Foundations of Cultural Competence

This foundational course is designed to introduce you to the essential concepts of cultural intelligence. You'll explore how culture shapes worldviews and interactions, with a focus on the diverse meanings across cultures.

You will build on this foundation by enhancing your understanding of how cultural competence influences your decisions and interactions, providing practical insights and tools for effectively connecting with diverse groups. By the end of this course, you will have established a solid foundation in cultural competence, preparing you to engage more meaningfully in our increasingly diverse world.

Write your awesome label here.
As Seen In

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Write your awesome label here.

Explore Cultural Competence Today


Dive deep into the richness of over 500 distinct First Nations cultures through real-life experiences in our course. We are dedicated to fostering diversity, inclusion, and cultural awareness. Join us to broaden your understanding, respect diverse perspectives, and contribute positively to social impact.
  • Authors: Cara Peek & Adele Peek
  • Level: Foundational knowledge
  • Study time: 12 weeks self-paced
  • Certificate of Completion
  •  LIVE Webinar access included in  subscription
  • Access to all training material and resources for 12 months included in subscription
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.
Write your awesome label here.
Course contents

Foundations of
Cultural Competence

What's included in the course?
Empty space, drag to resize
  • 12-Week Self-Paced Learning: Complete the course at your own pace with access to materials for 12 months.
  • Two Modules: Delve into cultural values to understand how they shape worldviews and interactions, and develop key cultural competencies to enhance decision-making and leadership, especially in diverse and Indigenous contexts through two modules, each with 5 lessons.
  • Weekly Lessons: Lessons are unlocked weekly to keep you on track with engaging 40-60 minute videos to watch for each lesson.
  • Practical Learning: Self-reflection encouraged on personal cultural perspectives, with real-life scenarios and strategies provided for culturally intelligent decision-making.
  • Workbooks & Resources: Use workbooks and resources provided to reinforce learning alongside video lessons.
  • Quarterly Live Webinars: Join live Q&A sessions and discussions every quarter. Access recordings if you miss the live sessions.
  • Community Forum: Connect with peers for support, discussions and knowledge sharing.
  • Quizzes & Final Assessment: Assess your understanding with quizzes in each lesson, and reflect on your learning and readiness with a final assessment.

Intelligent delivery to keep you engaged and provide opportunities to share and reflect

We've got the answers to your cultural awareness  queries!

Course Details
Weekly Lessons 
Live Webinars
Core Topics


Lessons released weekly to keep you motivated


The Cultural iQ Course One - Foundations of Cultural Competence training is delivered via 2 modules each with 5 core lessons.

One lesson is released on the platform each week to complete in your own time, supported by quarterly live Q&A sessions and internal community forums.  

Live Webinars Quarterly

Live Webinars sessions are held every quarter via Microsoft Teams and included in your subscription.

To get the most value from this course, work through each Lesson in the Modules and bring your questions to the session. These sessions provide the opportunity for Q&A and the sharing of experiences by participants. 

Non participants can still register to attend but will need to pay.

These sessions will also be recorded if participants cannot attend or want to rewatch them via the course platform. 



Course Details

  • 12-week self-paced course with access to all materials and resources for 12 months
  • Engaging video content with supplementary resources
  • 2 modules, each with 5 key lessons featuring 40-60 minute videos, unlocked weekly as you progress
  • Workbooks provided for you to complete alongside the lessons
  • Quarterly live webinars for Q&A sessions and peer discussions on diversity and inclusion
  • Community forum for learner engagement, support, and knowledge sharing

Course One - Foundations of Cultural Competence

This course will provide you with a solid foundation in understanding cultural values and developing core cultural competencies. 

There are 2 modules, each with 5 lessons, quizzes, a private Community for Q&A, quarterly live webinars, cultural tools & resources, and valuable insights waiting for you.

Core Topics:
Cultural Values
Cultural Competencies
Your Cultural iQ Instructors

Cara Peek & Adele Peek

The best First Nation, Female led experts in Aboriginal strategic engagement and subject matter experts in cultural diversity and inclusion.

Course Outline

Introduction to CiQ

This module walks you through the quick start instructions, logging in, setting up your profile, navigating lessons, accessing workbooks and completing the Cultural Baseline Assessment. 

Module One - Cultural Values

In this module, you'll explore how culture shapes worldviews and interactions. You'll learn how cultural meanings vary and how differences, especially with Indigenous peoples, impact connections. By the end, you'll be better equipped to understand and respect these differences.

