More than 600 Australian Public Servants have shared their expertise in the first 10 years of the Australian Public Service Commission’s (APSC) partnership with Jawun supporting Indigenous communities to achieve their own development goals.
In a statement marking the 10-year partnership anniversary, the Commission said ‘Jawun’, in Kuku Yalanji language of Cape York, meant ‘friend’ or ‘family’.
“Working with Indigenous communities and leaders, Jawun facilitates long-term engagement through partnership with Government, corporate entities and Indigenous Australia, driving Indigenous-led changes and facilitating a two-way transfer of knowledge and skills,” the Commission said.
“Since Jawun was established 20 years ago, more than 3,500 corporate and Government employees have lived and worked in Indigenous communities in 11 regions across the country,” it said.
“Government Agencies started sending employees on secondment through the Jawun program in 2011.”
The Commission said APS secondees did not go into the communities to lead change, instead they took a ‘back seat’ and supported the Indigenous leaders and organisations to drive the change needed in their communities.
APSC said the secondees listened deeply and respectfully, and worked towards the outcomes the community needed to help them achieve their vision and aspirations.
“The diverse capabilities of the APS secondees nurture talent and build capability within Indigenous organisations, and support projects or initiatives by working collaboratively across agencies and sectors, fostering strong networks,” it said.
“In return, our APS secondees increase their cultural awareness, develop new individual skills, confidence and resilience.”
The Commission said secondees brought their learnings back to the Public Service to keep influencing the broader system in order to achieve better outcomes for all citizens.
APSC said that in 2022 the APS and Jawun would enter their third five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).
To celebrate the 10 years of partnership, Jawun presented the APSC with Worre Woorrem Wet Season, an artwork by Miriwoong Gajerrong elder Phyllis Ningarmara.
Further information on the secondment program can be accessed at this PS News link.
