This unit has particular application to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The cultural knowledge necessary to achieve competency in this unit may only be accessible to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples. This unit also recognises that there is no single Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander culture.

The unit deals with complex and interrelated elements of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultures, which are the cultural and intellectual properties of specific communities across the continent and islands of Australia. These may only be interpreted by appropriate persons, for example those recognised by the local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community as an Elder or custodian of local cultural knowledge.

Any organisation or individual planning to train or assess this unit would be expected to work in a culturally appropriate manner with the appropriate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community, for example through the establishment of a local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander reference group. In particular, it is vital to ensure respectful integration of any local cultural knowledge or protocols that will inform the implementation of the unit.

Nil

ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1

Source Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material

1.1

Identify cultural material which may be appropriate for exhibition or display within a given museum collection

1.2

Take steps to identify and confirm traditional ownership of cultural material and consult with appropriate community

1.3

When appropriate, use consultations with traditional custodians to determine suitable keeping place for materials not authorised for general exhibition

1.4

Negotiate permission and advice for the use of cultural material in accordance with cultural protocols

1.5

Complete administrative process in accordance with cultural protocols

1.6

Take account of issues and protocols in relation to the return of cultural material to local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities

2

Handle Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material

2.1

Describe, move, store and maintain cultural material in accordance with the wishes and cultural requirements of custodians

2.2

Communicate specific cultural requirements to colleagues to ensure material is handled appropriately at all times and with the agreed involvement of traditional custodians or Indigenous people

3

Prepare Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material for exhibition

3.1

Consult with custodians to determine culturally appropriate approaches to promotion, exhibition and display of material, including limitations on mode of exhibit

3.2

Develop culturally appropriate interpretive approaches in consultation with custodians

3.3

Develop exhibition support materials which take account of cultural protocols in consultation with custodians

3.4

Communicate requirements for the exhibition of cultural material to colleagues

Required skills

research skills to source material relevant to a given context

communication and negotiation skills to liaise and consult with community members and custodians

literacy skills to develop support materials for an exhibition of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material.

Required knowledge

scope of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material which may be appropriate for exhibition or display

appropriate keeping places for cultural material not suitable/forbidden for exhibition or display

issues and protocols relating to the return of cultural material to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander communities

copyright, moral rights and intellectual property issues and legislation with particular reference to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material

sources of support for the development of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander collections

current conventions of collection management and its adaptation including appropriate consultations and respect for traditional custodianship when working with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material, including non-western concepts of collecting

cultural protocols and appropriate consultations for the negotiation of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community permission to use cultural material

cultural protocols and appropriate consultations for the identification, movement, storage and maintenance of cultural material in the relevant community context

cultural protocols and appropriate consultations for the exhibition of cultural material in the relevant community context

current industry policy on the acquisition and management of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material.

The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

Evidence of the following is essential:

knowledge of the cultural protocols and practices as well as appropriate consultative processes associated with the handling of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material

application of knowledge to a particular collection and community context.

Context of and specific resources for assessment

Assessment must ensure:

involvement in the assessment process of persons approved of by Elders, appropriate persons or custodians of the relevant Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community

access to Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material or information on material when access is not available.

Method of assessment

A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit:

direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third party workplace reports of on-the-job performance by the candidate

evaluation of a project undertaken by the candidate to develop and exhibit a collection within an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community

evaluation of a project undertaken by the candidate to research and document the cultural significance of particular cultural materials

oral or written questioning to assess knowledge of appropriate protocols and consultation processes.

Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example:

other collection management units.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Cultural material is defined as 'objects, collections, artworks, specimens, structures or sites' and includes:

archaeological material

books and manuscripts

cultural sites/buildings

ethnographic material

film/audiovisual material

flora and fauna

furniture

photographs

post colonisation

technological/industry items

textiles

works on paper/canvas

A museum collection is defined very broadly and may relate to:

cultural heritage

history

art

science

plants and animals

other aspects of the natural environment

materials with a cultural/spiritual significance

living styles

ceremony e.g. dance, music

any other heritage resource

Cultural protocols may relate to:

identification of appropriate people to be consulted

ways in which consultations should be conducted

occasions when consultation is required

handling of cultural material

display of cultural material

communication about cultural material

acknowledging participation and ownership

Issues and protocols related to the return of cultural material to communities may relate to:

local consultations and agreements on return of material

undertaking appropriate processes to facilitate return of material

negotiation with current holders of material

identification and representation of recipients/custodians

how and where to return cultural material

Note: The return of human skeletal remains has a specific set of cultural consultations and requirements that must be observed.

Cultural requirements for the handling of material may relate to:

who can describe or handle material

when material can be handled

the way material should be transported

use of equipment or tools

storage of material

who can view material

access to material and associated research

Limitations on exhibition of cultural material may relate to:

identification

access e.g. issues around women's and men's business, secret, sacred material

interpretation/descriptive or explanatory writing

consultation with and involvement of appropriate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community members

fragility of the material

Interpretive approaches may relate to:

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community wishes for the way material is interpreted

consultation with and involvement of appropriate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community members

knowledge of existing collections

Exhibition support materials are those developed with appropriate consultation and permissions and may include:

advertising materials

interpretive documents

photographs

online information

merchandising

publications

Requirements for the exhibition of cultural material may relate to:

restrictions on those able to interpret material for visitors

special handling requirements/restrictions

access restrictions

placement of items within the collection

environmental requirements

Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Museum Practice

The required outcomes described in this unit of competency contain applicable facets of Employability Skills. The Employability Skills Summary for the qualification in which this unit of competency is packaged, will assist in identifying Employability Skills requirements.