U.S. Consulate Melbourne

We are closed today for the U.S. Labor Day public holiday.
We will reopen on Tuesday, September 3.

Photo: GPA Photo Archive

Did you know South Australia plays a crucial role in NASA’s robotic and human missions?

Deputy Associate Administrator for , Sandra Connelly, recently led a fieldwork trip to Nilpena National Park, highlighting the importance of the location and the research that is being done on understanding the early evolution of multicellular life on Earth.

During NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration's time in South Australia, Ms Connelly also showcased the importance of the U.S.-Australia partnership in civil space by visiting the Plants 4 Space team and EXTERRES lab at the University of Adelaide, checking out Fleet Space Technologies, and meeting with industry and government partners.

Central Australia: A Love Story. Thanks to the Arrernte and Aṉangu peoples, and the communities of Alice Springs, Yulara, Uluru and Muṯitjulu for making us so welcome.💛

Sailors from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) got up close and personal with some of Australia’s most iconic animals during their visit to Adelaide. Crew members spent the day volunteering at Cleland Wildlife Park, splitting logs and removing fences and pavers, before saying g’day to the park’s many residents, including kangaroos, dingoes and wombats. 🦘

U.S. Navy

These students are on their way to , and we’re over the, ahem, Moon about it 🚀

The second cohort from ’s National Indigenous Space Academy (NISA) will head to tomorrow for a 10-week internship mentored by our brightest scientific minds.

Last year, Administrator Bill Nelson and Deputy Administrator Pam Melroy (the second woman to command a Space Shuttle mission - hello!) visited Australia to join Head of the Eric Palermo and NISA’s Professor Christopher Lawrence, Associate Dean (Indigenous) at Monash Uni, to launch the program — paving the way for First Nations STEM students in space.

Huge congratulations are in order:

🧑🏽‍🚀 Carl Goodwin, a Gamilaroi man from Brisbane, studying at Monash University.

🚀 David Corporal, an Eastern Arrernte man from the Queensland University of Technology.

🌌 Jordan McGrath, a Lunga Kija man from Griffith University.

🪐 Renee Wootten, a Tharawal woman from the University of Sydney.

⭐️ Lucy Barr, a Palawa woman from the University of Tasmania.

We’ll be seeing you in space, no doubt!

📷 Monash / SBS / Australian Space Agency

Sailors from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) got their footy fix during their stay in Adelaide, courtesy of Port Adelaide Football Club and the Royal Australian Navy. Crew members were put through their paces during a training session before getting to witness a historic win at Adelaide Oval. A big shout out to the club for hosting the sailors – it looks like you’ve got a few new fans!

USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) had some very special visitors during her time in Adelaide, with the iconic Australian children’s show Behind The News getting a behind-the-scenes look at the ship’s facilities and capabilities. Big thanks to Wren and Lincoln for coming along!

Check out the segment here 👉 https://ab.co/3Wz7qg5

U.S. Navy Royal Australian Navy

With Olympic fever still sweeping the world, it’s only fitting the sailors from USS Emory S. Land (AS 39) had the chance to play a game of soccer and share a meal with Ghan Kilburn City FC during their stay in Adelaide. Ghan United has served the sports and recreation needs of the South Australian Afghan community with pride since 2012. A huge shout out to the club for hosting the crew!

Sailors from USS Emory S. Land recently arrived in Adelaide and it has been big news about town! 🗞

U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander Tyler Brown and Lieutenant Joseph Melbin from the Royal Australian Navy stopped by FIVEaa and ABC Adelaide to chat about life on the ship and the great work and valuable knowledge being shared between U.S. and Aussie sailors 🤝

The pair then presented respective hosts Matthew Pantelis and Nikolai Beilharz with challenge coins and a patch from the ship.

Advancing climate action, working together in the Indo-Pacific, economic resilience, defense cooperation, scientific and technological collaboration, and global security.

🇺🇸🇦🇺 Read the AUSMIN Joint Statement here: state.gov/joint-statement-on-australia-u-s-ministerial-consultations-ausmin-2024/

This morning, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Washington, DC, to sign two new agreements.

First, a Memorandum of Understanding on Countering Foreign State Information Manipulation—a partnership to work more effectively on combating disinformation and strengthening information integrity across the entire digital ecosystem.

