The ADF continues to work in conflict zones, helping to end gender-based violence.
Lieutenant Colonel Jada Sanderson's ADF career has taken her all over the world, but until she took up the role of Force Gender Adviser for the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS), she couldn't have fully comprehended the high rates of gender-based violence occurring there.
Although the red dirt of the capital, Juba, looks similar to the red dirt in the small town of Tullibigeal in New South Wales where Lieutenant Colonel Sanderson grew up, life in the world's newest country couldn't be more different.
"I live at UN House, one of the two UNMISS HQ bases in Juba," Lieutenant Colonel Sanderson said.
"Adjacent to UN House are two internally displaced persons' camps, which house tens of thousands of people in very challenging conditions.
"When my deployment ends, I will remember the women of South Sudan trying to hold their communities together and to keep the human spirit alive at the grass roots level.
"We must listen to women's voices in peace processes, where too often they are excluded - even though they are among the most affected and the most determined to build peace."
Lieutenant Colonel Sanderson noticed how collaboration and diverse teams transformed outcomes in South Sudan. These outcomes develop when military, police and civilian components work together. By sharing insights, conducting integrated patrols and co-hosting specialist training, they can build trust, improve situational awareness and deliver on the Protection of Civilians mandate.
"These are not just good practices - they are essential to ending violence against women and children," she said.
"We know many cases of sexual violence against women and children are not reported due to fear and stigma. Survivors show tremendous courage in telling their stories, in demanding justice, in reclaiming their dignity."
South Sudan's harsh environment is subject to droughts, floods and heatwaves. Nearly one million people were affected by devastating flooding across South Sudan last year, compounding a dire humanitarian crisis already marked by conflict and disease outbreaks.
The ADF has been supporting UN peacekeeping activities in South Sudan since it became independent from Sudan in 2011.
The Force Gender Adviser position demands cultural sensitivity, a diplomatic mindset and the ability to positively influence others with different world views.
"My core responsibility is making sure a gender and child protection perspective is mainstreamed across a 14,000-strong UN Force. This is achieved through effective training, military planning and stakeholder engagement," Lieutenant Colonel Sanderson said.
"Often where the ADF is deployed, there are significant challenges in progressing women, peace and security initiatives. We know this work is essential and improves outcomes on the ground.
"It is important that ADF and UN gender advisers receive formal accredited training to set them up for success, and that gender, peace and security continues to be mainstreamed in Defence's work."
Lieutenant Colonel Sanderson saw firsthand how a gender-responsive approach to peacekeeping increases operational effectiveness.
"I am very proud to say that UNMISS, with support from the Elsie Initiative Fund, is launching a two-year pilot project to significantly improve the working and living conditions of uniformed women deployed to the most remote and austere areas of the mission," Lieutenant Colonel Sanderson said.
"UNMISS leadership understands that, in South Sudan, women and girls want to talk to women. In many cases, local women do not feel comfortable directly interacting with male peacekeepers on sensitive matters.
"If the women and children of South Sudan cannot approach female peacekeepers and disclose that their human rights have been violated, then a culture of silence and impunity will continue. Female peacekeepers support meaningful interactions, so we can fully understand community concerns and deliver on our Protection of Civilians mandate in a holistic and informed way.
"This deployment has reinforced to me that gender equality is at the very heart of human rights. The presence of female peacekeepers is not lip-service - they save lives."
