Other ways the Act protects Aboriginal cultural heritage

While all cultural heritage is protected under the Act, protection declarations provide an additional layer of protection.

Protection declarations are decided by the Minister for Treaty and First Peoples and can be interim orders, or ongoing. They set out measures to protect the place or object while ensuring that people can still interact with them in a way that respects the cultural heritage.

There are penalties if people go against the measures set out in the declaration.

The Act includes enforcement provisions to provide protection for Aboriginal cultural heritage

Authorised Officers (AOs) and Aboriginal Heritage Officers (AHOs)

AOs and AHOs are trained to the same standard and have similar powers as authorised officers working under other Victorian legislation. They:

• investigate reports of harm to cultural heritage
• help government and land users avoid impacts to cultural heritage
• assess compliance with cultural heritage management plans and cultural heritage permits

Stop orders and improvement notices

These can be issued by AOs and AHOs to stop or modify works that are harming or threatening to harm Aboriginal cultural heritage, and that do not comply with cultural heritage management plans or cultural heritage permits.

Penalty units and fines

The Act includes substantial penalties to deter people from harming cultural heritage.

The register is a key tool in the management of cultural heritage now and into the future. It stores information including:

• registrations of Aboriginal places, objects and intangible heritage
• approved cultural heritage management plans
• cultural heritage permits
• certified preliminary Aboriginal heritage tests
• archaeological reports

The register is accessed through the Aboriginal cultural heritage register and information system (ACHRIS). As the register holds culturally sensitive information, ACHRIS is only available to people or organisations who need detailed information on cultural heritage to protect and manage it.

Information about registered intangible heritage is only available to:

• the Traditional Owners who registered the heritage
• people who have received permission to access it from the Traditional Owners

Read about the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register.