Indigenous Cultural Heritage Management: Australian resources sector

Course convenor: Dr Sarah Holcombe - Sarah's research focuses on the social dimensions of mining, mine closure, and broadly the anthropology of the local Indigenous / extractive sector interface.

Course coordinator: Dr Lynda Lawson

Duration: 24 hours across 6 weeks with a live introductory session and a final wrap up session with Q&A

Participant Profile: Professionals, trades, management and consultants engaged in the resources sector

Overview: This professional development course addresses the foundational processes, practices and requirements for ensuring that cultural heritage is managed effectively and respectfully throughout the life of an operation. It draws upon a diverse range of Australian good practice; including practical approaches, practical examples and international standards. The course includes opportunities to learn from experts in the field, Indigenous leaders and from each other via interactive activities.

Speakers:

• Professor Bronwyn Fredericks - Pro-Vice-Chancellor Indigenous Engagement, UQ
• Dr Sarah Holcombe - Senior Research Fellow, UQ
• Vanessa Elliot - Social and economic development specialist
• Associate Professor Nick Bainton - Anthropology of large-scale resource extraction, UQ
• Rodger Barnes - Indigenous engagement and participation, UQ
• Dr Kelsey Lowe - Archaeological Heritage, UQ

Participants will learn about cultural heritage management (CHM) principles, relevant legislation and standards as they apply to an operating extractives site and the broader areas of impact. This course is relevant to all stages of an operations life, including exploration.

• Gain a practical understanding of the value of working constructively and respectfully with cultural heritage custodians
• Acquire initial tools and skills to enhance social performance in CHM with the aim of ‘democratising’ the CHM process to enable wider community participation
• Establish a network of peers for knowledge-sharing and support.

The content will be delivered using UQ’s edX on line platform with short lectures, readings, case studies and interactive and reflective activities.

Outcomes

At the end of this course participants will have developed the ability to be able to:

• Recognise both the intrinsic and business value of a cultural heritage management plan (CHMP)
• Understand tangible and intangible aspects of CH in the context of Indigenous Australia
• Distinguish between compliance drivers and more nuanced approaches to CHM
• Ensure that the cultural heritage management requirements of protection and mitigation are met
• Understand key elements of a stakeholder engagement plan
• Identify the native title holding representative bodies or other collective structures representing Indigenous interests.
• Select and engage third-party expertise and support for CHM
• Prepare a scope of works for CHM related projects and articulate the business case for the need to undertake CH work.