(From left) Cecil Coconut, Janice Wilson, WGCDR Tai Kohn, LTCOL Alan Hockings, LTCOL Luke Wessell, Charlotte Dick, Cr Ernest Modua, Michael Boxer, WO Robert Dinsey and Cr Margie Adidi. Photo: ADF/Corporal Luke Bellman.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) has completed a major homeland defence training exercise on the Cape involving armed soldiers, military vehicles, watercraft, aircraft and specialist drones.
Exercise Austral Shield 2026 brought together ADF personnel, government agencies and security partners in a “continent-wide rehearsal for the defence of Australia”.
Personnel were on the ground around Weipa, Mapoon and Napranum from Friday, 3 July, to 19 July.
The training is conducted every two years under Joint Task Force 629 (JTF629) and tests the ADF’s ability to safeguard critical infrastructure, respond to homeland security contingencies, and integrate with agencies and communities called on during a domestic operation.
Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Chief of Joint Operations, said Austral Shield allowed the ADF to validate plans developed through strategic command post training.
“Annually, Headquarters Joint Operations Command conducts a major command post exercise, with elements focused on contingency planning and homeland security,” he said.
A member of the Australian Defence Force (ADF) during the Exercise Austral Shield training held in Far North Queensland in 2024. Photo: ADF.
“What we learn out of those command post exercises is arguably theoretical, so we use exercises like Austral Shield to actually test, trial and rehearse the vignettes that we gain from those command post exercises.”
As well as at the Cape, training was also undertaken at Gladstone in Central Queensland and Perth in Western Australia. Locations were picked to provide realistic environments for rehearsing the protection of critical infrastructure and Defence establishments.
Scenarios included emerging security challenges such as countering drones, while also testing the ADF’s ability to coordinate and sustain operations across the nation’s vast geography, according to the ADF.
“Austral Shield is a continental-sized activity,” Vice Admiral Jones said.
“It tells the citizens of Australia that we take our remit to protect them and Australia’s interests extremely seriously, and this is rehearsal for that mission.”
Director-General of Joint Collective Training Commodore Phillipa Hay said the exercise brought together organisations expected to work side-by-side during a real-world homeland security response.
“Under JTF629, whose motto is ‘to protect community and country’, we deploy our people around the nation in order to integrate and train for the defence of the homeland,” she said.
“Exercise Austral Shield provides an opportunity to bring together the ADF, the police and other security and emergency services so that we can integrate and cooperate successfully when the callout comes.”
Building relationships with locals was a key part of Austral Shield and engagement involved leaders, industry representatives and traditional owners.
“Exercises such as Austral Shield cannot be done without the support of local communities,” Commodore Hay said.
“In Weipa, for instance, we were welcomed by the community, and had the full support of the traditional owners and the local residents.
“We are exceptionally grateful for their support, and look forward to ongoing engagement.”
Earlier, Peppan traditional owners took Trakapayn Springs water and sprinkled it over the heads of personnel in a ceremony to welcome JTF629 to Country.
Peppan custodian Janice Wilson welcomes personnel deployed as Joint Task Force 629 to Country during Exercise Austral Shield 2026 at RAAF Base Scherger in Weipa. Photo: ADF/Corporal Luke Bellman.
Peppan custodian Janice Wilson said the ceremony was a tradition passed down through generations.
“The purpose of Welcome to Country is important for the protection of the soldiers that are here on the base,” she said.
“When you come out here, you can feel the presence of our elders, the ones that have passed.”
Ms Wilson said ADF soldiers protected the nation as ancestors watched over those who came onto their land.
”The interaction and engagement with the local community is probably the most fulfilling part of it,” she said.
Commander of RAAF Base Scherger near Weipa Tai Kohn, also Task Unit Wing Commander, said the use of water from local springs made the ceremony especially meaningful.
“This blessing was even more special because of the natural connection to the springs. It is something we don’t see elsewhere,” she said.
A Peppan custodian welcomes personnel deployed as Joint Task Force 629 to Country during Exercise Austral Shield 2026 at RAAF Base Scherger in Weipa. Photo: ADF/Corporal Luke Bellman.
Warrant Officer Scott Triffit, who leads a five-person caretaker team at RAAF Base Scherger, said community engagement was one of the most rewarding parts of living and working in Weipa.
“It’s very important to embrace the community,” he said.
