SecondmentELEVATE BUSINESS AS USUAL50DEC 2022JAN 2023“Over nine weeks, I worked from homein Sydney two days a week for CentralCoast Aboriginal organisation BarangRegional Alliance, switching back to myday job in the bank’s regulatory team onthe other days,” says Carter.Barang has been central to the NewSouth Wales Government’s Local DecisionMaking reform program, and it wasCarter’s job to support the organisationby providing project management skills,so that the Barang team could finalise itsnegotiation activities.Even though Carter had to developa working relationship with her Barangsupervisor over video, she says thebond between them became deep. “It’sremarkable how much I’ve learned fromhim from my lounge room,” she says.“Among the key professionaldevelopment skills I’ve been able to bringback to my day job at Westpac, the powerand benefit of authentic accelerationto enhance project delivery is vital –especially in a screen-to-screen workingworld,” says Carter.Siobhan Toohill, Westpac’s chiefsustainability officer, says the secondmentINTHEBLACK CAREER, ELEVATED SPECIAL EDITIONprogram, co-founded by BostonConsulting Group, is both an exchangeprogram and an Indigenous-led experience.“Jawun puts forward a brief for the kindof skills they are looking for, and Westpacseeks to match our employees who haveexpressed an interest in taking part,” saysToohill. “Employees must have the rightsort of skills, as well as the support of theirmanager – and this must form part oftheir development plan.”For Westpac staff, the secondmentexperiences to date have been stronglypositive. Secondees report a betterawareness of Aboriginal culture and adeeper understanding of the challengesfaced by Indigenous communities. Froma personal and professional developmentperspective, employees also say theexperience gives them more confidence,a greater ability to adapt and improvedresilience when facing a range of stresses.FROM NARROW TO BROADA secondment program need not beformal and organisation-wide to besuccessful. Smaller organisations can stillreap the benefits of secondments done onUPSKILL NOWDiscoverCPA Australia’ssuite of microcredentials
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