Celebrating 25 years of commitment to rural health, education and community partnerships.
Cultural Training
Our Cultural Safety Training Program is designed for students undertaking placements through the Department of Rural Health.
Developed in close partnership with local First Nations communities and the University of Newcastle’s Cultural Team, the program is grounded in respectful collaboration to ensure content, delivery, and engagement are culturally safe and meaningful.
The aim of the program is:
- To provide culturally safe spaces for program delivery
- To enhance participants' knowledge and understanding of First Nations culture, history, health, and connections
- To build students’ skills and confidence in providing culturally safe healthcare within rural communities.
Focus areas
The Embark program draws inspiration from tree bark, symbolising growth, resilience, and connection to Country. The program also features a unique symbol shaped in the Department of Rural Health Footprint, representing the journey of students and the communities they serve.
- E: Experiences & Engagement
- M: Mindfulness and Mattering
- B: Belonging and Behaviour
- A: Acknowledgement and Accountability
- R: Respect & Relationships
- K: Kinship and Community
These focus areas ensure the training is culturally safe, inclusive, and respectful of all participants.
Program content is thoughtfully localised to each of our footprint sites, drawing on local health, cultural, and community knowledge to provide meaningful and context-specific learning experiences.
What our students say
The Embark program was meaningful and immersive in a way that’s hard to replicate in a classroom, and I came away with a deeper appreciation for the history, culture, and ongoing connection to Country. Learning directly from Elders and members of the local Land Council made it genuine and grounded. The program created a space to listen, reflect, and better understand the significance of the land I now live on. I’m very grateful for the knowledge and stories that were shared so openly - it’s something that will stay with me.
Natalie Cox - JMP Y5 - Peel Clinical School 2026
Cultural resource hub
The hub was developed to provide an opportunity to learn, connect and understand the diverse cultures that exist within our communities, linking our cultural education and training, resources and information, support and contacts all in the one place.
Get in touch
For further information about our embark program or the cultural resources hub, please reach out to our program staff.
Email: embark@newcastle.edu.au
The University of Newcastle acknowledges the traditional custodians of the lands within our footprint areas: Awabakal, Darkinjung, Biripai, Worimi, Wonnarua, and Eora Nations. We also pay respect to the wisdom of our Elders past and present.