Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee

The Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee (ACMC) advises the Minister for Indigenous Affairs on matters relating to Aboriginal heritage. The Committee consists of Aboriginal men and women from different parts of Western Australia to ensure culturally appropriate decisions are made about sensitive material or sites.  One of the members has to be a specialist anthropologist.   There are also three ex-officio members from the Department of Indigenous Affairs, the WA Museum and the Department of Regional Development and Lands.   

ACMC Members

ACMC meetings

The ACMC meets every first Wednesday of the month except in January.

Prior to each meeting the Committee advertises all applications it has received on the DIA website and in the West Australian to provide the information to the public. Applications for land development (s18 notices) have to be submitted before the advertised closing date. Applications submitted after the closing date will not be considered for the upcoming ACMC meeting. They will be considered for assessment for the meeting after.

Submission closing dates for 2013

Important information

The Department of Indigenous Affairs has made some internal administrative changes around the manner in which the ACMC agenda is advertised.

As a result of these changes, DIA will now undertake a two-tiered advertising process.  Section 18 applications will be advertised upon receipt, and the final ACMC agenda will be advertised two weeks prior to the meeting date.  The agenda will continue to be advertised in both The West Australian newspaper and on the DIA website, and copies of the advertisements will also continue to be provided to Native Title Representative Bodies.

To best accommodate the revised advertising process, it is important to note that it has been necessary to change the closing day for section 18 and section 16 applications from Friday to Thursday, as per the schedule at http://www.dia.wa.gov.au/Documents/ACMC/2013_ACMC_Meeting_Dates.pdf.  

Advertisement of Notices for consideration at the 8 Mayl 2013 ACMC meeting

Notices received for consideration at the 12 June 2013 ACMC meeting

Ministerial decisions from prior Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee meetings

Application requirements

All applications that are submitted to the ACMC must meet certain requirements so the ACMC can make an informed decision under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 (please note that the number of copies of documents (both hard copy and electronic format) required to be submitted has recently changed):

1. The section 18 application form must be completed & signed by the owner of the land and/or applicant. An applicant who is not the owner of the land must include a letter of authorisation signed by the land owner to undertake the purpose described in the application.
2. A cover letter addressing the application and supporting documentation.
3. A list of attachments/inclusions, e.g. Certificates of Title, photographs, maps.
4. Final coloured versions of Aboriginal heritage survey reports. Draft reports will not be accepted.
5. DIA Aboriginal site recording forms must be submitted for all newly recorded sites and all previously registered sites that have new information recorded as part of the s18 application process. All photographs, diagrams and maps must be in colour. Site recording forms are considered as part of the application.
6. Five copies of all documents are required, collated to make five individual ‘packages’ with all attachments and inclusions (but not in a bound single volume). All maps / diagrams / photographs must be in colour for each copy.
7. Two digital copies of the application package, inclusive of all attachments, maps, spatial data (shapefile format preferred), on CD or other digital media.

For more information about applications for land use (s18), click here.

ACMC functions

Under the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1972 the ACMC is established as an advisory body.
The Committee evaluates the importance of Aboriginal sites on behalf of the community and recommends recordings and preserving the traditional Aboriginal lore related to sites (if appropriate).

The role of the Committee in considering an application for land development consists of:
1. Determining whether a site exists under section 5 of the AHA.
2. If it is determined that a site exists, then the significance of the site is evaluated under section 39(2).
3. Recommending to the Minister whether to grant or decline consent to the applicant to use the land, and whether conditions should apply to any consent granted.

After evaluating the s18 Notice, the ACMC makes recommendations to the Minister for Indigenous Affairs regarding the Heritage values of affected areas.  The Minister makes the final decision on whether consent for a s18 application will be granted and under what, if any, conditions. 

Contact ACMC

Expressions of Interest - ACMC Members and Specialist Anthropologist

Pursuant to section 28(4), the Registrar is seeking expressions of interest from people with knowledge of and experience in matters of Aboriginal heritage for appointment to the ACMC.  Areas of specialist expertise should include but not be limited to archaeology, anthropology, ethnography and history.  Aboriginal people, and people with archaeological experience, are strongly encouraged to apply.

Pursuant to section 28(3) of the AHA, one of the Committee’s appointed members must be a person recognised as having specialised experience in the field of Aboriginal Australian anthropology.  The Registrar is also seeking expressions of interest from suitably qualified persons for appointment to the ACMC’s Specialist Anthropologist position.  Aboriginal people are again strongly encouraged to apply.

The Minister appoints members who can contribute meaningfully to the monthly meetings of the Committee. In assessing the Expressions of Interest the following criteria will be applied:

1. For the Specialist Anthropologist position, specialised qualifications in the field of Aboriginal Australian anthropology.
2. Written and oral communication skills.
3. The ability to attend monthly Committee meetings and special meetings from time to time.
4. The ability to contribute to Committee discussion.
5. Knowledge and experience of Aboriginal heritage matters. 

Non-government employee members receive a sitting fee and expenses for ACMC attendance.  For an application package, please contact Ms Andrea Barton, A/Executive Officer ACMC, on 1300 651 077 during business hours. 

Applications for the Specialist Anthropologist position must be received on or before Friday 24 May 2013.

Applications for general member positions must be received on or before Friday 14 June 2013.

Applications should be marked confidential and addressed to:

The Registrar of Aboriginal Sites,  c/- Department of Indigenous Affairs, PO Box 3153, EAST PERTH  WA  6004

Email: registrar@dia.wa.gov.au