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In many ways, Jawun is a microcosm of the coming
together of Indigenous and mainstream Australia.
With the help of its corporate, government and
philanthropic partners, Jawun provides Indigenous
communities with the ability to pursue their
development goals on a local, regional and national
scale. At the same time, people from mainstream
Australia have the opportunity to spend time in
Indigenous communities, transferring skills, getting
to know Indigenous people and learning more about
Indigenous culture.
Thanks to the Jawun program I have
a very different perspective today.
I understand now the legitimacy of
Indigenous aspiration, and I see the need
to allow cultural expression. Until I went
on secondment and had this immersion
opportunity, I would never have
become an advocate of the Indigenous
community and its ambitions.
—PETER RIXON,
SECONDEE FROM THE AUSTRALIAN
PUBLIC SERVICE
There is a shared value benefiting both sides.
The positive change emerging from this ongoing,
personal interaction is gathering momentum and
requires ongoing support to be sustained.
The Australia I envisage is one where
Jawun secondees’ children are going to
school and learning about Aboriginal
history, having an opportunity to learn
an Aboriginal language, and they feel it’s
almost a patriotic duty to do so, because
it’s part of their identity as well.
—NOEL PEARSON,
JAWUN PATRON AND FOUNDER OF CAPE
YORK PARTNERSHIPS
Participants in the 2017 Jawun Emerging Leaders program outside Parliament House, Canberra, 12 September 2017. From left to right: Rick
Phineasa, Fiona Djerrkura, Tina West, Tui Crumpen, Audrey Deemal, Gary Field, Divina D'Anna, and Jaime Parriman .
Photo: Frederic Courbet
6. A NEW DAWN FOR INDIGENOUS ASPIRATIONS 75