Jawun facts for kids
| Named after | Word for 'family or friend' in Kuku Yalanji language |
|---|---|
| Formation | 2001 |
| Founder | Noel Pearson |
| Founded at | Cape York Peninsula |
Jawun is an Australian organization that helps Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. It used to be called Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships. Jawun is a "non-profit" group, which means it doesn't try to make money. Instead, it focuses on helping others.
Jawun connects skilled people from big companies and government jobs with Indigenous organizations across Australia. These people, called "secondees," share their skills to help communities grow. They work in cities, towns, and remote areas.
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What Does Jawun Mean?
The name Jawun comes from the Kuku Yalanji language. This language is spoken by Indigenous people in Cape York, Queensland. In their language, "Jawun" means 'family or friend'. It shows how the organization wants to work together like a family.
How Jawun Helps Communities
Jawun has a special way of working. First, Indigenous communities decide what they need help with. They might want to start new projects or improve existing ones.
Then, Jawun works with these communities to find out what kind of skills are needed. Jawun then finds people from companies or government who have those skills. These skilled people, called secondees, spend about six weeks working with the Indigenous organizations. They help reach important goals. This also gives the secondees a chance to learn and grow.
Jawun's History
Jawun started in 2001. Two big groups, the Boston Consulting Group and Westpac, sent some of their staff to help Indigenous leaders. They worked in communities in Cape York Peninsula. The idea for Jawun came from a book by Noel Pearson called Our Right To Take Responsibility.
Growing Across Australia
Since 2001, Jawun has grown a lot. It now works in 12 different regions across Australia. These regions include Cape York, Inner Sydney, and Central Australia.
Jawun now partners with over 100 Indigenous organizations. It also works with 30 companies and government groups. More than 5,000 employees have taken part in Jawun's programs. They have worked closely with Indigenous Australian organizations.
Government Involvement
The Australian Public Service (government workers) started joining Jawun in 2012. Staff from groups like the Australian Taxation Office have participated. In 2015, a review found that joining Jawun helped government staff learn new skills.
In 2022, a review by KPMG found that Jawun helps both communities and its partners. This review was paid for by the Australian Government and Westpac.
