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For others, the secondment experience challenged
not only their ideas about Indigenous Australia but
their concept of
Australian identity
. As Luke Raffin
from BCG reflected: ‘It changed the way that
I thought about myself as being Australian,
because it drove home the fact that Indigenous
culture and Indigenous people are such a core
part of our identity.’
Rachel Yang from KPMG explained that being
exposed to an Indigenous language in North East
Arnhem Land had a profound effect on her:
When I heard Yolngu Matha being widely spoken
and didn’t understand it myself, I thought, ‘This
is a language of the first Australians and yet I
consider myself to be Australian, so what does
that mean?’ It was kind of a light-bulb moment—
it made me realise people take the idea of being
Australian for granted.
Chadi Khalifeh, formerly of KPMG, had a similar
revelation around identity after his secondment:
‘I came to Australia when I was 16 and became
a citizen in 2011. I feel that Jawun allowed me to
connect, at a more personal level, with my identity
as an Australian. It provided me with a broader
cultural perspective and a greater appreciation
of the diversity of Indigenous communities.’
Secondees experience growth
in key capabilities
Flexibility and adaptability
Interpersonal skills
Empathy
Tolerance of ambiguity
Self-awareness
Resilience
Individuals who have participated in a Jawun
secondment often attest that it is the most
significant development program they have
experienced.
10
By nature of the environment,
secondees find the greatest impact is on their
emotional intelligence, which affects their self-
efficacy and preparedness to lead. In some cases
development in technical skills also occurs.
According to research studies, truly effective
leaders are distinguished by a high degree of
emotional intelligence.
11
Hallmarks of emotional
intelligence include self-confidence, realistic self-
awareness, comfort with ambiguity, openness to
change, a strong drive to achieve, optimism even
in the face of failure, cross-cultural sensitivity,
integrity, effective leadership through change,
social skills, and persuasiveness.
12
All of these
were reported as outcomes in some form by
secondees reflecting on their experience during
and post-secondment.
Attributes of emotional intelligence are collectively
referred to as ‘soft skills’ in this report.
David Linke (National Managing Partner Tax, KPMG), Craig Brent (KPMG secondee), Louise Law (Jawun Regional Director,
North East Arnhem Land) and a Yolngu artist, North East Arnhem Land, 2014.
Photo: Daniel Linnet, Linnet Foto
CREATING VALUE FOR CORPORATE AND GOVERNMENT PARTNERS 15