Grants

Grants are available to support First Nations participant without institutional support, and for organisations sending more than one participant. Contact cressida.fforde@anu.edu.au for details and to apply.

Delivery and attendance pattern

This is delivered 100% online as a 5 day intensive micro-credential from 9am – 5pm each day. Materials will be available to read and watch before the course begins. At other times you are free to consult key readings and listen to pre-recorded presentations and other course materials. Materials will be available to read and watch before the course begins. At other times you are free to consult key readings and listen to pre-recorded presentations and other course materials.

For those taking the course as a micro-credential, your first assessment is due prior to the course commencing and requires you to engage with key readings and pre-recorded presentations before this date.

Description

The repatriation of Ancestral Remains is a highly significant Indigenous achievement and inter-cultural development of the past 40 years. Enrollees explore the practice, history, meaning and significance of repatriation for Indigenous peoples, museums and broader society. The micro-credential is designed for those interested and engaged in repatriation practice, research and policy-making, for example in community, museum, university and government sectors. It focuses on the skills for successful repatriation practice—how to locate and return Ancestral Remains; the history of how, when, why Ancestral Remains were taken and the Indigenous response; the connection of repatriation to Indigenous law, culture, ethics, Country and community development; institutional, agency and government policy regimes; repatriation and its international context.

Download the indicative schedule (pdf, 200kb)

Your course presenters are national and international repatriation experts from community organisations, museums and research institutions, many of whom are part of the Return Reconcile Renew research network

Topics

• Skills for successful repatriation practice – how to locate and return Ancestral Remains
• The history of how, when, why Ancestral Remains were taken and the Indigenous response
• The connection of repatriation to Indigenous law, culture, ethics, Country and community development
• Institutional, agency and government policy regimes
• Repatriation and its international context

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, enrollees will have the knowledge and skills to:

• Develop a holistic knowledge of repatriation and understanding of its inter-connectedness with Indigenous law, culture, ethics, country and community development.
• Develop understanding of the history of the removal of Indigenous ancestral remains and the rise of the reburial movement.
• Develop understanding of key issues of repatriation for museums and other collecting institutions.
• Critically examine changes in museum ideology and the development of relevant policies and professional codes of ethics.
• Develop critical and inter-disciplinary skills towards assessment, implementation and analysis of repatriation policies and practices.
• Facilitate an understanding of appropriate consultation and working relationships with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Indicative assessment (for micro-credential option only)

Assignment 1: Pre-reading and 5 key text summaries. Word length: 300 words each. Total: 1500 words

Assignment 2: Two questions for the panel for each of three panel sessions of your choice. i.e. 6 questions in total. Word length: 30 words per question each accompanied by 220 words explaining some background context. i.e. 250 words per question for 6 questions, equalling 1500 words total OR daily journal of key learnings from the course (approximately 300 words per day)

Assignment 3: Research Essay. Word length: 3,000 words OR repatriation project – project topic to be decided in discussion with convenor. Project description and findings to be presented to a panel and other participants. Presentation of no more than 20 minutes duration. Panel and audience may ask questions.

Assumed Knowledge

This micro-credential is taught at graduate level and assumes the generic skills of a Bachelors or equivalent.

Micro-credential stack information 

This micro-credential is undertaken as a stand-alone offering.

Details

Course Code: DATA34

Workload: 130 hours
Contact hours: 35 hours
Individual study and assessment: 95 hours

ANU unit value: 6 units
Course Code Level: 8000
Contact: Professor Cressida Fforde or Dr Gareth Knapman

Cost
Micro-credential: $4080
Professional learning: $3000

Fee waiver for ESC (on application), and reduction to $500 for MC for Indigenous participants without organisational support (on application)
50% reduction for ESC (on application) for industry organisations sending more than two participants. No reduction for MC for industry participants

This course is co-developed and delivered by repatriation researchers and practitioners involved in the Return, Reconcile, Renew research group, including at:

• The Australian National University
• University of Technology Sydney
• University of Melbourne
• University of Tasmania
• Kimberley Aboriginal Law and Culture Centre
• Ngarrindjeri Regional Authority
• Gur a Baradharaw Kod
• Torres Strait Sea and Land Council
• The National Museum of Australia, and
• The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa.

This Micro-credential is taught at a graduate level.  This is not an AQF qualification.