Aboriginality

Imagine going to work and having no desk, no office and no employees.  That’s what I did in 2011 when I spent four weeks on secondment with Babana Aboriginal Men’s Group in Redfern.  I went on secondment with Babana to help find premises and assist in getting funding to employ a staff member - two small things that most businesses take for granted.

Babana isn’t a normal business, it’s a not-for-profit focused on Aboriginal men who live and work in Redfern. Led by Mark Spinks, Babana reconnects Aboriginal men with their culture, community, employment opportunities and health services.  I worked with Babana as part of Jawun - a not-for-profit organisation that forges relationships between Corporate Australia and a range of Indigenous organisations in communities across Australia.

It’s a classic example of the old “teach a man to fish” proverb and my role also included skills transfer.

Continue reading "Closing the gap means boots on the ground" »