The National Cultural heritage Forum is a body established by the Minister for the Environment and Heritage to advise on matters of national interest relating to the cultural aspects of the portfolio. The majority of organisations included in the Forum are peak non government organisations in their particular areas of interest.
Member organisations of the NCHF are:
Australia ICOMOS (Chair and Secretariat)
Prof Sharon Sullivan
Ms Kristal Buckley
Australian Council of National Trusts
Mr Simon Molesworth
Engineering Heritage Australia
Mr Keith Baker
Federation of Australian Historical Societies
Dr Ruth Kerr
Australian Academy of the Humanities
Prof John Mulvaney
Australian Heritage Council
Mr Tom Harley
National Heritage Chairs and Officials
Mr Michael Collins
Royal Australian Institute of Architects
Ms Louise Cox
Australasian Society for Historical Archaeology
Dr Tracy Ireland
Australian Institute for Maritime Archaeology
Mr David Nutley
Property Council of Australia
Mr Robert Bartlett
Museums Australia
Ms Carol Scott
There is also provision for representation from Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islander organisations.
Areas of concern
The Forum has developed a vison statement for consideration by the Minister. The minister, to whom it was presented, Dr David Kemp, acknowledged the vision, and although agreeing with its aims and principles has not formally endorsed it. For that reason, it is not appropriate to include it here. However, the areas of interest expressed in the vision are:
Community EngagementRole of the Commonwealth Government
Leadership
Proposed Integrated National Heritage Policy
Conservation Philosophy and Practice
State of the Environment Reporting
Acceptance of International Obligations
Holistic Environmental Policy
Indigenous Heritage
Cultural Heritage Funding
Education and Interpretation
Research
Collections
Conservation Training and Education
Urban Development
Regional Australia
Underwater Cultural Heritage
Heritage Care
The Forum has proposed to the Government a scheme that it calls Heritage Care.
Introduction
Local heritage is the heritage asset least well protected through the existing framework of statutory protection. However, local heritage is highly valued by communities, and is strongly linked to regional distinctiveness and to local community identity.
Conservation of cultural heritage is specifically excluded from the provisions of the Natural Heritage Trust. This not only restricts access to resources for the conservation of cultural heritage, it also artificially divides the more holistic perceptions communities bring to caring for their country and the land.
Understanding and accessing cultural heritage places and collections is fundamental to community well being.
The Australian government has demonstrated leadership in protecting heritage of national significance. There is now an opportunity for the Australian Government to further this national leadership through engagement with communities at a local level to assist them to participate directly in the care of their own local heritage places. This would provide similar benefits to heritage as those being provided to the environment through Natural Heritage Trust programs such as Landcare and similar programs.
Program Proposal
Establishment of a new community heritage program (Heritage Care), which, through its component parts, would assist community groups in the care of local heritage places.
This `umbrella' Heritage Care Program could incorporate:
An expanded CHPP
A new community hands-on-heritage program
Other specifically targeted initiatives modelled on the recent successful Historic Hotels program
National heritage research program
Program Benefits
Demonstrates Australian government connects people and place at a local and community level
Encourages and supports community engagement
Provides substantial cost effective conservation outcomes
Increases community capacity and sustainability
Facilitates holistic approach supporting both natural and cultural heritage care
Funding
$50m - $10m pa over 5 years per annum (in addition to CHPP funding)
National Cultural Heritage Forum
August 2004
