Aboriginal Cultural Capability
Centre of Expertise
The Aboriginal Cultural Capability Centre of Expertise has been established to strengthen system-wide leadership, governance, and capability development in cultural safety across NSW Health.
The CoE leads the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of statewide cultural capability education programs, ensuring alignment with NSW Health’s policies, strategic priorities, response to national accreditation requirements and NSW Health's values-driven commitments under the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
The CoE also works in partnership with Local Health Districts, Specialty Health Networks, and pillar agencies to embed cultural safety in workforce development, educational design, and service delivery, supporting more equitable health outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and culturally diverse communities.
Delivery Hub
The Delivery Hub sits within the Centre of Expertise. The Aboriginal Cultural Capability Facilitators service statewide agencies and pillars.
Facilitators may also provide supplementary support for delivery to LHDs/SHNs on an ad-hoc basis. The CoE team translate statewide strategy into practical, culturally grounded learning experiences that strengthen cultural capability in local services.
Transforming NSW Health’s Aboriginal Cultural Capability
NSW Health is committed to strengthening cultural safety and embedding Aboriginal cultural capability across every part of the health system. The CoE sits at the heart of that commitment. They provide the leadership, authority and cultural expertise required to transform how care is delivered, how staff are supported, and how cultural safety becomes a consistent, lived standard across all services.
The NSW Ministry of Health is making an ongoing, system‑wide commitment to grow the Aboriginal workforce and uplift Respecting the Difference, expanding reach and depth of cultural capability across NSW Health.
Our Team
Kayeleen Brown has been appointed as Interim Director, Aboriginal Cultural Capability, Centre of Expertise, for the coming months, supporting the recruitment of key senior positions and in establishing the Centre of Expertise during this foundational phase.
Kayeleen is a proud Walbunja and Dharwaal Wangeen woman of the Yuin Nation, and a Wehlabul and Wahlabul Bundjalung Doobay woman, living on the South Coast, with strong family and cultural connections to the Weilwan and Kamilaroi nations.
She brings exceptional cultural capability expertise grounded in lived experience, community leadership, and system-level advocacy. Kayeleen has already provided valuable cultural leadership and advice to HETI, supporting our work in a way that reflects deep cultural authority, integrity, and a strong commitment to Aboriginal self-determination. Her expertise and leadership position her strongly to guide the early establishment of the Aboriginal Cultural Capability Centre of Expertise and to support its future success.
This role is being actively recruited to and will lead the design of culturally safe education programs that empower change across NSW Health.
This role is being actively recruited to and will provide leadership and operational oversight for statewide cultural safety education and training including Support Aboriginal Cultural Capability Facilitators through onboarding, mentoring, supervision, and professional development.
These roles are being actively recruited to and play a critical part in supporting the psychological and cultural wellbeing of the facilitator workforce, particularly Aboriginal staff who carry significant colonial load.
These roles are being actively recruited to will deliver Respecting the Difference and other Aboriginal cultural safety programs across NSW Health, ensuring education is culturally safe, engaging and responsive to local community contexts.
Supporting culturally safe workplaces
The CoE represents a major NSW Health investment in Aboriginal workforce, cultural capability and cultural safety. It offers a rare opportunity to influence system wide change and strengthen cultural safety across every part of the health system.
The CoE provides the opportunity to:
- Shape cultural capability at a statewide scale, influencing policy, education, workforce development and service delivery across NSW Health
- Work in direct connection with community and Country, co designing approaches with Aboriginal Elders, leaders, knowledge holders and local communities
- Contribute to a dedicated Aboriginal led model, supported by strong cultural governance, Aboriginal leadership, mentoring, professional development pathways and cultural leave
- Be part of a new statewide Centre of Expertise, helping to build culturally safe workplaces for Aboriginal staff and deliver more respectful, responsive care for Aboriginal patients
How this team drives cultural safety across NSW Health
As part of the NSW Health Aboriginal Cultural Capability, Centre of Expertise, the team lead the uplift of Respecting the Difference by partnering with Aboriginal staff, communities and services to design, deliver and continuously improve culturally safe practice across the system.
They embed cultural governance in policy, training and recruitment; co‑design tools and guidance for leaders and teams; mentor local champions; and provide yarning‑based coaching to services navigating complex cultural matters.
By strengthening capability in every workplace and by listening to community feedback and tracking outcomes, these roles help ensure Aboriginal voices are centred, staff feel culturally safe at work, and Aboriginal patients experience respectful, responsive care across NSW Health.
Available roles
Aboriginal Cultural Capability Team Leader and Aboriginal Cultural Capability Facilitator roles are available within the Respecting the Difference program. Find out more here.
Contact us
If you require further information about the CoE, please contact Gail Forrest, Director Leadership, Management Development & Educational Design, HETI.