The committee is appointed by the Museum Board to consider and make recommendations on policy and consultative processes relevant to the Aboriginal community.

The Museum is seeking members who are strategic thinkers, have effective interpersonal skills and a knowledge and understanding of the work the South Australian Museum undertakes with a particular focus on First Nations’ communities. An understanding of historical and contemporary matters relating to First Nations is also desirable.

Please note, applicants must be Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander to be eligible for membership on the APC.

Committee members will be responsible for advocating, promoting, monitoring and connecting with First Nations communities and assisting to develop and implement the Museum’s Reconciliation Action Plan.

The South Australian Museum houses a collection of over 6,000,000 artefacts and specimens of cultural and natural historical importance. The Museum manages a globally significant collection of First Nations cultural and archival material and has a significant repatriation program.

The appointment for membership of the APC is three (3) years. For a full position description, please see below. Terms of reference available on request.

Submissions close 5pm, Sunday 1 September 2024 and can be submitted via directorate@samuseum.sa.gov.au with a resume and one-page cover letter.

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For more enquiries regarding the position please contact: 

Vicki Wilson

Chair, South Australian Museum Aboriginal Partnership Committee

0412 934 067 or vicki.wilson57@hotmail.com

For media enquiries please contact:

Amy Haring, South Australian Museum

0434 880 950 | amy.haring@samuseum.sa.gov.au   

Ashleigh Glynn, South Australian Museum

0466 389 019 | ashleigh.glynn@samuseum.sa.gov.au

Aboriginal Partnership Committee (APC)

Open call for APC members

The South Australian Museum (the Museum) is a museum of natural sciences and human cultures, housing a collection of close to 6,000,000 artefacts and specimens of cultural and natural historical importance.  The Museum manages a globally significant collection of First Nations cultural and archival material and has a significant Repatriation program.  The Aboriginal Family History Unit that was established in 1988 provides confidential and professional genealogy research to assist Aboriginal people in tracing their family history and connecting with family and community.

About the APC

• The Aboriginal Partnership Committee (APC) is appointed by the Museum Board to consider and make recommendations to the Board on policy and consultative processes relevant to the Aboriginal community.

• The APC provides advice to the Director, Executive, and other Senior staff of the Museum regarding proposed research, exhibitions, repatriation, reconciliation and consultations and maintains a watching brief in the interests of the Aboriginal community over the ongoing activity of the Museum as it impacts on the Aboriginal people of Australia.

• The APC has a particular focus on the business that relates to the Aboriginal people of South Australia.

Aims and Responsibilities of the APC

• Advocate to ensure the Museum policy and operations has a contemporary view of Aboriginal history and culture that has been influenced and advised by Aboriginal voices.

• Advise the Museum in the development, implementation and monitoring of an organisational Reconciliation Action Plan that acknowledges and embraces Aboriginal knowledge, traditions and values across the work of the Museum.

• Promote economic opportunity through identified Aboriginal employment pathways and strategies within in the Museum, and by ensuring that Museum procurement policies support the engagement of Aboriginal contractors in the Museum.

• Champion Two Way Caretaking of Cultural Material by promoting to the Board and the staff of the Museum the concept of implementing shared responsibility and relationship agreements with Aboriginal traditional owners, artists and custodians of story and country.

• Monitor the Connecting with Community to ensure the Museum embeds and actively promotes Aboriginal engagement and partnership in its operations and when conducting Aboriginal business.

Requirements of the role

• Effective interpersonal skills required to support engagement, networking and collaboration (communication, people skills, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution and empathy).

• Strategic thinker.

• Knowledge/understanding of the work of the SA Museum, particularly as it relates to First Nations' communities.

• Knowledge of and relationships with other Aboriginal organisations (government, non-government and community based).

• Ability to interpret policy and potential impact to the work of the South Australian Museum as it relates to First Nations.

• Understanding of historical and contemporary matters relating to First Nations.

• Identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.

Membership

• Terms of Appointment for Membership of the APC is for three (3) years.

• The Term of Appointment can be extended upon formal representation to and approval of the Board. Membership will be for three consecutive three-year terms not exceeding 9 years.

• Each eligible member of the APC will receive a fee for each meeting, currently $250 per person for each meeting attended.

Recruitment Process

• Please submit your resume and a one-page cover letter to Directorate@samuseum.sa.gov.au by 5pm, Sunday 1 September 2024

• Applications will be reviewed by the APC and you will be contacted if you are successful in obtaining an interview.

• The successful candidates will require endorsement from the Museum Board prior to commencement.