Connecting with Corporate Australia

27 September 2012

Wunan receives significant support for its mission through Jawun Indigenous Corporate Partnerships, an organisation that connects the corporate sector with Indigenous communities. Jawun seeks to build the capacity of Aboriginal organisations that encourage self-responsibility and promote entrepreneurial activity. Support consists of skills transfer and professional assistance from secondees, each of whom spends several weeks working with an organisation on a dedicated project. In 2012, Wunan has so far hosted 16 secondees, who have among other projects worked with us to: further develop Living Change; bid to become the sole regional employment services provider; implement new media and philanthropy strategies; start our new business support venture; and refine and expand our transitional housing model.

This year, we have also hosted two groups of senior executives from Jawun’s partner organisations. These visits enabled us to highlight to twenty-nine corporate leaders the real challenges faced by Aboriginal communities in the region and range of projects Wunan is engaged in to alleviate Indigenous disadvantage.  The visits also allowed us to discuss with those leaders the way forward and what support the corporate sector can bring to the table – and of course, to give them an experience to remember, camping under the Kimberley stars!

Our partnership with Jawun and exposure to senior corporate leaders does much to improve the effectiveness of Wunan as we seek to bring positive change to the Aboriginal people of the East Kimberley.

Organisations who have provided secondees to Wunan or sent executives to the East Kimberley this year include Argyle Diamond Mine, ASIC, BHP Billiton, Boston Consulting Group, BT Financial Group, Business Council of Australia, Department of Housing (WA), Freehills, Gresham Partners, KPMG, Leighton Contractors, National Australia Bank, Qantas, Wesfarmers (including Kmart and Target), Westpac and several Australian Public Service agencies.

Topic: Employment