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For Defence, the Jawun
relationship has already delivered
value in terms of capability build
among its people, Indigenous
employment outcomes, securing a
major procurement contract, and
forging deeper connection to the
organisation’s objectives around
its role in community.
On people and leadership
Defence utilises Jawun as a
development opportunity for
leaders and senior leaders. ‘I am
keen for Defence leadership,
through to middle supervisory
levels, to have a stronger sense of
Indigenous Australia because that
will feed into their commitment
to growing the organisation’s
Indigenous employment and being
committed to the strategies we
have in that area,’ said Dennis.
‘It gives real life to our efforts.’
Dennis has noticed, both among
those who sit around the top table
and others, that people who come
back from Jawun have not only
enjoyed their experience, but they
all believe they have learnt things
they didn’t know before: ‘Without
exception, it has heightened their
awareness and commitment to the
department’s strategies relating
to Indigenous engagement and
employment. It serves a very
practical purpose for me.’
The program is targeted at senior
levels in the organisation and
selection is tied to performance.
It is not limited to a hierarchical
structure though, as Dennis
believes that would limit its impact.
‘I only have people go on it who
have a capacity to influence others
and to lead people—because that’s
what you want in an organisation
of our size.’
Justine Greig, Acting Head People,
Policy & Culture at Defence,
said they get a strong sense of
a suitable candidate through
supervisors, and understanding
what skills and attributes would be
advantageous in particular work
areas: ‘It’s not just about selecting
the candidate, it’s also about
the work area being supported
and being able to influence
those circles on return from
secondment.’
Justine said secondees
demonstrate their capability build
in different ways: ‘Some articulate
how their decision-making
processes have changed and how
they approach problem-solving for
more effective outcomes. Others,
through deep self-reflection,
understand how to work better
as a team and apply that in their
work groups. One described
how it has changed the way he
models himself as a leader. We
consistently see people actively
link their thinking and new-found
perspectives—seeing things
through an Indigenous lens—to
the sorts of outcomes Defence
is trying to achieve.’
On employment
Steve Meekin is Deputy Secretary
and head of the Defence
Intelligence Security Group. His
responsibilities include oversight
of the Joint Defence Facility
Pine Gap, located 30 kilometres
outside Alice Springs. In 2013
Steve attended a Jawun Executive
Visit to inner Sydney, where he
experienced at first hand the
collaboration between Indigenous
organisations in Redfern and
La Perouse and Jawun secondees
from government and corporate
organisations across Australia.
Dennis observed: ‘To work at
Pine Gap requires the highest
level of security clearance in
Australia. Steve’s inner Sydney
experience had a direct impact on
his approach to the employment
of Indigenous Australians at Pine
Gap. He has been a real advocate.’
The first Indigenous employee at
Pine Gap, Nicky Ross, took up his
posting in July 2015. Nicky comes
from the local Alice Springs area
and, in addition to his other duties,
is focused on the provision of
advice on Indigenous issues: ‘We
haven’t had Indigenous Australians
working for Defence in Pine Gap
before,’ said Dennis, ‘so I believe
the Jawun experience does have
a material effect on the way
people see their jobs and their
responsibilities.’
While progress may be slow, its
pace is steadily picking up. Last
year Defence reported a solid
increase in its employment of
Indigenous Australians. They
include cadet Rhiannon Brown,
who is completing a course
in criminology that includes
12 weeks a year at Pine Gap.
On procurement
Dennis attributes a significant
Indigenous procurement contract
to the Jawun partnership. Steve
Grzeskowiak, Deputy Secretary
and head of the Defence
Infrastructure and Estate Group,
took part in a Jawun Executive
Visit to Cape York in 2014.
Dennis said:
It’s one thing for someone
in Steve’s position to have a
commitment to doing more
with Indigenous Australia.
It’s another to actually go on
Jawun, have that personal
experience and come back
with great personal drive and
determination. The spin-
off has been in the group’s
commitment to employ more
Indigenous Australians and it
has fed directly into Steve’s
negotiations with service
providers.
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