Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee expression of interest for membership | Heritage

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Do you want to contribute to Aboriginal cultural heritage management in New South Wales?

Do you have experience working with other Aboriginal people to address significant cultural heritage management issues?

We encourage Aboriginal community members from across New South Wales to express their interest in joining the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.

This is an opportunity to contribute your cultural knowledge, lived experience, and leadership to support and strengthen how Aboriginal cultural heritage is respected, protected, and managed across the state.

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee advises the Minister for Heritage and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on matters relating to the identification, assessment and care of Aboriginal cultural heritage in New South Wales.

We welcome expressions of interest from Aboriginal persons across the state to ensure broad cultural representation on the committee, with up to 7 appointments to fill current and future vacancies.

Nominations must come from either:

nominees of Aboriginal elders groups
native title holders within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth or registered native title claimants
Aboriginal owners listed on the register under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983.

Your nomination must show:

your involvement in cultural heritage matters in your local community
your understanding of cultural heritage management issues.

As a committee member, you will be expected to:

actively contribute to the work of the committee
provide effective and sound corporate governance
offer leadership, vision and strategic direction
introduce innovative/new ways of thinking
promote and enhance the profile and integrity of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee.

The committee meets every 2 months in Parramatta, with an option for teleconferencing. Some out-of-session and/or off-site meetings may also be held. Committee members are remunerated in accordance with NSW Government guidelines. The department covers travel and accommodation costs to attend meetings. Further information can be found in the information pack, below.

Nomination submissions

Submit your completed, signed nomination form and where necessary, written evidence to support the criteria for which you are nominating, your resume, and a brief cover letter (maximum 2 pages) which details your skills and experience relevant to the role.

Your consent to the nomination is required for your nomination to be accepted.

Applications close: 11:59 pm Sunday 17 June 2025

Information pack

Your nomination checklist

Before you submit your nomination, please ensure you do the following:

Read the advertisement and this information package carefully. Research the committee to decide if the opportunity is right for you.
Contact Pipeline Talent on 8001 6603 if you have any specific questions.
Complete all compulsory questions in the online nomination form. Include detailed information about:
- your connections with cultural areas across New South Wales
- your involvement in cultural heritage matters in your local community
- your understanding of cultural heritage management issues.
Attach a copy of your resume.
Provide relevant evidence based on the eligibility criteria you are applying for. For example:
- nominees of Aboriginal elders groups - attach a signed letter of support from the Aboriginal elders group on official letterhead
- native title holders within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth and registered native title claimants – provide relevant file numbers and names
- Aboriginal owners listed on the register under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 – attach a copy of your letter from the Office of the Registrar, Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 (ORALRA), confirming that you are a registered Aboriginal owner.

This is how your nomination will be assessed.

Nominations close 11:59 pm Tuesday 17 June 2025.

Introduction

We recognise and celebrate the oldest living culture in the world. Through our own collaborative work with Indigenous communities, we strive for a more equitable, respectful, and fully reconciled country. We are all in this together and we all have a role to play when it comes to reconciliation.
Statement from the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee, Heritage Council of NSW and Heritage NSW

The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee aims to raise awareness and appreciation of Aboriginal cultural heritage and its benefits for Aboriginal custodians and the broader community. The committee ensures Aboriginal cultural heritage is protected and respected, and promotes its value to the NSW Government and community.

The committee advises the Minister for Heritage and the NSW Government on the legislation governing Aboriginal cultural heritage. It is the key government body for improving the protection, management and conservation of Aboriginal cultural heritage.

Aboriginal people with experience and involvement in managing and protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage in New South Wales are encouraged to nominate for appointment.

Establishment and role of the committee

The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee is established under section 27 of the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 to advise the NSW Government and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water on matters affecting Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The committee may make recommendations on any matter relating to the identification, assessment and measures to improve the care, control and management of Aboriginal cultural heritage in New South Wales.

The committee works collaboratively with government and community organisations. It works closely with, and is supported by Heritage NSW, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

Heritage NSW will seek independent advice from the committee as its principal advisory body on Aboriginal cultural heritage.

The committee is required to nominate 2 of its members to sit on the National Parks and Wildlife Advisory Council.

Members of Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee

Committee members have a diverse knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal culture and heritage. This knowledge is unique because it comes from their own experience of working on Country in their local communities. The committee's membership reflects the diversity of Aboriginal people of New South Wales.

Under Schedule 9 of the Act, the committee will have 13 committee members appointed by the Minister and one ex-officio from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.

