National Centre for Cultural Competence

The National Centre for Cultural Competence acknowledges the Traditional Owners of lands and waters throughout Australia and pays respect to Elders both past and present.

Cultural competence is an exciting paradigm that lays down the foundations for a socially just, global consciousness and culturally diverse, respectful worldview. The University of Sydney is intent on forging new inclusive pathways that recognise the importance of continued connection to culture, country and community to the health and social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and to all peoples in general. The imagining of a uniquely Australian University embraces the complexity of who we are today and requires a safe working and learning environment for all, enhanced through the rolling out of cultural competence.

This resource portal is one of the ways the NCCC plans to promote cultural competence. We want to share the publications, online tools and websites that motivate and encourage us as we go along. We also want to feature work in development at the NCCC and the University of Sydney. 


Culturally Competent Service-Learning Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations


The service-learning program on which this project was based came to be called Service-Learning in Indigenous Communities (SLIC).It focused on collaboration between The University of Sydney (the University) and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations (ACCOs).

This site records the impact and outcomes of these projects with two ACCOs. They  are the Murdi Paaki Regional Assembly (MPRA) which is a peak representative structure that represents the interests of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in 16 communities across western New South Wales and the Tiwi Islands Regional Council (TIRC).

The SLIC program was run by the Office of the Deputy Vice Chancellor Indigenous Strategy and Services, (DVC ISS) at the University. The partnerships were established to facilitate the development of service-learning opportunities that provide intercultural and interdisciplinary placements for university students in Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations while working towards community-identified goals.