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About us
Developing and integrating cultural competence
At the National Centre for Cultural Competence, we lead and cultivate critical conversations about belonging and dignity that equip people to implement culturally responsive changes in themselves, their organisations, and communities.
Established in 2014, the NCCC has grown to be a centre of significance for cultural competence research and education in Australia, gaining a national and international reputation for driving positive social and organisational change.
What we offer
As an academic centre we deliver research and a range of online and in-person education opportunities for individuals, groups, and organisations looking to develop their cultural competence. We also offer consultancy and research services.
Our vision
At the heart of the Centre's vision is a commitment to celebrate the richness of cultural diversity and the depth it brings to our campuses and workplaces.
Through collaboration and partnerships with diverse individuals, communities and organisations, we aim to be a major contributor at the interface between cultural competence research and transformational education.
To achieve our vision, we are guided by human rights and social justice frameworks, that encompass all people and sociocultural settings.
Our strategy
Our work supports the objectives of the Sydney in 2032 strategy as well as One Sydney, Many People Strategy 2021-24, which aims to drive a whole-of-University approach to a stronger, more inclusive and culturally embodied University of Sydney.
In the community, the Centre develops knowledge and builds capacity in cultural competence across a range of social domains. We work with other universities, government departments, NGOs and NFPs, businesses, and community organisations to design culturally appropriate cultural competence research and education resources. Our broader perspective is forming national and international partnerships, initiating dialogues, and implementing initiatives to improve educational, economic, cultural and social outcomes throughout society.
Why work with us?
Our innovative teaching, research and engagement programs place the National Centre for Cultural Competence University of Sydney at the forefront of addressing cultural competence in Australia.
All our programs are developed and facilitated by a highly experienced team of academics. Our program is research-informed, evidence-based and places a strong emphasis on critical self-reflection. This comprehensive approach ensures that our offerings are both academically rigorous and personally transformative.
Our impact
Our commitment to developing and embedding cultural competence within the University community and broader society has led us to:
- provide cultural competence education programs to over 20,000 people
- educate over 600 University of Sydney leaders through the Cultural Competence Leadership Program
- develop and launch five research-informed cultural competence online learning modules for the University community, individuals and external organisations
- deliver free online Massive Online Open Courses (MOOC), Cultural Competence: Aboriginal Sydney and Conversations on Race and Racism to over 14,000 people through the Coursera platform
- translate our research across the fields of education, health and medicine, law, social justice, the arts and culture sectors
Academic Director
Associate Professor Gabrielle Russell
Associate Professor Gabrielle Russell leads the Centre’s work in progressing a deeper understanding of the theory and practice of cultural competence.
View academic profile