And a Joint Communique on the U.S.-Australia Landsat Next 2030 International Partnership Initiative, which improves how we map and monitor Earth's dynamic surface, and supports sectors like mining exploration, climate observation, environmental monitoring, agriculture assessment and disaster management.

Full remarks: https://www.state.gov/secretary-antony-j-blinken-and-australian-foreign-minister-penny-wong-at-the-signing-of-a-memorandum-of-understanding-on-countering-foreign-state-information-manipulation-and-a-joint-commun/

Consul General Kathleen Lively traveled to Adelaide this week on her final visit to South Australia before the end of her tour in Australia.
While in Adelaide, CG Lively met with Premier Malinauskas and Governor Her Excellency Frances Adamson AC, as well as Sally Neville from AmCham Australia and Darcey Watson from the Andy Thomas Space Foundation. She also caught up with SA representatives on the Melbourne Youth Advisory Council and bid farewell to IVLP alumni and human rights advocate Adam Turan as well as Kaurna and Narrunga Elder Uncle Mickey.
CG Lively was also able to spend some time with USS Emory S. Land sailors at their friendly soccer match with Adelaide's Ghan United football team and to host a reception on board the ship.
Thank you to Kathleen for her hard work and dedication in supporting South Australia and the important work being done to strengthen relationships with the United States.

Did you spot Nate Byrne from News Breakfast delivering the weather from the USS Emory S. Land recently? (He said it would be windy, and he was right!) Nate joined the crew during their stop in Melbourne and chatted with U.S. and Australian sailors on board. After getting an up-close and personal look at the ship, Nate returned the favour by inviting some of the crew to check out the ABC studio in Melbourne!
U.S. Navy Royal Australian Navy

Meat pies were on the menu as sailors from the USS Emory S. Land lent a helping hand at the Salvation Army’s Melbourne Project 614’s Twilight Café. During port calls, the crew enjoys giving back to the communities they visit by participating in volunteer activities. A big shout out to The Salvation Army Melbourne Project 614 for letting us come along to give meals to those in need.

"There's so much talent here that's aligned with where we want to go... and we'll go a lot further and a lot faster if we do it together."

The Project hosted Governor of Indiana Eric Holcomb for a chat about politics, manufacturing, and the relationship between Australia and the state of Indiana. Watch the interview here 👉https://bit.ly/46J3Swx

Sailors from the USS Emory S. Land, alongside Consul General Kathleen Lively, had the opportunity to walk along the Veterans Public Art Trail during their time in Melbourne. Led by the Australian National Veterans Arts Museum (ANVAM), the trail aims to highlight the contribution of the veteran community to Melbourne’s built environment by showcasing the range of public art by veterans, including 3D sculptures and 2D murals as well as buildings designed or sponsored by veterans as artists, architects and arts patrons. Thanks to the ANVAM team for hosting us!

These BESS grads aren’t playing with spiders!

On Friday, the U.S. Naval Submarine School hosted a graduation ceremony for U.S. Navy and Royal Australian Navy students graduating from the Basic Enlisted Submarine School. This photo includes the class Honor Graduate, the 11 Distinguished Graduates, and multiple award winners.

Class Honor Graduate: RAN SN MacKinley
Core Value Award: USN SN Joshua
Heritage award: USN FR Stafford
Purdum Award: USN FN Hackney

Distinguished Graduates are sailors completing BESS with a GPA higher than 90%. ALL the RAN Sailors and two U.S. Navy Sailors graduated with higher than 90%. They are:

RAN SN MacKinley
USN SN Casteel
USN SN Hudson
RAN AB Angus
RAN AB Marcus
RAN AB Nathaniel
RAN AB Nicholas
RAN AB Eldon
RAN AB Cale
RAN AB Christian
RAN SN Brent

Well done and Cheers, Shipmates!


