We partner with Australian nonprofit Jawun to place Firm lawyers and business services professionals in Indigenous-led organizations. The collaboration came out of the Firm's Reconciliation Working Group, created in 2019 to explore concrete ways the Firm could support Indigenous Australian communities and aid reconciliation.

Reconciliation focuses on strengthening the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and redressing past injustices. To that end, Jawun brings together business entities, governments and Indigenous Australians to exchange skills and knowledge. This unique partnership model emphasizes working with Indigenous Australians on the ground, thereby equipping them with the tools they need to succeed.

Empowering young leaders

Jawun's secondment program places employees from various industries in Indigenous-led organizations for six weeks across 12 regions in Australia. During August and September 2023, our Melbourne Associate Max Hall was seconded to West Kimberley Futures—Empowered Communities (EC-West) in Yawuru country (Broome, Australia). Led by Indigenous Australian leaders in the West Kimberley, Australia, EC-West works with their members and the community to advocate and influence local, state and federal government decisions impacting Indigenous Australian people in the West Kimberley.

Hall assisted with one of EC-West's priorities: the Empowered Young Leaders (EYL) group, which helps Indigenous Australian youth in the Kimberley. He helped the youth leaders to incorporate the group, host their first general meeting, appoint inaugural directors, select a chair and begin work on EYL initiatives. Hall also worked with local management committees that address issues with their communities such as housing, employment and creating safe spaces for young people as well as developing governance structures to improve community engagement and outcomes.

An opportunity for growth and connection

Hall's secondment was capped off by attending the Kimberley Land Council and EYL Annual General Meeting held at Home Valley Station in Western Australia. During this week he gained invaluable insights into the Kimberley's unique cultures, challenges and aspirations. Several powerful speeches left a lasting impression, including one by Quentin Turner, EC-West's EYL coordinator. Turner's speech to EYL members addressed topics such as the significant youth suicide rate among Indigenous Australians, the importance of leading and implementing positive change and the need for Indigenous Australian youth to have a voice in decisions that affect them.

Hall left his secondment with a deeper understanding of Indigenous Australian cultures and a reinforced appreciation of the importance of listening without inserting personal beliefs or biases. His improved awareness of Indigenous Australian priorities and interests is relevant to the infrastructure and construction matters he works on at the Firm.

Since partnering with Jawun, three White & Case lawyers and business services professionals, including Hall, have helped advance reconciliation by sharing their skills and knowledge with, and learning from, Indigenous-led organizations.

Highlight

Helping Ukrainian refugees reach safety in the UK
As part of a multi-firm pro bono project in collaboration with refugee charity Safe Passage International, we are supporting Ukrainian refugees by seconding UK-qualified, London-based associates to two-week legal clinics in Warsaw. Our lawyers help check their clients' eligibility for the Homes for Ukraine Scheme and the Ukraine Family Scheme and, if eligible, assist them with applying. Safe Passage estimates that the collaboration has helped more than 340 people fleeing Ukraine and obtained UK visas for 80 of them. Four Firm associates have taken part since we joined the initiative in summer 2022.

Photo by © Moksh Bhatia / Shutterstock
"United Neytions," an installation by artist Archie Moore, a member of Australia's Kamilaroi Indigenous nation. The work, which consists of 28 flags representing the original Aboriginal nations, hangs in Sydney Airport.