Cultural Immersion Executive Leadership Program
The course price of $8690 includes transport, accommodation and meals for this three-night program. Discounts are available for Alumni and those working at Not-for-Profit organisations.
Overview
Develop the capability, knowledge, and skills necessary to be a culturally responsive leader. This program is not your average executive leadership program; participants will be encouraged to question held assumptions, reflect deeply on their own cultures, and confront challenging truths.
In partnership with Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Murrook Cultural Centre the University of Sydney’s National Centre for Cultural Competence has developed the Cultural Immersion Executive Leadership Program.
Taking place on Worimi lands, this program is aimed at leaders who are committed to transformative change and motivated to engage in immersive learning, truth-telling and innovative discourse around culturally responsive leadership.
What you'll learn
By the end of this course, you will learn to:
- Model and shape culturally responsive leadership behaviours that strengthen trust and psychological safety within organisational culture.
- Empower teams to engage respectfully with diverse communities and cultural contexts.
- Integrate cultural responsiveness into organisational systems, strategy, and decision making.
- Create pathways for equity and inclusion, enabling diverse staff to contribute meaningfully and thrive.
- Drive sustained cultural change, strengthening organisational trust, cohesion and capability.
About the National Centre for Cultural Competence
The National Centre for Cultural Competence is a leading academic and research centre within the Office of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Indigenous Strategy and Services at the University of Sydney. We lead and cultivate critical conversations about belonging and dignity that equip people to implement culturally responsive changes in themselves, their organisations, and communities. With over a decade of experience, our innovative teaching, research, and engagement programs empower leaders, managers, teams, and individuals to lead with cultural responsiveness in diverse and complex environments.
About the Experience
Taking place at the Murrook Cultural Centre, the Cultural Immersion Executive Program is not your typical executive leadership course. The program invites leaders to leave behind their familiar settings and experience Worimi Country. Here, participants engage in truth-telling, immerse themselves in Aboriginal culture, and undergo profound personal reflection, all under the guidance of Aboriginal Elders, cultural educators, and academic specialists.
It prioritises inner transformation over content delivery, and experience over instruction. It invites leaders to challenge long held assumptions, confront uncomfortable truths about culture and history, and reflect deeply on their own identity, worldview, and leadership practice.
There is some walking involved throughout this program, as well as quad biking as an activity. If you have any accessibility concerns about what is involved in the program, please reach out to nccc@sydney.edu.au.
Please note that throughout the program the schedule may shift to allow extended focus on meaningful conversations, further storytelling, or additional time for group reflection. Unlike typical executive leadership programs, this experience prioritises personal transformation, allowing the learning process to unfold naturally. We encourage participants to arrive with open minds, ready to embrace discomfort as part of genuine growth and change.
Content
Over the course of four days, participants engage in a comprehensive program featuring carefully designed cultural immersion activities, structured discussions, workshops focused on cultural competence, opportunities for critical self-reflection, and the contextualisation of learning to connect the content to participants’ own professional roles and leadership development. Upon completion of the program, participants will:
- Gain a deeper and actionable understanding of culturally competent leadership within the Australian context, equipping you to influence and redefine organisational culture.
- Develop advanced, respectful and responsive leadership capabilities that champion Indigeneity, diversity, and difference - empowering you to lead with impact and integrity.
- Empower teams and organisations to engage in culturally responsive ways and instil ethical decision-making and mutual respect across intercultural interactions and initiatives.
- Strengthen your capacity to initiate and guide innovative cultural competence reforms and embed sustainable change in your leadership practice and workplace.
- Learn how to create more diverse and equitable environments where everyone can thrive and foster a deep sense of shared belonging and purpose.
Course Partners
This course is delivered by the National Centre for Cultural Competence in partnership with Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council's Gudida team at the Murrook Cultural Centre.
The partnership between Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council, Gudida and the University of Sydney is a strength of this program and has developed over many years, with both organisations working together to thoughtfully design activities that create meaningful impact and transformation for participants.
Gudida, which translates to family, speaks to the values that underpin this work. The Gudida team hold a vital role as stewards of the Sovereign Tree, ensuring that cultural knowledge and 'Gudida' education shared remain protected and firmly rooted in the authority of the Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council. Through Gudida, participants are invited to experience Worimi Country, reinforcing that this education is not just a commodity, but a way of living and learning that bridges the gap between knowing and true knowledge.
This program is for individuals who:
- Are eager to engage with innovative discourse about culturally competent leadership.
- Demonstrate a commitment to transformative change, both within themselves and their organisations, and are willing to critically reflect, question assumptions, and embrace learning that fosters genuine growth.
- Hold leadership roles or serve as key influencers, who recognise the importance of shaping inclusive environments, modelling cultural competence, and mentoring others.
- Possess a strong desire to drive cultural competence initiatives, seeking to embed cultural responsiveness throughout their workplaces and communities.
- Wish to gain practical skills and confidence to champion cultural competence in both personal and professional contexts, addressing issues of systemic inequality and promoting lasting positive impact.
This course is delivered face-to-face over four days.
There are no material or technological requirements to complete this course
The program fee is $8,690.
We are offering a 10% discount for University of Sydney Alumni and a 20% discount for those working in a not for profit. Please select if you are eligible for a discount in the application process and this will be confirmed once your application has been approved.
Included in the program fee:
- Return transportation to and from Sydney (participants are able to self-drive if preferred)
- A single occupancy room at the Mercure, Newcastle with breakfast included
- All meals included throughout the program
Please note: Places are limited, and early application is encouraged.
Enrolment in this course is via application. To apply, follow these steps:
1. Click the "Apply now" button under "Upcoming classes" to add the course to your cart. Then proceed to checkout by clicking "Checkout now" or the cart icon at the top right of the page.
2. Answer all required application questions, then proceed to the Confirmation screen. The total will display as $0, as submitting an application is free.
3. Review our Terms and Conditions and tick the box to confirm your agreement.
4. You will receive an email confirming that we have received your application. Please allow time for review and avoid submitting multiple applications.
5. Once your application has been assessed, you will receive an email advising you of the outcome. If successful, the email will include a personalised link back to the course page.
6a. To enrol and pay by credit card, follow the link and click "Enrol now" under "Upcoming classes". (Important: Use the link provided-otherwise you may still see "Apply now" instead of "Enrol now.")
6b. Proceed to checkout again to finalise your enrolment. Any applicable discounts or special pricing will be automatically applied.
6c. To request to have an invoice sent to your organisation for payment, please fill out the Company Invoice Authorisation Form and we will provide one. Include your enrolment details so your enrolment can be finalised when payment is confirmed.
Contact us if you would like to discuss how Sydney Short Courses can support your organisational training needs through this course. Either as a group booking, whole course block booking, or customised delivery to meet your business requirements.
Upcoming classes
Murrook Cultural Centre
| When | Time | Where | Session Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tue 11 Aug 2026 | 8am - 6pm (UTC+10:00) | Murrook Cultural Centre - Murrook Cultural Centre | |
| Wed 12 Aug 2026 | 9am - 6pm (UTC+10:00) | Murrook Cultural Centre - Murrook Cultural Centre | |
| Thu 13 Aug 2026 | 9am - 6pm (UTC+10:00) | Murrook Cultural Centre - Murrook Cultural Centre | |
| Fri 14 Aug 2026 | 9am - 3pm (UTC+10:00) | Murrook Cultural Centre - Murrook Cultural Centre |
