A decade after the invasion of Iraq, the 10-year-anniversary of the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands (RAMSI) later this month will mark an equally significant juncture in Australia’s strategic policy. The new Defence White Paper 2013 declares the ADF will be structured around just two of its principal tasks: preventing attacks on Australia and promoting stability and security in the South Pacific and Timor-Leste. But fostering South Pacific security is as difficult as it is important. This paper looks at why Australia is again focusing on promoting regional security, explores the challenges of doing so, and offers 10 recommendations to help maximise the benefit of the renewed attention.