Transiting on board HMAS Choules through the Prince of Wales Channel in northern Australia, 21-year-old Seaman Medic Sienna Williams is experiencing her first Exercise Kakadu.
The large-scale navy-to-navy training prepares Australia and 18 partner nations to generate a robust capability and readiness for responding to shared security challenges.
Seaman Williams grew up in Rockhampton, Queensland. While monitoring the health of a close family member she realised her dream of caring for others and joined Navy in 2023 as a medic.
"I always knew that I wanted to be doing something in the medical field to help others and to put them before myself," she said.
"I know it sounds cheesy, but we are so lucky to be born in Australia, and I wanted to give back."
In her role as a medic in Choules, she works closely with people of all ranks and has learned that being a medic holds a significant responsibility for a ship being able to sail.
As part of a small medical team of three personnel on board Choules, she has worked across a wide range of medical situations at sea.
'It's important for us to overcome language barriers and share specific skill sets that we have - all for the one goal of meeting the patient's needs.'
For Kakadu, the medical team has expanded as the ship leads a task group of five regional partner nation ships.
This means Seaman Williams is working closely with her counterpart medical personnel, embarked in their respective ships, as the multinational task group navigates to Sydney.
"I'm enjoying the challenges of putting my training to good use while working with my counterparts on the other ships," she said.
"It's important for us to overcome language barriers and share specific skill sets that we have - all for the one goal of meeting the patient's needs."
Seaman Williams is one of more than 6000 personnel who have a role in this year's exercise, aimed at testing a range of maritime skills through synchronised training designed to bolster collective capability.
When asked what she would say to her younger self, Seaman Williams said she wouldn't change a thing.
"I'd say: we made it. Our dreams of being in the medical field have been fulfilled, and all the hard times when we thought we wouldn't make it have been worth it," she said.
"I've found my people who support me. I know I still have a lot to learn, but I'm proud of how far I've come."
