It's a chance for employees to drive real change
Broadband network provider NBN Co has announced a three-year partnership with a leading not-for-profit which will see employees seconded into Indigenous organisations to help remote communities improve their digital capability.
As part of the program, run by Jawun, up to 12 NBN Co employees will have the chance to share their skills with Indigenous organisations in a six-week secondment, assisting with a range of digitisation projects. The company announced its long-term investment in the secondment scheme during the company’s NAIDOC week celebrations earlier this month.
Sally Kincaid, Chief People & Culture Officer at NBN Co, told HRD that as a purpose-led organisation, the partnership underpins the company’s aim to improve digital capability in each and every region of Australia.
“Remoteness can be an issue in terms of lifting the digital capability so there's just such a strong commitment to tackle that and we've had that commitment from the beginning in terms of how we can really address connectivity for people in remote communities,” she said.
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In a previous role, Kincaid took part in a Jawun secondment herself within communities in Cape York, Far North Queensland, and in Redfern, Sydney, and said the experience has a powerful ripple effect on employees. They often return to their organisations with a far better understanding of the challenges facing First Nations People and a renewed passion to help remove those barriers.
“What makes this program so different is that people can really connect in a tangible way,” she said. “Because I think a lot of people look at these big issues and think ‘well, what difference can I make?’
“Now our employees will be able to put their hand up to go on country for six weeks, contribute to an Indigenous organisation, their growth and the trajectory of what their organisation is doing for First Nations People. It brings that purpose to life in a very tangible way.”
The partnership with Jawun forms part of NBN Co’s fourth Reconciliation Action Plan, which runs from 2020-2022. Having launched the first RAP in 2013, NBN Co has also recently hired its first Executive Manager - Indigenous Affairs. Che Cockatoo-Collins will play a vital role in facilitating relationships between the company and First Nations communities to help address the challenges they face.
“Our research has shown that digital inclusion of First Peoples is falling behind that of other Australians and we are committed to working to bridge the gap and improve access to essential health and government services,” he said.
“This relationship between NBN Co and Jawun (which means friend or family) becomes more valuable because as recently as the end of June we visited many communities in Cape York and the people there communicated their key priorities are additional information on the role of NBN in providing access to reliable telecommunications which is a need that is echoed on Country around our nation.”
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NBN Co is also committed to hiring a more diverse range of employees and improving access to the workforce for First Nations People. The company participates in the First Nations Goals Program, an ABCN (Australian Business & Community Network) led initiative, to mentor First People’s secondary school students to make informed career choices and has plans to expand its NBN Co Internship program in partnership with Career Trackers to improve career pathways.
