Learning, listening and lasting change: my Jawun secondment on Yolŋu Country

Senior Associate Zainab Mahmood spent ten weeks on Yolŋu Country supporting Gumatj Corporation. Zainab became Allens' 50th Jawun secondee, representing a significant milestone in the firm's enduring partnership with Jawun.

When I was offered the chance to embark on a Jawun secondment to Yolŋu Country, I knew it would be a unique opportunity. Over ten weeks, I had the privilege of living in Yirrkala and working alongside the Gumatj Corporation. My role was to help develop a due diligence framework for assessing mine site redevelopment proposals. This framework was to align with criteria set out by the Traditional Owners, and short- and long-term goals for the future of the region.

The experience was as rewarding as it was eye-opening. I realised how much I still have to learn, and that my learning will never be complete. My secondment in a Yolŋu community taught me that lived experience is invaluable. Every conversation, every moment on Country, every meeting with Gumatj leaders offered a new perspective, and I came to understand that I’ll always be a student in this space. I gained a deeper appreciation of the richness of Indigenous cultures, and the incredible work being done behind the scenes by Indigenous leaders to set their people up for self-determination. This work often happens quietly, without fanfare. The Gumatj leaders’ vision for the mine site was about more than redevelopment—it was about creating pathways for financial independence and community wellbeing.

My understanding of land use issues has also shifted as a result of my Jawun secondment. As an environment and planning lawyer, I often engage with land use projects, and this secondment gave me a better understanding of what Country means to Indigenous people. It is more than land—it’s cultural, historical and deeply spiritual. I now have an even greater appreciation of the importance of prioritising Indigenous voices and incorporating a cultural lens into the work I do.

Some moments from my secondment will stay with me for life. One of the most memorable was sitting down with the Gumatj Directors to hear their thoughts on what land means to them as Yolŋu people. Their insights into land rights and financial independence were both profound and practical, and I felt privileged to be part of those discussions. On a lighter note, the 4WD course was unforgettable. I also met incredible people in Yirrkala, the community I called home for those ten weeks. They were kind, down-to-earth, and generous with their knowledge, and I feel incredibly lucky to have crossed paths with them.

Before I started, I was unsure how much I could achieve in ten weeks. I left astonished by how much I’d learned in that time. It wasn’t just technical knowledge—it was perspective, empathy, and a greater understanding of Yolŋu Country and culture. The learning never stops, and that’s the most powerful part of it all.