Regional Education Development Program (REDP)
The Regional Education Development Program (REDP) is a targeted training initiative developed in partnership with the Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG) to support Army reservists — including many from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities — across northern and remote Australia.
Delivered through the RFSG Training and Education Centre at Berrimah, Northern Territory, REDP provides tailored, vocationally aligned modules designed to build confidence, strengthen learning, and prepare soldiers for the next stage of their military careers.
The Regional Force Surveillance Group (RFSG) provides land and coastal surveillance in Australia’s North and North-West to support national sovereignty and border security. Comprised of NORFORCE, the Pilbara Regiment, and the 51st Battalion, FNQR, RFSG units largely consist of Army reservists from regional and remote areas, including many Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.
These personnel leverage local knowledge and specialised techniques to patrol over 50% of Australia’s landmass. The RFSG Training and Education Centre (RTEC) at Defence Establishment Berrimah supports the Regional Employment Development Project (REDP) and the Army Indigenous Development Program (AIDP), aiming to enhance Indigenous Australians’ capacity to serve the nation and shape their futures.
Program Overview
REDP delivers contextualised modules encompassing a skillset drawn from a Cert I/II in Skills for Work and Vocational Pathways. It aims to prepare soldiers from the RFSG for their next stage of their military training.
Modules are four weeks long and scheduled immediately before a specialised military skills course.
Mod 1: Generalist learning skills for junior soldiers in the RFSG to increase preparedness for learning in the Army Training System.
Mod 2: Specialist modules (medical or technical or platform (equipment) to prepare soldiers for trade specific courses.
Mod 3: Leadership module prepares junior leaders for promotion course and to qualify and develop soldiers to instruct and assess in their units.
Interested in Army Reserves?
With opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to build skills, grow confidence, and explore meaningful pathways in the Australian Army.