Defending Country is the first book to document the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women in the post-Second World War era. Using a combination of personal narratives and documentary evidence, it examines how participation in the military impacted on the lives of Australian Indigenous service personnel. It also reveals how Indigenous involvement in Australia's defence has contributed to the advancement of Indigenous rights, both for the individual servicemen and women and in Australia at large. There is little public awareness about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander military service, and even less so about the post-Second World War era.
Based on a combination of archival research and oral history testimonies, Defending Country is a compelling account of the wartime experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and women. It examines what motivated Indigenous people to serve, experiences in combat (i.e. Vietnam) and non-combat roles, interactions with non-Indigenous service personnel, work in the women's services (1951-85), racism in the armed forces, return to civilian life, the Returned and Services League's (RSL) relationship with Indigenous Australians and the role of the Australian Defence Force to promote Reconciliation.