From the end of July to the beginning of September I took part in the Jawun secondment program, sponsored by the ANU. I was located in Kununurra in northern Western Australia, on the country of the Mirriwong and Gajirrabeng people. My placement was with an Indigenous organisation based in Halls Creek – the Kimberly Language Resource Centre – where I helped with a number of different operational tasks. During this stay I received a broad range of cultural training and experiences, as well as having the opportunity to do some exploring of the local area.

In this talk, I will outline my experiences with the Jawun program and how it has broadened my perspective on Indigenous engagement and the practicalities of addressing the widespread Indigenous disadvantage experienced in Australia. While it was an incredibly educational experience, it is clear that I still have a lot to learn!

James Sullivan is an Associate Professor in the Research School of Physics. He is the co-Chair of the Physics Equity and Diversity committee and also sits on the College of Science IDEA and RAP committees.