Indigenous woman follows parents’ footsteps in Australian Defence Force

PRIVATE Pamela Amber has followed her parents example into military service.

Private Pamela Amber, Driver Specialist from 3 CSR.

PRIVATE Pamela Amber has Defence in her blood.

Both her parents and her uncle have served in the military.

“I’ve always wanted to join as a driver from when I was little,” she said.

Pte Amber attended Gordonvale’s Djarragun College, a boarding school catering for day students and full-time boarders from remote communities across Cape York, the Torres Strait Islands, Yarrabah, Cairns and surrounds.

It was there she took part in an indigenous recruitment course.

She then formally enlisted back in January 2015 via Townsville before moving to Kapooka for 80 days of training and then to Puckapunyal for three months of initial employment training.

Her first posting has been to Townsville with the 3rd Combat Signal Regiment.

“Getting my first posting here was very exciting,” she said.

Pte Amber said it was difficult to leave her family but the sacrifice for her career has been worth it.

“Being indigenous and a woman in Defence has been a great opportunity, especially coming from a small community in Cape York,” she said.

“It was a bit hard to be away from my family you get over because you meet people in the Army and they become your family away from home.”

Originally published as Indigenous woman follows parents’ footsteps in Australian Defence Force