Quarterly Report 20-21 May 2004

Members

Australian Council of National Trusts
Australian Library and Information Association
Federation of Australian Historical Societies
Museums Australian
Regional Arts Australia

Report

Since the last report to the Board, the Regional Cultural Alliance (RCA) held a strategic planning day at ALIA House on 22 March.

ALIA representation on the RCA

Director, Vicki McDonald and Manager, planning policy, Susan Magnay represent ALIA on the RCA.

RCA strategic planning meeting

The planning meeting on 22 March was attended by representatives of the RCA partners, joined in the afternoon session by representatives of key government departments and agencies and other bodies. The organisations represented included:

• Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
• Dept of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
• Dept of Transport and Regional Services
• Dept of Environment and Heritage
• Australian Local Government Association
• Dept of Industry, Tourism and Resources
• Australia Council

At the meeting the Alliance partners decided to make training and professional development the key project and major strategic direction for the next three years. The RCA has developed a proposal for a national training framework for regional, museums, galleries, historical societies, heritage sites and arts events. A national approach to training for cultural volunteers and employees in regional areas is proposed that will use:

• The National Training Package of Competency Standards (developed for the cultural industries through the national ITAB by CREATE) as a framework for curriculum development;
• The use of Trained Assessors employed by and based in the industry to deliver programs;
• The provision of multiple entry points and pathways enabling participants to choose an accreditation option if they choose or complete training modules without continuing to the accreditation stage; and
• A program based on the core issues associated with the sustainable management of material culture and the identification of place value (significance assessment, acquisition, documentation, preservation, interpretation and presentation);
• The use of regional 'hubs' trialled through DCITA in Geraldton, WA and Wagga, NSW and the regional areas identified by DOTARS as foci for training co-ordination centres;
• A two stage process based on (1) the effective management and interpretation of place, collections and stories and (2) the creation of these places, collections and related arts and cultural events into sustainable cultural tourism attractions.

The RCA is seeking political and government support for the proposal and since the planning meeting has met with a number of key Minister, opposition members and officials.