Royal Historical Society

Commander, Submarine Forces
U.S. Indo-Pacific Command
Naval Sea Systems Command
Royal Navy Submarine Museum
Royal Navy Recruitment
Royal Australian Navy Writers Association
Warrant Officer of the Royal Australian Navy
Chief of Navy Australia
Friends of the Royal Navy Submarine Museum
RAN Royal Australian Navy Recruits Forum

"For the United States, it’s simple. The Indo-Pacific remains the most dynamic and also rapidly evolving region in the world, but one of tremendous immediate but also future opportunity. And we know that we can maximize that opportunity, we can maximize the good that we’re able to deliver – for our people in our countries but also throughout the region – by working together, by pooling our resources, our ideas, and actually demonstrating results, and that’s really what the Quad is all about."

-- U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken at the Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, Japan.

Full remarks: bit.ly/4fmZ6bK

Guests on board the USS Emory S. Land for a reception were transported back to the 1950s during the ship's visit to Melbourne. Big thanks to Capt Brent Spillner and the ship's crew for their hospitality, and thanks to all the guests who came along!

Is there anything more Melbourne than a game of footy on a Sunday afternoon?

Sailors from the USS Emory S. Land had the opportunity to watch an AFL game for the first time ever during their stay in the city (and try some Aussie delicacies as well).

Big thanks to the North Melbourne Football Club for hosting us!

STATEMENT by U.S. Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy:

Thanks to President Biden’s leadership, the U.S.-Australia alliance has never been stronger.

Together, we are keeping the Indo-Pacific freer and more open so that millions of people can build a better life for their families. We are strengthening our security partnership through AUKUS. We work together on cutting-edge science, like quantum and AI, and medical research through the President’s Global Cancer Moonshot. We are committed to fighting climate change and helping Pacific Island nations at existential risk.

On a personal level, I want to thank President Biden for his friendship to generations of Kennedys - and for the confidence he placed in me by appointing me as Ambassador. His half-century of public service is an inspiration to all who seek to live lives of dignity, compassion, patriotism, and service.

There is a lot more to accomplish in the next six months, and I am excited to work together to make it happen.

— Ambassador Caroline Kennedy

Full statement: https://lnkd.in/gc_kA6ti

Photo: U.S. President Joe Biden with Ambassador Caroline Kennedy and members of the Kennedy family.

It was a pleasure welcoming Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Rena Bitter to Melbourne! Our fantastic Consular team met with colleagues from Australian emergency management services, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the consulates general of New Zealand and the United Kingdom to talk about a collaborative approach to allow us to best serve U.S. citizens in Australia.

The consular team at the U.S. Consulate General Melbourne is going back out on the road! On August 2, 2024, we will be in Adelaide providing passport, consular report of birth abroad, and limited notarial services. If you need any of these services, please let us know by July 26, 2024, using the consulate’s navigator 👉 https://bit.ly/4f6pg2b

STATEMENT BY U.S. AMBASSADOR TO AUSTRALIA CAROLINE KENNEDY

I’d like to pay tribute to Jim Burrowes and Ronald (Dixie) Lee, the last two surviving Australian Coastwatchers who both passed away this week. Shortly after I arrived in Australia, I had the privilege to meet and honor Jim and Dixie at a ceremony at the Australian War Memorial. Through their stories and memories, I learned more about the heroism of the hundreds of Australian and Pacific Islander Coastwatchers and scouts who braved difficult conditions during World War II to monitor enemy movements and save lives, including my father’s. An Australian Coastwatcher and two Solomon Islander scouts rescued my father and his crew when their PT109 sank in the Solomon Islands. My sympathies go out to Jim and Dixie’s families and friends—I am truly grateful for their service.

Over the weekend, members of Marine Rotational Force Darwin and the Royal Australian Navy faced off in an Independence Day soccer match. As U.S. Marine Lieutenant Colonel Rebecca Bolz said, "It's such a special opportunity to not only represent Marine Rotational Force-Darwin and the U.S. Marine Corps, but to play alongside our Australian allies in this special event."

Congratulations to the Royal Australian Navy team for winning both matches!

In photos: Marines, Aussie sailors face-off in Independence Day football match Despite being on the other side of the planet, Independence Day celebrations took off among Darwin’s American community, with Marine Rotation Force – Darwin (MRF-D) taking to the sports field to kick start their July 4 festivities.

Happy Independence Day! This year, we celebrated a little early at Melbourne's home of sport, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) Thanks to everyone who came along. Here are some highlights of our celebration!