New Cultural Knowledge Standards to strengthen Aboriginal Cultural Heritage partnerships

Aboriginal people are the continuing custodians of their heritage, cultural sites and materials. This includes keeping culture strong through ongoing spiritual and social practices.

Developed with Aboriginal communities, the Standards provide practical guidance to support Aboriginal communities, government agencies, researchers and consultants to work together respectfully on matters relating to Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.

This is the first time such Standards have been released. They are published in two parts:

Part 1 – Aboriginal community guidelines: supporting Aboriginal communities to protect and manage their Cultural Heritage rights when working with researchers, government agencies or consultants. This section includes a template to support the development of agreements. 

Part 2 – Guidelines for researchers, government agencies and consultants: supporting non-Aboriginal people and organisations to collaborate with Aboriginal communities in respectful and culturally safe ways. 

The Cultural Knowledge Standards aim to:

• Improve the quality of engagement between Aboriginal communities and those who work with them,
• Strengthen the protection of Aboriginal Cultural Intellectual Property (ACIP),
• Promote better processes, tools and practices for collaboration, and
• Drive cultural safety and accountability across government and industry

The Cultural Knowledge Standards do not replace current statutory processes or change existing Aboriginal Cultural Heritage legislation; they supplement them and provide practical advice and tools for all parties.

The Standards are an additional resource that sets new benchmarks for collaboration and partnership. By providing practical tools and clear guidance, they will support stronger relationships and better outcomes for Aboriginal communities and stakeholders across government, research and industry.

The Cultural Knowledge Standards are available on the Aboriginal Affairs NSW website: https://www.nsw.gov.au/living-nsw/aboriginal-outcomes/aboriginal-cultural-heritage/cultural-knowledge-standards.