On September 11, an Australian Federal Police (AFP) high-level delegation consisting of Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough and a senior leadership team from AFP Northern Command, visited RAAF Base Amberley, Queensland.
The delegation itinerary included tours of the ground Base Defence Section and 6 Squadron, and incorporated briefings and panel discussions with RAAF personnel.
The visit, escorted by Commanding Officer 6 Squadron Wing Commander Steven Thornton, played a pivotal role in cultivating a collaborative partnership and advancing the shared mission of safeguarding the national interest the two organisations uphold.
The visit was incorporated into a two-day AFP Northern Command executive leadership retreat, bringing together all Queensland-based superintendents and commanders to strengthen team cohesion, foster leadership development and establish common goals.
The Northern Command encompasses distinct portfolios that include investigations as well as operations and support. It also plays a vital role in national security, not only in Australia but further afield in the Pacific.
“One of the primary objectives of the visit was to cultivate a sense of shared mission and cooperation in support of the government’s security goals for Australia and the Pacific,” Assistant Commissioner Gough said.
“By forging close ties with the RAAF, the AFP aims to leverage the unique strengths and expertise of both organisations, thereby enhancing their collective capabilities to address security challenges.
“The RAAF, with its wealth of experience and abundant resources, serves as a strategic partner capable of significantly augmenting the AFP’s efforts to safeguard our nation and the broader Pacific.”
A significant component of the visit was devoted to briefings and panel discussions with senior officers at RAAF Base Amberley. Strategies for team work, delivering on intent and bringing out the best in people were high on the agenda.
Officer Commanding 95 Wing Group Captain Kylie Green said 95 Wing’s role was to deliver agile, short notice, combat support to help generate and sustain expeditionary power.
“Our relationship with the AFP is increasingly important as we focus on our shared security objectives for Australia and for our region,” Group Captain Green said.
“We are seeing significant benefit from joint training opportunities in explosive ordnance detection and destruction, as well as intelligence sharing and emergency response operations.”
