Australian Defence Force personnel and members of the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI) explored how faith, culture and emotional resilience shape the way military personnel support each other in difficult environments.
Held in Jakarta during Indo-Pacific Endeavour late last year, the engagement focused on the human foundations that allow partners to operate effectively side by side.
Chaplains, imams and mental health providers discussed how belief, identity and personal values sustained personnel during hardship, and how understanding these elements improved cooperation during demanding operations.
Topics included exposure to trauma, the pressures of service life and the shared responsibility to support those who carry heavy emotional burdens.
Imam Majidih Essa, of the Royal Australian Navy, said the conversations revealed a strong common purpose between the two forces.
"Faith speaks to the things that matter most in military life," he said.
"It gives people strength when moments are dark, and purpose when situations are overwhelming. When we understand what sustains our Indonesian partners, we understand how to walk with them in the hardest moments."
'Australia and Indonesia share the same goal. We want our people to recover, to stand strong and to know they are not alone.'
Participants visited Indonesia's national mosque and national Catholic church to understand how Indonesia's major faith communities support their service members.
The ADF contingent also attended Friday prayers at the Indonesian Navy headquarters, where Imam Essa delivered a sermon as a guest of the TNI.
Army Chaplain Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Robinson said witnessing how Indonesian sailors centred their week on prayer offered important insight.
"When you see what gives your partners courage, stability and hope, you see the person beneath the uniform. That understanding builds a depth of trust that no amount of training or doctrine can replace," Chaplain Robinson said.
He said deeper cultural and spiritual understanding helped militaries respond together under pressure.
"Every nation has its own way of caring for people who have witnessed suffering or carried heavy responsibilities. When we appreciate those systems, we become better partners and better neighbours," Chaplain Robinson said.
Lieutenant Colonel Verra Nuradityaningtih, of the TNI, said the program helped both nations strengthen their care for personnel.
"This forum gives us knowledge we can use to support our members when they face trauma or crisis," Lieutenant Colonel Nuradityaningtih said.
"Australia and Indonesia share the same goal. We want our people to recover, to stand strong and to know they are not alone."
