Our Story

Blak Wattle Collective emerged from a simple truth: many workplaces want to “do better,” but often lack the cultural humility, safety and courage to take real action. After more than a decade working with First Nations communities across mental health, Aboriginal community services, government and corporate Australia, our Founder Caroline Kell saw this pattern repeat — while also witnessing the unfair load First Nations people carry through racism, education work and community and kinship obligations.

Through countless cuppas, conversations and guidance from Elders, community members and Aboriginal leaders, Caroline came to understand another way was possible — one grounded in truth-telling, relationality, healing and community wisdom.

Blak Wattle Collective grew from that vision: a brave, culturally safe space where individuals and organisations can lean into the discomfort of anti-racism work, build capability, nurture wellbeing, and elevate Aboriginal leadership from the inside out.

Today, we partner with organisations across Australia to shift workplace cultures, strengthen leadership, and embed practices that honour belonging and justice — working toward workplaces where First Nations people are safe, valued and able to lead.

Explore Our Work

Our Founder

Caroline Kell

Caroline is recognised for her ability to create grounded, transformative spaces where truth, culture and leadership meet.

A proud Mbarbrum woman, born, raised and based in Melbourne/Naarm. She is the Founder and Managing Director of Blak Wattle Collective, a 100% Indigenous-owned agency specialising in Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing, anti-racism, cultural safety, leadership capability and strengthening relationships with community. 

  • Caroline brings a grounded, multidimensional approach shaped by lived experience, cultural knowledge, and more than a decade working alongside Victorian Aboriginal communities across truth-telling, treaty, health, mental health and justice.  Her practice is underpinned by a deep commitment to cultural strengthening and wellbeing, including her own ongoing journey of learning, healing and accountability. Before establishng Blak Wattle, she held senior leadership roles across Government, non-Government and Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations, contributing to significant statewide reforms including Australia’s first Treaty discussions, the Victorian Aboriginal COVID-19 response, and Balit Durn Durn — the Aboriginal community’s response to the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System. She has also been on her own extensive cultural and 

    Today, Caroline partners with Aboriginal organisations, governments, universities and NGOs to deliver consulting, facilitation and coaching that support meaningful and lasting change. Her work often focuses on anti-racism, colonial loads and First Nations burnout, navigating power and privilege, strengthening Aboriginal social and emotional wellbeing approaches, and using story as a tool for reflection, trust-building and connection.

    Caroline is also a sought-after facilitator and speaker. Her style is often described as warm, thoughtful and deeply grounded in real experience — the kind of delivery that stays with people long after the session ends.

Our Team

Chloe Sinclair

Chloe is a settler-coloniser of Anglo-Celtic background, born on Boonwurrung land and living on Wurundjeri biik, Narrm/Melbourne. Passionate about community-led social change, she thrives on taking care of the colonial admin and operational load to free up First Nations team members to focus on the sovereign, strategic work that truly matters.

A social worker by trade, Chloe brings an anti-oppressive intersectional lens to her work in community. With over a decade of involvement in grassroots social change movements, her praxis centres First Nation solidarity, ecological justice and queer liberation.

Our Values Framework

  • We recognise the power and strength of communities and that we achieve more when we collaborate and work together.

    We are highly interpersonal and value connection with our stakeholders and clients. We understand the intersecting and interrelated nature of people and communities and commit to working in a transparent, open, collaborative, and agile manner to achieve outcomes.

  • We recognise the importance of holistic health models such as Aboriginal Social Emotional Wellbeing to drive outcomes, but also embed wellness in our practice as coaches and consultants.

  • We understand change takes time and prioritise work that seeks to deliver long-term change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities and other diverse and intersectional groups.

    To work in partnership toward positive social change and impact.

  • We strive for excellence and sometimes we might not get it 100% right.

    We are responsible for our words, our actions, and our results.

  • We invite play, fun and joy into the workplace.

    We like to marvel at the wonder of life, to stay curious and open minded to new ideas.