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Unit of competency details

CULATS501A - Work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural material (Release 1)

Summary

Usage recommendation:
Superseded
Mapping:
MappingNotesDate
Is superseded by and equivalent to CUAATS504 - Work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural materialUpdated to meet Standards for Training Packages and clarify intent. 13/Jan/2016
Supersedes and is equivalent to CULMS001B - Work with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural materialThis unit replaces CULMS001B Work with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material. Changes made to unit descriptor, competency field, performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement, critical aspects for assessment, and context of and specific resources for assessment. 19/Dec/2011

Releases:
ReleaseRelease date
1 1 (this release) 20/Dec/2011

Training packages that include this unit

Classifications

SchemeCodeClassification value
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 091303 Curatorial Studies  

Classification history

SchemeCodeClassification valueStart dateEnd date
ASCED Module/Unit of Competency Field of Education Identifier 091303 Curatorial Studies  12/Apr/2012 
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Modification History

Release 

Comments 

Release 1

This unit of competency first released with CUL11 Library, Information and Cultural Services Training Package version 1.0

Unit Descriptor

This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural material in a culturally appropriate manner.

Application of the Unit

This unit applies particularly to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and focuses on the specific cultural and consultative requirements for sourcing, handling, interpreting and exhibiting Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material.

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

The unit deals with complex and interrelated elements of Aboriginal and 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.

Licensing/Regulatory Information

No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this unit at the time of endorsement.

Pre-Requisites

Not applicable.

Employability Skills Information

This unit contains employability skills.

Elements and Performance Criteria Pre-Content

Element 

Performance Criteria 

Elements describe the essential outcomes of a unit of competency.

Performance criteria describe the performance needed to demonstrate achievement of the element. Where bold italicised text is used, further information is detailed in the required skills and knowledge section and the range statement. Assessment of performance is to be consistent with the evidence guide.

Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Source Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material

1.1 Identify and locate cultural material  that may be appropriate for exhibition or display in museum collections 

1.2 Confirm traditional ownership of cultural material and consult with appropriate communities

1.3 Consult 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 according to cultural protocols 

1.5 Complete records according to cultural protocols

1.6 Research 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, maintain and return cultural material according to cultural requirements 

2.2 Note aspects of objects that need repair or attention and take action within scope of own job role or refer to relevant personnel as required

2.3 Communicate specific cultural requirements to colleagues

3. Prepare Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material for exhibition

3.1 Consult with custodians to determine culturally appropriate approaches to promote, exhibit and display material, and limitations  to mode of exhibit

3.2 Develop culturally appropriate interpretive approaches 

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

3.4 Communicate requirements for exhibition  of cultural material to colleagues

Required Skills and Knowledge

This section describes the skills and knowledge required for this unit.

Required skills 

  • communication and teamwork skills to:
  • liaise and consult with community members and custodians in a culturally sensitive manner
  • share information with colleagues
  • cultural sensitivity skills to be:
  • sensitive to cultural issues
  • respectful of different cultural practices
  • initiative and enterprise skills to develop:
  • culturally appropriate ways of displaying materials
  • interpretive approaches that showcase objects in a culturally respectful way
  • literacy skills to:
  • describe cultural material
  • develop agreements
  • complete organisational records
  • planning and organising skills to undertake activities in preparation for exhibitions in a logical and efficient manner
  • problem-solving skills to determine traditional ownership
  • research skills to source material for the collection
  • technical skills to move, store and maintain cultural material.

Required knowledge 

  • scope of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material 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 and Torres Strait Islander collections
  • current conventions of collection management, 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 identification, movement, storage, maintenance and exhibition of cultural material in the relevant community context
  • current industry policy on the acquisition and management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural material.

Evidence Guide

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.

Overview of assessment 

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

Evidence of the ability to:

  • apply knowledge of cultural protocols and practices when working with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander cultural material
  • consult with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people about the display of cultural material
  • observe cultural protocols when moving, storing, displaying, maintaining and returning cultural material.

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
  • information about cultural protocols.

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

Assessment methods should closely reflect workplace demands and the needs of particular client groups (consider the requirements of different age groups, clients with English as a second language, clients with disabilities, remote library users, etc.).

Guidance information for assessment 

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 local cultural knowledge or protocols that will inform the implementation of the unit.

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

  • CULEVP402A Design and develop interpretive displays.

Range Statement

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 and buildings
  • ethnographic material
  • film and audiovisual material
  • flora and fauna
  • furniture
  • photographs
  • technological and industry items
  • textiles
  • works on paper and canvas.

Museum collections  may relate to:

  • art
  • aspects of the natural environment
  • ceremony, such as:
  • dance
  • music
  • cultural heritage
  • heritage resources
  • history
  • living styles
  • materials with a cultural or spiritual significance
  • plants and animals
  • science.

Cultural protocols  may relate to:

  • acknowledging participation and ownership
  • awareness of occasions when consultation is required
  • communicating about cultural material
  • displaying cultural material
  • handling cultural material
  • identifying appropriate people to be consulted
  • storing cultural material
  • ways in which consultations should be conducted.

Issues and protocols  may relate to:

  • how and where to return cultural material
  • identification and representation of recipients and custodians
  • local consultations and agreements on return of material
  • negotiation with current holders of material
  • return of human skeletal remains where a specific set of cultural consultations and requirements must be observed.

Cultural requirements  may relate to:

  • access to material and associated research
  • storage of material
  • process for transporting the material
  • use of equipment or tools
  • who can describe or handle material
  • who can view material.

Limitations  may relate to:

  • access issues, such as:
  • men’s business
  • sacred material
  • secret material
  • women’s business
  • consultation with and involvement of appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members
  • descriptive or explanatory writing
  • fragility of material
  • identification process
  • interpretation method.

Interpretive approaches  may relate to:

  • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community wishes for the way material should be interpreted
  • consultation with and involvement of appropriate Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander community members
  • knowledge of existing collections.

Exhibition support materials  may include:

  • advertising materials
  • approvals and permissions
  • interpretive documents
  • merchandising
  • online information
  • photographs
  • publications.

Requirements for exhibition  may relate to:

  • access restrictions
  • environmental requirements
  • placement of items within collections
  • restrictions on those able to interpret material for visitors
  • special handling requirements and restrictions.

Unit Sector(s)

Cultural services - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage