Unit of competency Outline

Date retreived
22/07/2026 2:56 PM AWST

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Work with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material

Work with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material

Unit of competency
National Code
CULMS001B
State Code
D1796
TGA Status
Replaced
DTWD Status
Replaced
Current Release Number
1.00
Current Release Date
05/04/2004
View on TGA
State Implementation and Classification
Approved Date
06/01/2012
Field of Education
091303 - Curatorial Studies
Original Release Date
06/01/2012
Nominal Hours
30
Description
This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to work with Aboriginal or Torres Strait cultural material in a culturally appropriate manner. The unit focuses on the specific cultural and consultative requirements for the sourcing, handling, interpretation and exhibition of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material. This includes appropriate consultation with the traditional custodians of cultural material.Ideally, this unit would be trained and/or assessed in conjunction with other technical museum practice units.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.
Notes
Elements and 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
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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

advertising materials
interpretive documents
photographs
online information
merchandising
publications

restrictions on those able to interpret material for visitors
special handling requirements/restrictions
access restrictions
placement of items within the collection
environmental requirements

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency

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.

Replaced By
State Code National Code Title Type
D9387 CULATS501A Work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural material Unit of competency