Students at St Mary's College in Broome have some special new outfits to choose from after a recent visit by officers from the Australian Border Force (ABF).
ABF officers from the Broome District Office helped deliver boxes of repurposed uniforms from the front line as part of the Uniforms4Kids initiative, which aims to minimise waste and build trust between school children and frontline officers.
ABF Commander Operations West, Ranjeev Maharaj, said visits like the one to St Mary's are essential for his officers to build and maintain important community connections.
"This is not just about repurposing retired uniforms, this is about building real and lasting connections with members of the community that we are not only a part of, but that we're here to serve," Commander Maharaj said.
"Especially in regional and remote areas such as Broome, the local community really is our eyes and ears on the ground and so our relationships are critical to mission success.
"To see the kids' faces light up when we surprised them with the uniforms was a really heart-warming moment."
The visit also included a Q&A session, where members of the Student Representative Council got to ask the ABF officers about their role in protecting Australia's border.
Principal of St Mary's College in Broome, Ms Coby Rhatigan, said the visit by ABF officers opened the eyes of her students to possible exciting career pathways.
"I think the most enlightening part of the tour was the students getting the chance to engage with how many possibilities and pathways there are out there," Ms Rhatigan said.
"The ABF team was really able to unpack that for our students, inspire them and show them the courage they can demonstrate to try different things.
"They see officers in uniform as leaders in the community and for them to be able to meet and get to know these people is really important for these relationships."
The ABF maintains a strong and enduring presence in the Broome area through its District Office and presence at Broome International Airport.
People in the community can report suspicious border-related activity at any time through Border Watch. Reports can be made anonymously at www.borderwatch.gov.au
