Australia's economy benefits significantly from the extraction of its vast mineral resources. However, this industrial activity can have a negative impact on 65,000 years of irreplaceable Indigenous cultural heritage.
While progress has been made, there is still a need for more robust and meaningful frameworks and standards within the mining industry and among cultural heritage practitioners to ensure this heritage is respectfully protected and preserved.
Now, a new Australian Research Council Training Centre, based at Flinders University in collaboration with The University of Queensland and Southern Cross University, aims to meet this challenge by transforming cultural heritage management in the resources sector, ensuring resource development with cultural responsibility at its core.
Recently awarded $5 million from the ARC's Industrial Transformation Research Program, the ARC Training Centre for Advancing Archaeology in the Resources Sector will for the first time bring together Traditional Owners, resources companies, archaeologists and cultural and heritage experts, as well as the peak body for mining professionals, AusIMM.
Together they will train a new generation of cultural heritage professionals and create new approaches to safeguard Indigenous cultural heritage, while advancing sustainable, culturally-informed resource management.
They will also aim to address the under-representation of Traditional Owners working in the cultural heritage management industry by creating training courses co-designed with industry partners.
This new generation of professionals will acquire high-level skills required to navigate tensions in the cultural heritage-mining industry space and pioneer new ways of communicating the significance of cultural heritage to operational and executive-level decision makers.
Major resources companies Rio Tinto, BHP, South32, Newmont and MMG have pledged significant cash and in-kind support of professionals in their social performance, Indigenous engagement and cultural heritage portfolios.
The Centre's three Traditional Owner Partner Organisations - the PKKP Aboriginal Corporation, Palyku-Jartayi Aboriginal Corporation and Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka Traditional Land Owners - have been engaging with the resources industry for several decades and will be contributing extensive knowledge and guidance to the Centre's activities and time of their Rangers, Elders and infrastructure in research projects.
Leading cultural heritage management firms Terra Rosa Consulting, Australian Heritage Services and Niche Environment and Heritage have extensive involvement with Traditional Owners and resource companies. They too have pledged funding and support, including investing in technological development to improve archaeological survey outcomes and supply essential infrastructure for research activities.
Their involvement demonstrates a willingness to invest in building a new generation of cultural heritage professionals. Each trainee will gain valuable real-world experience by undertaking a 12-month placement with partner organisations, ensuring a comprehensive environment for research and training activities and exposure to high-level industry networks.
Centre Director and Flinders University archaeologist Professor Liam Brady says, "the tension between mining operations and Traditional Owners around the protection and management of cultural heritage has a long history in Australia and globally.
"We urgently need new approaches to address this situation. Having industry partners who are open and dedicated to working together to train a new generation of highly-skilled professionals who can navigate these challenges is both unique and exciting".
The Centre's Deputy Director, Professor Deanna Kemp from The University of Queensland, said the Centre is an opportunity to build greater engagement between mining, Indigenous knowledge and social science.
"The Centre is uniquely placed to safeguard Indigenous cultural heritage, and advance sustainable, culturally-informed resource management in the context of Australia's critical minerals strategy," says Professor Kemp.
UQ's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Engagement) Professor Bronwyn Fredericks, who is also a Chief investigator in the Centre, says their work will enable the direct input by Traditional Owner partners and a say in what will happen.
"This changes the way some of this business was carried out in the past. It has the possibilities for transferability to other areas, which is more than great and much needed," says Professor Fredericks.
Southern Cross University Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Mary Sponberg says, "it is both heartening and inspiring to see this Centre funded. It gives me genuine hope for the preservation of Australia's cultural heritage and this acknowledgement of our deep history.
"Southern Cross University is so proud to be part of this collaboration, actively setting new benchmarks for research, preservation, and engagement with our shared heritage. We look forward to working together with such an amazing collection of partners."
A spokesperson from the PKKP Aboriginal Corporation said PKKP is proud to be a partner institution in this Training Centre.
"PKKP cultural heritage is regularly at risk from mining, and we have had to learn the hard way about how to get good outcomes for our community and our Country. We look forward to sharing our knowledge with the researchers and students, and learning from them in return".
Rob Singleton, Chairperson of the Yandruwandha Yawarrawarrka Traditional Land Owners, said as partnering stakeholders, YYTLOAC have felt the effects of mining and exploration in their country for 60 years.
"This significant impact on our culture and heritage continues to this day. We are committed to improved ways of doing business and are very excited to be a partner in this initiative."
Flinders University Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research) Professor Raymond Chan says the establishment of the Training Centre recognises the world-class expertise of Flinders' archaeologists and their commitment to supporting both industry and Traditional Owners in achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.
"Now more than ever, it's critical for universities to collaborate with industry to generate new knowledge and elevate best practice. This Centre is a key platform for training generations of researchers to undertake industry training and strengthen the capabilities of industry and research end-users. Flinders is honoured to lead the only SA-led Centre funded in this round," says Professor Chan.
