Cultural Competence and the Higher Education Sector

1. Practice and Programs

   1. An Indigenous Australian Cultural Competence Course: Talking Culture, Race and Power

      • Bronwyn Fredericks, Debbie Bargallie

      Pages 295-308Open Access

   2. Learning Through Reflection—Enhancing Culturally Proficient Learning Communities in Midwifery Practice and Education: An Experience-Based Learning Journey in London, UK

      • Penny Haora

      Pages 309-330Open Access

   3. International Students in Australia, Employability and Cultural Competence

      • Tran Nguyen, Donna Hartz

      Pages 331-348Open Access

2. Conclusion

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 349-349

      PDF

   2. Future Directions: Cultural Competence and the Higher Education Sector

      • Jack Frawley, Gabrielle Russell, Juanita Sherwood

      Pages 351-356Open Access

3. Correction to: The Sydney Language on Our Campuses and in Our Curriculum

   • Rosanne Quinnell, Jakelin Troy, Matthew Poll

   Pages C1-C1

4. Back Matter

   Pages 357-363

   PDF

This open access book explores cultural competence in the higher education sector from multi-disciplinary and inter-disciplinary perspectives. It addresses cultural competence in terms of leadership and the role of the higher education sector in cultural competence policy and practice. Drawing on lessons learned, current research and emerging evidence, the book examines various innovative approaches and strategies that incorporate Indigenous knowledge and practices into the development and implementation of cultural competence, and considers the most effective approaches for supporting cultural competence in the higher education sector. This book will appeal to researchers, scholars, policy-makers, practitioners and general readers interested in cultural competence policy and practice.

• open access
• Indigenous higher education
• student equity
• student transition
• higher education policy
• Indigenous research
• community engagement
• cultural competency policy and practices
• developing cultural competency in higher education
• implementing cultural competency in higher education
• culturally competent leadership
• culturally responsive pedagogy
• diversity, social justice, equity and inclusion
• culturally competent service learning
• ethnicity in education

• National Centre for Cultural Competence, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

  Jack Frawley, Gabrielle Russell

• Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia

  Juanita Sherwood

Dr Jack Frawley is an Academic Leader at the University of Sydney's National Centre for Cultural Competence. Jack has held several senior academic positions at the Australian Catholic University, Charles Darwin University and the University of Sydney and is an Adjunct at the Bachelor Institute. His research and published work focus on social inclusion, especially in the area of leadership studies, program evaluation, teacher education, and minority education. He has worked extensively in Aboriginal Australia as well as the South Pacific and Southeast Asia


Dr Gabrielle Russell is the Acting Director of the National Centre for Cultural Competence at the The University of Sydney. She has gained experience working in diverse non-government organisations, politics, business, church organisations and higher education. She is particularly interested in how to develop cultural competence from a non-Indigenous perspective and, in particular, how to facilitate a deeper understanding of transformative ways to learn and work together. Gabrielle’s teaching and research interests include race and racism, critical pedagogies, service learning and cultural competence.


Professor Juanita Sherwood is a registered nurse, teacher, lecturer, researcher and manager and has some thirty years of experience in the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health and education. Through her lived experience, personal study and working history, Juanita has developed a strong cultural framework, which enables her to effectively present her knowledge in the context of education, history, culture, health and social justice. Her research focuses on Indigenous health, education, and social justice, Indigenous pedagogy, Indigenous research methodologies, Indigenous ethics and, perhaps more importantly, cultural competence.