Cultural Heritage Advisors
Cultural Heritage Advisors play a key role in the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria.
Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (the Act) a Cultural Heritage Advisor may be engaged to:
- assist project sponsors in the preparation of cultural heritage management plans
- conduct cultural heritage audits in compliance with the directions of an inspector
- supervise activities authorised by a cultural heritage permit.
These roles require the ability to carry out heritage assessments and prepare written technical reports which meet specified standards.
Who is a Cultural Heritage Advisor?
A Cultural Heritage Advisor is a person who is appropriately qualified in a discipline directly relevant to the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage (such as anthropology, archaeology or history) or who has extensive experience or knowledge in relation to the management of Aboriginal cultural heritage. See: s189(1) of the Act.It is important that people who act as Cultural Heritage Advisors are appropriately qualified or sufficiently experienced.
Read the Minister’s Guidelines on Appropriate Qualifications for Cultural Heritage Advisors (PDF 26 kb) or (Word 41 kb).
How can I find a Cultural Heritage Advisor?
Aboriginal Affairs Victoria (AAV) maintains a List of Cultural Heritage Advisors (PDF 74 kb) or (Word 294 kb) who undertake Aboriginal cultural heritage assessments in Victoria. Cultural heritage advisors wishing to be included on this list need to complete the Application to be listed as a Cultural Heritage Advisor (PDF 35 kb) or (Word 74 kb). Suitably qualified professionals may be found by searching under archaeology or heritage consultant in the Yellow Pages, or alternatively the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists maintains a list of members on their website.AAV recommend that you seek references and examples of previous work from any Cultural Heritage Advisor that you may consider engaging. Information on relevant fee scales, codes of practice and other matters may also be obtained by contacting the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists.
Further Information
Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006Cultural Heritage Management Plans
Fees and Penalties
Inspectors