Unpacking culture with Kevin Heath
“Galangoor da’buth’bee, djali. Nganungai bandjur Kevin.”
“Good day, my name’s Kevin. I’m a proud Butchulla man,” he says, before adding, my family comes from a place called ‘K’Gari’ (previously known as Fraser Island) and I now live in the Eastern suburbs of Sydney.
We had the privilege of meeting Kevin Heath at the 2025 SXSW Sydney event ahead of his Unpacking Culture talk at the festival.
When asked about his work, Kevin jokingly says: “My full time role, I’m actually a dad! I have two little girls named Kobi and Kaia.” But his professional role he says is equally important.
“I work at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network as an Aboriginal Cultural Capabilities Educator.
“So I get to work with the network to look after the cultural capabilities for the kids' hospitals across New South Wales.”
Kevin’s role ensures that hospitals across New South Wales provide care that acknowledges and respects Aboriginal culture, history, and perspectives.
Attending South by Southwest Sydney to deliver a short talk titled Unpacking Culture, he also mentions wanting to help the next generation thrive. “I’m here to grow, but also to help me grow to then give back to the younger generation,” he explains. His work is about breaking down barriers and creating space for the next generation to thrive, guided by culture and connection.
When asked who he would most like to work with globally, Kevin pauses thoughtfully. “If I could go back in time, it would be to meet my ancestors,” he says.
Understanding how they lived, the challenges they faced, and the knowledge they carried is the foundation of how he approaches life today. Kevin notes that every conversation he has, whether brief or in-depth, offers an opportunity to learn and grow.
He stresses the importance of presence and respect when engaging with Aboriginal culture.
“I guess when you look at 65,000 years of the oldest thriving culture in the world, our people were present, and they were present for their day and how they went about their day. I think if anyone's gonna take anything away from that, its to ground yourself more.”
Kevin’s message is clear: understanding culture requires attention, humility, and respect. He encourages anyone interested in his work to reach out through his socials, where he continues to share insights from his community and his practice.
Interested in knowing more about Kevin Heath?
kevinheath.com.au
@kh.consultancy