Gurdeep Bhangu, an Assistant Hostel Manager at Aboriginal Hostels Limited’s (AHL) WT Onus Hostel, was recently awarded the National Emergency Medal, acknowledging the significant service he provided as an Army reservist during the Black Summer bushfire crisis. He also received the Australian Defence Medal, recognising his 5 years of service in the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
The 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires in Victoria resulted in the loss of 5 lives and destroyed more than 400 homes and 6,800 livestock animals. The fires burned more than 1.5 million hectares of public and private land, including 1.4 million hectares of forests and parks, plantations and native timber assets, critical animal habitats and water catchments.
In an unprecedented move, the Australian Government issued a compulsory call-out to more than 3,000 reservists during the bushfire crisis.
The ADF’s bushfire operation spanned 6 months, with more than 8,000 of its full-time and reserve personnel deployed to support emergency operations.
‘I joined the ADF in 2017. I have always wanted to wear a green camouflage uniform and serve the nation I proudly call home,’ Gurdeep said.
During the bushfire emergency, Gurdeep’s unit was deployed to Bairnsdale Victoria, to help maintain adequate food and water supplies and to assist the firefighters.
Even though his unit was not in a directly-affected bushfire zone, Gurdeep said the whole town of Bairnsdale was on edge.
‘You could see and smell the smoke everywhere. People were panicking that the fire could head towards the town,’ Gurdeep said.
Being an Army reservist adds a rewarding new dimension to Gurdeep’s personal and professional life and AHL is proud to supporthim to serve in this role.
‘AHL has supported me very well since 2017. I send through the required documentation from my unit and seek approvals from the Operations Manager to participate in army trainings. Management has always covered my shifts and never refused my Defence leave.
‘Army training taught me teamwork, discipline, weapon handling and gave multiple other skills. I take part in most mandatory trainings,’ Gurdeep said.
Beyond his Army reservist duties, Gurdeep is a respected member of the Sikh community in Melbourne. His cultural heritage provides him with a unique perspective on the importance of cultural awareness and respect, allowing him to create a welcoming environment for all of our residents.
‘My immediate family and local Sikh community are so proud of me for serving my country and working for First Nations people, whose land we live on,’ he said.
AHL’s workforce is diverse, with 27 per cent of its employees (in the 2023–24 financial year) reportedly from multicultural backgrounds (born overseas), while also directly employing 139 First Nations employees (44 per cent of AHL’s workforce). This cultural diversity amongst our workforce promotes values of respect and inclusion, enhancing our ability to care for our First Nations residents.
Gurdeep’s senior manager, Director Frontline Services (NSW/VIC) Beth Perin said, ‘We are proud to have a workforce at AHL which is both reflective of the diversity of the broader Australian community and passionate about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
‘This ensures our hostels are environments that are respectful of differences in culture so that our residents can feel safe and welcome when they stay with us.’
Gurdeep is just one of many AHL staff members who bring a wealth of experience and skills to the table, when providing culturally safe and affordable accommodation for First Nations people around the country.
To find out more about the jobs available at AHL, please visit our website: ahl.gov.au/work.