Empowering positive change through community immersion

The Jawun Australian Public Service Secondment Program is a strategic partnership between Jawun and the APS.

Jawun is a non-profit organisation that facilitates long-term engagement through partnerships with corporate, government and Indigenous Australia, to achieve locally driven aspirations. 

For 13 years, the APS and Jawun have partnered to effectively match high-performing APS program secondees with Indigenous Regional Organisations across 12 Indigenous communities, nationwide.

Participants from over 70 agencies with broad-ranging capabilities work with Indigenous Regional Organisations to build capacity, foster strong connections, and contribute new skills to in support of Indigenous-led reform priorities.

The program expanded in 2023 to include APS 6 staff and, as well as Executive Leaders. This year the significant milestone of 1,000 Jawun APS secondments was reached.
 

Basket of colourful painted Jawun Burnie Beans spilled onto a table next to a few scattered cards.

Jawun Burnie Beans painted by Kuku Yalanji Artist, Ivy Minniecon. The artwork represents a meeting place and represents the Jawun Logo, affectionately referred to as the Burnie Bean symbol.

Image: Jawun organisation

Working together

Jawun, means ‘friend’ or ‘family’ in Kuku Yalanji language of Cape York, Far North Queensland.

Secondments offered are a 2-way skills share. Participants have the opportunity to contribute to place-based capacity-building initiatives that drive Indigenous-led change.

The APS Academy works closely with Jawun to facilitate up to 120 interviews for potential APS secondees every year.

The APS Academy regularly corresponds with agencies, applicants and Jawun Regional Directors, reviewing applicants’ skills alongside the needs of the Indigenous Regional Organisations and Indigenous communities, in preparation for best placement.

The APS Academy supports induction for secondees and care while in-place along with Alumni Connect sessions. The sessions are a safe space for new secondees to ask questions, share experiences and reflect with program alumni from the same Jawun region.

The Jawun APS Secondment Program is made possible by the underpinning partnership with the National Indigenous Australians Agency. It is funded through the Indigenous Advancement Strategy.

Benefits for the community

The APS Jawun Secondment Program and secondees are furthering the Closing the Gap priorities of:

  • Priority Reform 1 – Formal partnerships and shared decision-making
  • Priority Reform 2 – Building the community-controlled sector
  • Priority Reform 3 – Transforming government organisations.

On return, secondees draw on the learnings and experience from the Program to enhance awareness, knowledge and cultural capability within their respective APS agency.

On an individual level, those supported to participate in the program increase their cultural awareness, develop new personal skills, confidence and resilience.

In turn, this builds cultural competence and the APS leadership capability service-wide. It also contributes to practical reconciliation and achieving better outcomes for all Australians.

Find out more

Australian Government (n.d.) Jawun APS Secondment Program, APS Academy website, accessed 19 September 2024.

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