15 April 2025
Nervously fronting a camera in Melbourne, Warrant Officer Class 2 (WO2) Sela ‘Eva Fifita Finau, of His Majesty’s Armed Forces (Tonga), conducted a mock media interview as part of the first multinational Public Affairs Officer and Photographers course run by the ADF.
Coming together in March with soldiers and officers from partner nations including Jordan, Indonesia, Tonga, Fiji, Vanuatu and New Zealand, alongside ADF personnel, WO2 Finau aimed to develop her military public affairs skill set.
“I feel very happy to have been a part of this course and will now be able to share what I have learnt with my colleagues in my organisation back home,” she said.
“I also feel much more confident in responding to questions from the media than at the start of the course.
“It was great to work together with everyone from many countries to build our skills.”
WO2 Finau also took part in the photographers course to develop her skills in producing imagery to support public affairs messaging.
Commander Joint Training Command Colonel Paul Baker said delivering the first international military public affairs and photography course was an important step towards the future.
“Military public affairs is a critical capability to inform and educate Australians and the broader region on the Australian Defence Force's capabilities,” Colonel Baker said.
“As information through many means continues to shape and influence the public, our combined military public affairs personnel can ensure truth and transparency remain at the core of what we do.
“This course provided an important opportunity for many nations to come together to build their collective military public affairs capacity, which will stand them in good stead for a strong future.”
'Military public affairs is a critical capability to inform and educate Australians and the broader region on the Australian Defence Force's capabilities.'
Chief Instructor Commander Darren Mallett, of Joint Training Command, said the course provided a critical opportunity for multinational military public affairs personnel to share knowledge and skills.
“We had the opportunity to collectively build our public affairs and photography capabilities across many nations, through practical experiences, cultural exchange and mutual understanding,” Commander Mallett said.
“Developing peer relationships across our forces ensures we are an integrated and capable combined military public affairs force."
Senior Instructor Squadron Leader Jessica Aldred, of Joint Training Command, said the students participated in field trips to practise their skills at RAAF Base Point Cook and Puckapunyal Military Area.
“The opportunity to visit Puckapunyal and Point Cook to practise media interview skills, and capture imagery of military capability and personnel was well-received by our partner nations,” Squadron Leader Aldred said.
“I am incredibly proud of what the members have been able to achieve in such a short period of time, despite many of them having limited prior experience."
The international combined public affairs and photographers course ran from March 17-28 at Joint Training Command, Simpson Barracks, Melbourne.