The members of the committee are to consist of:

one member nominated by the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council
one member nominated by the Heritage Council of New South Wales
one member nominated by the NTSCORP Limited (ACN 098 971 209)
10 other members appointed from the following:
1. nominees of Aboriginal elders groups
2. native title holders within the meaning of the Native Title Act 1993 of the Commonwealth and registered native title claimants
3. Aboriginal owners listed on the register under the Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983.

The Act requires that committee members:

are involved in cultural heritage matters in their local communities
understand cultural heritage management issues.

The Act also requires that:

all appointed members of the committee are Aboriginal persons
there is gender balance in the membership of the committee, as far as is reasonably practicable
a range of cultural areas across New South Wales are represented on the committee, as far as is reasonably practicable.

Committee members are selected from metropolitan and rural areas to ensure a wide range of experience, networks and interests relevant to Aboriginal cultural heritage. They play a key role in building the Heritage NSW relationship with the community and provide invaluable advice on Aboriginal cultural heritage, including:

Programs to increase participation of Aboriginal people in identifying and protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage, biodiversity and spiritual values in relation to land and water.
Increased participation of Aboriginal people in managing and protecting Country and cultural heritage.
Advocating on behalf of Aboriginal communities for the better protection of Aboriginal cultural heritage through legislative reform.

Term of appointment

Members are appointed as part-time members for terms of up to 3 years and may be reappointed. Terms of individual members may be staggered to support the committee's continuity and knowledge exchange.

Once appointed, members will receive appropriate documentation as part of onboarding and induction. Each member must acknowledge their acceptance of these documents in writing and declare any conflicts of interest before commencing as a committee member.

Remuneration

Committee members are entitled to sitting fees and reimbursement of related out-of-pocket expenses incurred when attending meetings or conducting committee business.

The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee is classified C3(i); 'Committees which offer independent expert advice to the Minister(s) or Government Agency on specific issues of sectoral significance to the State (taken from the Classification and Remuneration Framework for NSW Government Boards and Committees – April 2021).

Under this classification, remuneration rates for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee members are set at:

$350 per day or $175 per half day – presiding member sitting fees
$220 per day or $110 per half day – member sitting fees

Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Advisory Committee meeting dates

The committee meets every 2 months, starting from February each year. Meetings are held either remotely (online) or at the Heritage NSW office at 4 Parramatta Square, 12 Darcy Street, Parramatta.

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Privacy notice

Information submitted on this form, including any personal details, will be a matter of public record and will be stored in the NSW Government records system. By submitting this form, you consent to the collection and use of your personal information in accordance with this notice.

Nomination form

Privacy notice under the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998

The primary personal information and secondary personal information (see definitions below) in this form is being collected by Heritage NSW, Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water for the purpose of seeking approval for your appointment to a public sector board or committee, a public/statutory office, or an executive agency head.

For the purpose of seeking approval for your appointment, this information will be uploaded into the GOView database, which is managed by the Cabinet Office. It will also be provided to Cabinet or to the Minister responsible for approving the appointment. If necessary for the purpose of seeking approval for the appointment, it may be provided to other public sector agencies. In providing the information in this form, you consent to it being disclosed to those persons or agencies for the purpose of determining your appointment nomination.

In the event that you are nominated or considered for a further or different board or committee in the future, you also consent to the use/disclosure of your personal information as above, for the purpose of seeking approval for that appointment.

You are not required by law to provide the information in this form. However, if you choose not to provide the primary personal information, your appointment will not progress to the approval stage. Provision of the secondary personal information will not affect the consideration of your nomination.

In providing this information, you accept that your secondary personal information may be used for the purpose of reporting on diversity and inclusion practices and statistics across NSW Government boards and committees. Such reports may be provided to the Premier, Parliamentary Secretary, Ministers, or other NSW Government agencies. This is directed to supporting agencies and Ministers to consider diversity representation on boards and committees and look for opportunities to increase board and committee diversity. However, your name would not be included in any such statistical reporting.

In providing this information, if your appointment is successful, you consent to the use of your name and remuneration for the purpose of filling upcoming vacancies in NSW Government appointments when your term expires. You also consent to the publication of your name and remuneration on the Cabinet Office's website list of current board and committee members and other NSW Government appointments.

You have the right to obtain access to your personal information under s. 14 of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act. If the information held by a public sector agency is inaccurate, irrelevant, not up to date, incomplete, or misleading, you have the right to request that it be amended under s. 15 of the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act.

Primary personal information means: