Jawun Story
Established in 2001, Jawun (which means ‘friend’ in the Kuku Yalanji language of Mossman Gorge) is an innovative not-for-profit organisation.
Jawun partners with Indigenous communities in place-based capacity building, to empower Indigenous-led change and foster meaningful connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Jawun places skilled people from Australia’s leading companies and government agencies into Indigenous organisations. These secondees share their expertise and support Indigenous leaders to achieve their own development goals.
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1995
BeginningsIn a meeting between The Body Shop and Cape York Indigenous leaders, including Noel Pearson, the concept of an 'Indigenous Business Institute' (IBI) emerges. This would act as a business incubator and provide business courses to Indigenous people throughout Asia Pacific, starting in Cape York in Queensland.
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2000
Vision publishedNoel Pearson’s paper 'Our Right to Take Responsibility' articulates the existence of 'passive welfare' in Indigenous communities and the need to create a 'real economy'.
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2000
Weipa summitThe IBI, Westpac and The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) meet at Weipa in Queensland. IBI agrees to adopt the 'real economy' as its underlying philosophy. It also expands its aim to foster economic and social development, focusing on long-term, sustainable impacts that will help break welfare dependency.
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2001
IBI becomes IEPThe IBI evolves into Indigenous Enterprise Partnerships (IEP) based on Noel Pearson’s paper 'Our Right to Take Responsibility', which maps out partnership ideas between corporate, philanthropic and Indigenous organisations in Cape York.
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2001
Westpac and BCG secondeesThe first round of Westpac and BCG secondees begin work in Cape York.
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2001
MyerThe Myer Foundation becomes a partner.
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2003
Westpac Fellowship TrustThe first longer-term secondments of around 12 months are sent from Westpac.
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2003
ColonialThe Colonial Foundation becomes a major partner.
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2003
CiscoCisco becomes a partner.
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2006
More supportThe Colonial Foundation and the Australian Government commit to longer-term support, and the commercial lawyers Gilbert and Tobin become partners.
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2006
Second regionIEP starts work in Goulburn Murray in Victoria.
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2007
First KPMG & IBM secondeesThe first round of KPMG and IBM secondees begin work in Cape York.
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2007
FreehillsFreehills becomes a partner.
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2007
Secondees reach 500The total number of secondees sent to Cape York since IEP began reaches 500.
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2008
Cape York Welfare Reform pilotThe Cape York Welfare Reform pilot commences in four Cape York communities.
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2009
Jawun alumni startsPast secondees form a network to share experiences with each other.
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2009
WesfarmersWesfarmers becomes a partner.
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2010
Celebrate 10th anniversaryIEP celebrates its 10th anniversary and success as a unique Indigenous corporate partnership model.
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2010
Two more regionsIEP starts work in Redfern NSW and the East Kimberley WA.
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2010
More supportLeighton Holdings, Leighton Contractor, John Holland, nab, Tourism Australia, Rio Tinto and the Western Australian Government all become partners.
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2010
Renamed JawunIEP changes its name to Jawun. Creative agency Banjo designs new branding and logo, and Lavender designs and builds new website.
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2011
More supportAllens, Commonwealth Bank, Qantas and QBE Foundation become partners.
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2011
Commonwealth Government supportState and Commonwealth Government departments start to send employees on secondments under the Jawun program.
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2012
More supportNews Ltd, Woodside and BHP Billiton become partners.
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2012
Sydney program expands to La PerouseThe Jawun program expands from Redfern to include the Sydney community of La Perouse. The region is now known as 'Inner Sydney'.
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2012
KPMG becomes a national partner for three yearsKPMG becomes a national partner for three years, working in all of Jawun's regions.
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2012
Secondees reach 1000The total number of secondees sent since Jawun began reaches 1000.
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2012
Two new regionsJawun starts work on the Central Coast NSW and North East Arnhem Land NT.
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2012
East Kimberley program expands to West KimberleyThe Jawun program expands from the East Kimberley to include the West Kimberley region in WA.
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2013
New partnersTelstra, Perpetual and Woolworths Liquor become partners.
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2014
New partnersMacquarie, Downer, RAC, IAG, Suncorp and Norton Rose Fulbright become partners.
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2015
New regions and new partnersJawun starts work in two regions: Ngaanyatjarra Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (NPY) Lands; and, Lower River Murray, Lakes and Coorong region of SA. The NSW Government, SA Government, RAA and City of Melbourne become partners.
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2016
New partners join, Jawun reaches 2000 secondeesIBM, TAL and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank become partners.
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2017
New region and new partnersJawun starts work in the Far West Coast region of SA. The University of Melbourne, BlueScope, and Fortescue Metals Group become partners.
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2018
New partnersABC, Curtin University, Geelong Cats and Microsoft become partners.
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2019
3000 Jawun Alumni & 1000 Executive Visit AttendeesIn March 2019, Jawun placed the 3000th secondee to live and work in an Indigenous community. This was a major milestone in supporting Indigenous-led empowerment, and forging connections between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. https://jawun.org.au/3000-secondees/
In November 2019, Jawun celebrated another milestone: 1000 senior corporate and government leaders had visited an Indigenous community to witness Indigenous-led change in place. -
2020
New region and Jawun's 20th year anniversaryJawun partners with the South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council in Jawun's 11th region, South West Australia.
2020 marks Jawun's 20th year anniversary.