The Australian Army is ready to help foster a crucial national conversation about shared military and civil responsibilities in a volatile world. This was the message the Chief of Army Lieutenant General Simon Stuart delivered to service members and civilians gathered in the Great Hall at Parliament House in August for the 2025 Chief of Army Symposium.
Stuart positioned the symposium—focused on ‘the army and society’—as the modern social and cultural institution for Defence leaders, military historians and prominent academics to debate the strategic issues of our time. Far from being a Greek tragedy, however, the event delivered more than tales of hubris and trauma from national memory. Keynote presentations reflected on the 80th anniversary of the end of the Pacific War. The tone was sombre in places but uplifting overall.
The first day’s panel sessions focused on the army’s role in society, regional perspectives on civil-military relations and the effect of history on service. The second day’s sessions examined lessons learned from Australia’s responses to crises, trust and national resilience, and the value of a federated defence industry. Respectful discussions about how members of society have and could support the Australian Defence Force and Australia’s ‘national defence’ were frequent highlights of discussions. The final panel session on ‘generations past, present and future’ conceptualised ‘the soldier’ as a veteran, a serving soldier and a potential next generation recruit. This was perhaps the most incisive of the event’s panels.
The symposium encouraged new thinking about how Australia’s diverse communities can all share in a collective identity and be capable of mobilising resources to meet future military and societal challenges. It went to the heart of the ‘contract of unlimited liability’, which asks soldiers to risk their lives on behalf of the nation if required and asks the nation to care for serving personnel, veterans and their families in return. Attention was given to the value of service in a civilian capacity and the reciprocal obligations between our people in uniform, Australian citizenry and elected representatives.
Spoken word is often used to stir the soul of nations facing adversity. Stuart reflected on the practice of post-war commemorations, such as the funeral oration delivered by Pericles on the anniversary of the Peloponnesian War. The Greek statesman and general eulogised not the fallen, but the moral excellence of Athenian society. The virtues of democracy, justice, education and economic prosperity were found on the battlefield, because these qualities were central to the people of Athens and worth defending.
Australia likewise has a commendable culture, people and spirit. Our societal values are based on freedom, mutual respect, fairness and equality of opportunity, which translate to the Defence values of service, courage, respect, integrity and excellence. These principles are also conducive to a life of service in the ADF.
In the financial year 2024–25, more than 7,000 people joined the ADF and reserve forces, the highest intake in 15 years. This increase followed a 28 percent surge in interest in joining the ADF, mostly from Australian citizens. Permanent residents from Five Eyes partner nations can now also join the ADF. Expanded eligibility criteria allows US, British, Canadian and New Zealand citizens to qualify, provided they have lived in Australia for at least 12 months prior to applying, have not served in a foreign military in the preceding two years and can obtain Australian citizenship.
Ministers have been quoted at length praising these positive trends in ADF recruitment. And while it’s clear the public understands the value of service, a compelling narrative isn’t enough to bolster the future force. Imagination is also required to ensure that free societies, as Pericles exhorted, ‘never decline the dangers of war’. Theatrics are sometimes needed, too. The decision to shift the gathering to the Australian War Memorial and time proceedings to the daily Last Post ceremony was befitting.
Creating an informed society that appreciates civilian efforts to support fighting troops and carry the weight of shared sacrifice is a human and whole-of-nation endeavour. Talking about the issues and sticking points will enable Australia to better interpret its past and navigate future challenges. To this end, Stuart established the army’s lexicon for discourse on war, ethics and loss. New concepts that describe how the nation will draw upon the full range of organisations, systems, arrangements and capabilities to prepare for and sustain military responses are sure to follow.
The public is invited to participate in and help shape this new national conversation. If society is active in helping to determine the support parameters, it will be resilient to the worst impacts of military crisis and conflict. This is where we need to get to.