- Lesson One - Concept of Culture 48:30
In this lesson, you’ll learn what culture is and why it matters, and how it affects daily life. You'll explore the visible and hidden parts of culture, compare individual and group cultural traits, and gain insights into key aspects of Indigenous culture, including the importance of connection to country and language.

- Lesson Two - Concept of Diversity 56:03
In this lesson, you'll discover what diversity is, why it matters, and how it creates a positive environment. You'll explore the benefits and challenges of diversity, especially in the workplace, and gain insights into the diverse cultures, lands, and languages of Indigenous peoples, recognising both their similarities and differences.

- Lesson Three - Cultural Understanding 54:22
In this lesson, you'll discover why it's essential to appreciate different cultures and how to build meaningful relationships with diverse groups. You'll learn how cultural diversity contributes to a just society, explore the impacts of poor cultural understanding at work, and find strategies to overcome culture shock. Plus, you'll dive into the stages of cultural competence and see how understanding deepens over time.

- Lesson Four - Cultural Bias 57:02
In this lesson, you’ll explore what cultural bias is and how it shapes our views on gender, race, and social roles. You’ll learn how our mental models influence our understanding of the world and how stereotypes, particularly those about Aboriginal people, can lead to stigma. Plus, you’ll compare Western and Indigenous thinking styles and discover strategies to challenge personal biases and stereotypes.

- Lesson Five - Cultural Influences 59:16
In this lesson, you’ll dive into how cultural factors shape behaviour and daily life. You’ll learn about the importance of family in Indigenous cultures, compare community dynamics across urban, rural, and remote areas, and explore different thinking patterns. This lesson will also help you build positive relationships with Aboriginal people and challenge common stereotypes related to cultural identity.

Module Two - Cultural Competencies

In this module, you’ll deepen your understanding of cultural competence and how it influences your decisions and interactions, especially with Indigenous peoples. By the end, you’ll have a solid foundation to improve your connections with diverse groups.

- Lesson One - What is Cultural Competence? 01:01:27
In this lesson, you'll discover what cultural competence is and why it's essential. You’ll learn how it helps you interact effectively across cultures by focusing on trust, respect, and fairness. We’ll also explore the four key components of cultural competence — awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills — and how you can enhance them in various settings.

- Lesson Two - Effects of Cultural Competence 53:09
In this lesson, you’ll explore how cultural competence positively impacts both individuals and organisations. You’ll discover how it enhances communication, relationships, and decision-making by strengthening your awareness, attitude, knowledge, and skills. Plus, you’ll learn why cultural respect is key to reducing disparities and improving access to quality services.

- Lesson Three - Assessing of Cultural Competence 01:06:50
In this lesson, you'll learn why understanding beliefs and values is crucial when interacting with others. You'll explore when and how to conduct cultural competence assessments to ensure respectful communication. You'll also discover methods to identify gaps in cultural intelligence and discuss different assessment approaches like self-reflection and policy reviews.

- Lesson Four - Improving Cultural Competence 57:48
In this lesson, you'll learn how to set goals for cultural competence in your family, community, or organisation. You'll perform a cultural audit, assess relationships between cultures, and evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours related to cultural competence. You'll also identify challenges and opportunities that come from cultural differences in communication, conflict resolution, and decision-making.

- Lesson Five - How does Cultural Competence affect your work? 01:05:13
In this lesson, you'll discover how cultural competence influences workplace operations and decision-making. You’ll also learn about the requirements for building a culturally competent workplace, define your organisation's vision, and set actionable goals. Additionally, you’ll explore how to use cultural audits and tools like SWOT and NICE analyses to strengthen your strategies.

Module Q&A Sessions

After finishing all five lessons in each module, you're invited to our private community to ask any lingering questions, engage in meaningful discussions with your peers, and share your insights.

Course One Assessment

This assessment will help you reflect on everything you’ve learned and ensure you're ready to apply your new skills and knowledge.

Foundations of Cultural Competence

Write your awesome label here.
The path to build your Cultural Intelligence starts here.
The Foundations of Cultural Competence course helps companies and individuals elevate their cultural awareness, raise Cultural IQ scores, and implement self-education that creates meaningful outcomes.

$1,500

CiQ is a tax deductible learning and development program

Created with