The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), in partnership with the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), has launched a new online professional development course: Respect and Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Cultures and Country in Australian Libraries.
As the national professional body for the library and information sector, ALIA is deeply committed to truth-telling, reconciliation, and the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges. This foundational course is designed to help library workers build their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and connections to Country—and to embed cultural respect and recognition into everyday practice.
The program comes at a critical time. The 2024 Australian Reconciliation Barometer revealed a 40% rise over the past decade in reported incidents of racial discrimination experienced by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This course offers a timely and practical pathway to address racism, strengthen cultural capability, and foster respectful engagement.
Professor Lindon Coombes, Director of Jumbunna Research, said: "This project demonstrates the importance of partnering with industry to connect research with professional development. By centring Indigenous leadership and community knowledge, libraries are better equipped to grow in ways that are both culturally grounded and impactful. This is how we ensure change is informed, relevant, and lasting".
Indigenous-led and community-informed
The course has been developed by the Jumbunna Institute’s Indigenous Archives and Data Stewardship Hub, led by Associate Professor Kirsten Thorpe, and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics, library staff, and ALIA’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Group.
“It has been a real privilege to work collaboratively to develop this course,” said Associate Professor Thorpe. “We especially want to thank the contributors for sharing their journeys and expertise—and the ALIA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Group for helping shape the course from start to finish. Their vital expertise, lived experience, and professional knowledge grounded the course in community priorities and aspirations. We really believe that libraries have a leadership role to play in supporting truth-telling and reconciliation in Australian society.”
Thorpe also highlighted the role libraries can play in emerging fields such as Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous librarianship: “As information workers, the sector is strongly placed to assist the emerging Indigenous Data Sovereignty field, and more broadly, to support the field of Indigenous librarianship.”
A practical and timely resource
The self-paced online course combines text, videos, guided reflections, and short quizzes. Participants explore cultural protocols, Acknowledgment of Country, and the significance of Indigenous knowledges and histories in the library and information environment. Practical steps for further learning are woven throughout, supporting culturally safe practice, inclusive collections, and respectful community partnerships.
While designed for the Australian library and information workforce, the course also offers value to international colleagues seeking to strengthen cultural capability and respectful practice. It aligns with ALIA’s Framework of Skills, Knowledge and Ethics, with a focus on Core Domain 2: Respect and Recognition.
ALIA President Jane Cowell said: “We hope this course inspires all libraries to give voice to local Elders, acknowledge their knowledge and connection to land, and celebrate First Nations cultures across the nation. It’s about embedding recognition into everyday practice, not as a one-off action, but as part of our ongoing professional responsibility.”
You can access the course here.