Cultural Immersion Executive Leadership Program
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:
- 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.
Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and Murrook Cultural Centre
This course is delivered by the National Centre for Cultural Competence in partnership with Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and Murrook Cultural Centre. Over the past seven years, the National Centre for Cultural Competence has been partnering with Worimi Local Aboriginal Land Council and the Murrook Cultural Centre to deliver this program exclusively to senior leaders at the University of Sydney, with select external cohorts in 2024 and 2025.
In 2026, the program has been adapted and is now open to external participants. More than 700 University of Sydney leaders and select external participants have taken part in the program, participating in carefully curated immersive experiences and cultural competence workshops that are continuously renewed and refreshed for incoming participants.
The partnership between Worimi 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.
Murrook Culture Centre is a warm and inviting sanctuary of culture, community and creativity, offering immersive experiences that weave together the threads of the past and present. Dedicated to preserving and showcasing the rich heritage bestowed upon us by our ancestors, Murrook Culture Centre seeks to secure a flourishing future of knowledge gathering for all generations to come. Murrook workshops are not just about learning, it’s about lifestyle and relationship - bringing people together with deeper connections, understanding, nurturing an appreciation and respect that closes the distance between knowing and knowledge.
Content
Day 1 - Foundations of Cultural Competence
Participants beging with a structured introduction to cultural competence at Murrok Cultural Centre with University of Sydney academics. The day focuses on building understanding, engaging in critical self-reflection, and exploring the leadership implications of cultural competence.
Day 2 - Immersion in Worimi Culture & Country
Participants engage in cultural immersion guided by Worimi Elders and cultural educators. The day emphasises connection to Country, cultural knowledge, and hands-on experiences that activate learning through presence, practice, and observation
Day 3 - Cnnecting with Land, Story, and History
Participants deepen their connection to land, culture, and local histories. Experiential learning across significant sites connects cultural narratives with contemporary leadership responsibilites.
Day 4 - Meaning Making, Integration and Closure
The final day enables participants to integrate their learning and commit to ongoing culturally competent leadership. Elders and community members share lived experience, reinforcing the importance of relational accountability
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 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.
There are no material or technological requirements to complete this course
All courses must be paid in advance of commencing your course. We accept the following payment methods:
- Mastercard
- Visa
- American Express (only available for enrolments made through the Sydney Short Courses website)
- Electronic Funds Transfer (for company invoices only)
- Journal Transfer (for University of Sydney Staff only)
Please see our Payment Options for further information.
I have enrolled in a Sydney Short Courses course, what happens now?
Once your enrolment has been processed, you will receive the following emails:
- Enrolment confirmation: you will receive this immediately after your enrolment has been processed.
- Tax invoice: the payer of your enrolment will receive this immediately after your enrolment has been processed.
For some courses, you may also recieve the following:
- Course reminders: you will receive emails from Sydney Short Courses in the lead up to the course starting. These include information about the course and, if required, the schedule for online or face-to-face sessions.
- Course materials: if you are enrolled in a course that provides reading or other downloadable materials, you will get access to these materials prior to the class commencing.
- Online session links: you will receive reminder emails the day before and the day of each live session containing the meeting link and meeting ID.