The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 recognises Registered Aboriginal Parties (RAP) as the primary guardians, keepers and knowledge holders of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.
Victoria's Aboriginal cultural heritage management system empowers Traditional Owners to make decisions about cultural heritage through the state’s RAPs.
There are currently twelve RAPs in Victoria, covering around 77 per cent of the state.
Their core functions include:
- evaluating Cultural Heritage Management Plans
- assessing Cultural Heritage Permit applications
- making decisions about Cultural Heritage Agreements
- providing advice on applications for interim or ongoing Protection Declarations
- entering into Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Land Management Agreements with public land managers
- nominating Aboriginal intangible heritage to the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Register and managing intangible heritage agreements.
Improving the state’s nation-leading Aboriginal cultural heritage management system
High levels of building and development across Victoria have created pressures on construction and approval processes throughout the planning system, as well as significant demands for the expertise and services of the cultural heritage sector.
The government is continually looking at ways to streamline processes and better support RAPs to do their important work.
That’s why the Victorian Government announced a $5 million package to improve the state’s Aboriginal cultural heritage management system.
The improvements will help facilitate crucial development including housing and renewable energy projects.
This package is part of a range of changes across government to ensure Victoria’s planning system remains fit for purpose to meet the state’s growing housing needs.
What does the $5 million package include?
- An online mapping platform for strategic planning, showing areas of important Aboriginal cultural heritage.
- Trialling a new role in government to serve as a ‘front door,’ providing guidance and assistance for developers using the cultural heritage system.
- Development of new guidelines promoting greater consistency and certainty for Traditional Owners, developers and heritage advisors on processes, standards and timelines in the preparation of Cultural Heritage Management Plans.
- New information packs clearly explaining cultural heritage processes for developers.
Access the strategic mapping platform
Information packs
Access information packs about Aboriginal cultural heritage - what it is, why it's important, and how it's protected.
An introduction to Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria
Victoria is rich in Aboriginal cultural heritage. It represents Aboriginal Victorians' 65,000 years of continuing culture and enduring connections to land, water and sky.
The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 explained
Understand how Aboriginal cultural heritage is protected in Victoria.
Processes that protect Aboriginal cultural heritage in Victoria
Learn about the two main processes that protect and manage cultural heritage; cultural heritage management plans and cultural heritage permits.
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