(Australian Associated Press)
Indigenous men and women who have served in the military are being honoured with a new design on the $2 coin.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have served in every operation since federation, including both world wars, and thousands of Indigenous Australians are currently serving in the Australian Defence Force.
The Royal Australian Mint will mark their service with a coloured $2 coin designed by Indigenous artist and Kalkadoon woman Chern’ee Sutton.
The coin is based on an artwork by Ms Sutton featuring symbols telling the story of Indigenous Australians in the military.
It has a black hand-print in the centre surrounded by three rows of dots in the colours of the ADF Tri-Service Flag.
The coin will start circulating in the coming weeks.
The ADF is aiming for five per cent Indigenous representation in its ranks by 2025, up from 3.2 per cent in 2020.
