The University of Melbourne and Indigenous Cultural Heritage Material: developing procedures and protocols for community consultation and collection management (2018)

Project Details

The University of Melbourne published three new policies in 2016 on the management of its cultural collections:

• Collections Policy(MPF1309);
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Policy (MPF1289); and,
• Human Remains and Burial Artefacts Policy (MPF1226).

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Policyarticulates the principles for managing cultural heritage material. The University’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island Cultural Heritage Oversight Committee has identified a need to develop and implement procedures and protocols establishing a framework supporting the management of cultural heritage material, and for guiding community consultation and staff training in this area.

In 2017 the University investigated best practice models implemented by cultural institutions external to the University for the handling Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material, and for community consultation. This report summarises the investigation’s work and findings. It recommends the adoption of protocols, principles and guidelines, as has been done by other cultural institutions, to improve management of Indigenous cultural heritage material held by the University of Melbourne in its various collections.

Researchers

Louise Murray

Professor Robyn Sloggett

Collaborators/Partners

Grimwade Centre for Cultural Materials Conservation

Research Outputs

Report: The University of Melbourne and Indigenous Cultural Heritage Material: developing procedures and protocols for community consultation and collection management.