Meet Finance’s Shalaka Parekh, who recently took part in an immersive 6-week Jawun APS Secondment Program on Balanggarra Country (Wyndham), in the northernmost area of the East Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Shalaka was seconded to the Ngnowar Aerwah Aboriginal Corporation (NAAC), where she supported the management team to work through a range of corporate and board governance matters, including progressing a grant application for a community edible garden in Wyndham.
NACC provides support services for individuals and families affected by drug and alcohol in the region, such as a Community Centre, Rehabilitation Facility, Sobering Up Shelter and Women’s Safe House.
NAAC also hosts various community events, which act as an important touchpoint for the residents. Shalaka helped prepare and serve weekly community breakfasts during the secondment, which allowed her to connect with community members and learn from their lived experiences.
Living ‘in-community’ and working in an Aboriginal Community-Controlled Organisation, has given Shalaka greater awareness and appreciation of the challenges faced by First Nations peoples living in remote communities. She hopes to bring this unique perspective to her role in Budget group at the Department of Finance, working on new policy proposals to achieve better policy outcomes for our First Nations communities.
Shalaka and Sarah with NAAC staff on their last day of secondment.
The view from the Five Rivers Lookout at Wyndham, East Kimberley.
