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| Dr Mike Kelly |
Parliamentary Secretary for Defence, Dr Mike Kelly, congratulated the Australian Civil-Military Centre on the success of the fourth annual Civil-Military Interaction Workshop (CMIW), held at the Australian Emergency Management Institute (AEMI) in Mt Macedon, Victoria, 4-9 March 2012.
The course, run in conjunction with the Asia Pacific Centre for Military Law (APCML) was attended by approximately 50 officials from Australia, New Zealand, the Asia–Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, representing government, police, military and non-government organisations who contribute to the conduct of civil-military operations.
Dr Kelly said it was an opportunity for participants to work with international colleagues and for all sectors to gain a better insight into civil-military affairs and emerging issues to enhance civil, military and police effectiveness in conflict and disaster management.
“The objective of the workshop was to equip participants with basic knowledge of the planning factors that are critical to the conduct of successful civil-military operations and to familiarise them with each other’s perspectives, operating procedures, methods, limitations and advantages,” Dr Kelly said.
“The course also allowed the participants to gain a better understanding of civil-military processes and contribute to the shared understanding of these issues.”
Participants heard from subject matter experts from organisations such as the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusAID, the Australian Defence Force and the Australian Federal Police. The expertise and participation of academic specialists and non-government organisations also added to the success of the workshop.
Dr Kelly added that the growing importance of civil-military relations in conflict and disaster management made CMIW a valuable networking experience for participants.
“Not only has your knowledge of Civil-Military doctrine been enhanced, you have built a valuable network of international practitioners to call on in the years to come,” he said.
The Australian Civil-Military Centre supports the development of national civil-military capabilities to prevent, prepare for, and respond more effectively to conflicts and disasters overseas.