facilitates meaningful mentorship connections between experienced professionals from Soldier On Pledge Partners, and other subject matter experts. Through this initiative, participants are provided an opportunity to engage in a purposeful and enriching mentor-mentee relationship, fostering personal and professional growth.

Applications are closing soon. For more information and to apply, please visit: https://soldieron.org.au/supporting-you/learning-and-education/pathways-mentoring or email education@soldieron.org.au.

We would love to hear from you if you are seeking support in:

•  Career progression, planning, change or networking
•  Education or study direction
•  Professional or personal skill development
•  Smooth transition support from the ADF

Program dates: 4 August 2025 - 4 December 2025  

Exercise Talisman Sabre - July to August 2025

Australia will host the largest ever Exercise Talisman Sabre from 13 July to 4 August 2025. Over 30,000 military personnel from 19 nations are set to participate in activities across Australia, and for the first time, in Papua New Guinea.

Now in its eleventh iteration, Talisman Sabre is the largest bilateral combined training activity between the Australian Defence Force and the United States military, reflecting the closeness of our Alliance.

Participating partner nations in Talisman Sabre 2025 also include:

• Canada, Fiji, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Thailand, Tonga, and the United Kingdom.
• Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam will also attend as observers.

Talisman Sabre 2025 will focus on multi-domain warfighting. Key activities will include amphibious and airborne lodgements, firepower demonstrations, and combat across land, air, sea, space and cyber domains.

The logistics for preparing, staging, integrating and moving forces to and around Australia are the most complex ever undertaken for a Talisman Sabre.

The activities are scheduled to take place right across the nation, including Queensland, Western Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales and on Christmas Island.

For the first time ever, Papua New Guinea will also host an activity, highlighting the growing capabilities and interoperability with Pacific partners as Papua New Guinea marks its 50th Anniversary of Independence.

Quotes attributable to the Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones:

• “Talisman Sabre demonstrates our enduring Alliance with the United States, through deepening cooperation in training and force integration.
• “It is a key opportunity to work with our partners from across the region and around the globe, demonstrating our combined capability to achieve large-scale operational outcomes together.
• “As well as welcoming the largest ever contingent of partner nations, Australia is also excited to be holding part of this year’s exercise in Papua New Guinea. This is an important demonstration of the deepening integration between Australia and Papua New Guinea’s Defence Forces.”

Quotes attributable to the Talisman Sabre Exercise Director, Brigadier Damian Hill:

• “This year’s exercise will demonstrate our ability to receive large volumes of personnel and equipment into Australia from across the Indo-Pacific, to stage, integrate and move them forward into the large exercise area.
• “Considerable planning has gone into a safe and productive exercise for all participants.
• “Talisman Sabre 2025 will be held across a range of Defence and non-Defence training areas throughout northern Australia. I thank the traditional owners, landowners, state authorities, and key community stakeholders who have helped us develop a safe and productive exercise for all participating nations.”

If you require any assistance in regard to absences due to deployments, exercises or Married Unaccompanied, please reach out. My details are as follows: jsheehan@wmac.com.au or (07) 3813 4508.    

Jenny Sheehan

Defence School Mentor