After 27 impactful years, Jacky Djawut is finishing up his time with ALPA, leaving behind a big legacy. His work has helped to shape a strong shared vision for ALPA, reinforce good governance and foster collaboration.

Jacky started with ALPA in 1998 as an Associate Director, supporting the Board and progressing organisational goals. After a decade, Jacky transitioned into the Communications Facilitator role.

“First I was a Board Director...in that time, I was listening and learning about ALPA’s work and ALPA’s röm [law]. Then ALPA decided to get a Yolŋu interpreter” he said.

With experience as a church leader and Bible translator, Jacky was already confident communicating in both Yolŋu Matha and English. “I started to get confident, thinking this is my right time for this djäma [work],” he said.

As a Communications Facilitator, Jacky was responsible for supporting clear and effective communication between Yolŋu, Bininj and balanda (non-Indigenous) people. His work went beyond translation, ensuring the meaning behind ideas and intent of messages were understood and not lost in the process. Part of this role also involved balancing Western ideas and ways of working with Yolŋu and Bininj world views.

Jacky says one of ALPA’s key strengths is in action and outcomes:

“ALPA was not just saying, but doing the action. The biggest thing was seeing that it was changing — it was going up because the work ALPA did showed good examples to other organisations.”

When asked what he enjoyed most about his time with ALPA, Jacky said “the feeling that I have is about finding new ways and helping young people get training or a job, and also in health — eating and drinking good things. ALPA is manymak [good].”

Reflecting on his time with ALPA, Jacky says he hopes others will have the same opportunities to grow and contribute.

“Give opportunity to young people to go the same way. We’ve all got our gifts, and there are right people to work djäma like I’m doing.”

Now, Jacky is taking a new path to become an Ordained Minister, a calling he says feels just as right as his work with ALPA did.

“It’s the same feeling I had for the job I’d been called to as a facilitator — the same happened for this church djäma [work]. I knew that was my right thing.”

ALPA is sincerely thankful to Jacky for his contributions and leadership and wish him all the best for his future.