Course Title: Inspect and monitor cultural places

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2016

Course Code: ENVI5079C

Course Title: Inspect and monitor cultural places

School: 155T Vocational Health and Sciences

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5305 - Diploma of Conservation and Land Management

Course Contact: Namrita Kaul

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4309

Course Contact Email: namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Bruce Partland

Phone contact: 99258323

e-mail: (Preferable) bruce.partland@rmit.edu.au 

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

There are none

Course Description

This unit covers inspecting and monitoring cultural places and defines the standard required to: establish the cultural value and background of the place; prepare or source checklists for inspection; inspect the place to establish a schedule of maintenance and monitor site management; submit report and recommendations based on requirements of contract including a review of existing management systems; monitor surroundings to establish restoration, reclamation, modification and protection that is required in the immediate area; monitor stakeholder views for impact on cultural significance, approach to maintenance, restoration and modification, and current and proposed uses of the place or area.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

AHCLPW403A Inspect and monitor cultural places

Element:

1. Prepare for inspection

Performance Criteria:

1.1. Significance of place is sourced from conservation and management plans.
1.2. According to operational request, specific facilities and equipment for inspection are determined.
1.3. Appropriate checklists relating to condition of fabric and surrounds are obtained to suit the application.

Element:

2.Carry out comprehensive inspection

Performance Criteria:

2.1. Condition of fabric is inspected for deterioration and damage.
2.2. Non-conformity with conservation and management plans and Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) are recorded.
2.3. Observed deterioration and damage to the fabric is evaluated to determine short-term and long-term impact on the significance of the place.
2.4. Maintenance works for the cultural place is determined and scheduled.
2.5. Records are checked for accuracy.
2.6. Potential safety risks, hazards and situations are identified and detailed.

Element:

3. Submit report and recommendations

Performance Criteria:

3.1. Situations requiring urgent action are addressed in accordance with conservation/management plan enterprise guidelines.
3.2. Draft reports are provided to stakeholders in oral and/or written formats.
3.3. Concise and accurate report are prepared and submitted to management.
3.4. Existing management systems are reviewed particularly regarding frequency and scope of inspection.
3.5. Recommendations for future action are consistent with conservation/management plan and industry standards and best practice.

Element:

4. Monitor surroundings

Performance Criteria:

4.1. Condition of surrounds and setting of the place or area is monitored for deterioration, damage and for biological or geophysical changes.
4.2. Deterioration and damage to surrounds and setting of place or area is evaluated to determine short-term and long-term impact on the significance of the place.
4.3. Required restoration or modification of biological aspects of the setting, including indigenous and exotic species, are planned to maintain the cultural and natural significance.
4.4. Required restoration or modification of geophysical aspects of the setting and surrounds, including replacement of soils and protection of landforms are planned to maintain the cultural and natural significance.
4.5. Maintenance, restoration and modification of fabric, setting and surrounds is integrated to maintain the cultural (both indigenous and non-indigenous), and natural significance of the place or area.
5.1. Stakeholders are periodically consulted to determine their views on the significance and maintenance of the place and area.

Element:

5. Monitor stakeholder views on significance

Performance Criteria:

5.1. Stakeholders are periodically consulted to determine their views on the significance and maintenance of the place and area.
5.2. Visitors are periodically consulted to obtain their views on the place and area.
5.3. Changes in views and/or stakeholders are identified.
5.4. Changes in views are assessed for impact on cultural significance, approach to maintenance, restoration and modification, and current and proposed uses of the place or area.
5.5. Assessment of changed views is reported to enterprise and Burra Charter processes or indigenous places guidelines.
 


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Learning activities include:

Familiarisation with a range of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage places and objects in the Melbourne area

Field trips to significant heritage sites

Introduction to degrading processes and methods for their stabilisation.

Assessing and reporting on the condition of a number of significant sites.

Site mapping


Teaching Schedule

Note: Classes are held on Monday afternoons from 1.30pm-4.30pm, unless otherwise notified.

(For example there is a full day field trip on Monday 11th April, visiting a range of significant sites. It is essential that you keep this day free).

 

 

Week Date Topic Assessment details
1 29th Feb Introduction to the Course:
Concepts; Codes and guidelines for establishing cultural value; Types of cultural places
Cultural heritage terms
Tour of nearby cultural places around RMIT
 
2 7th Mar Aboriginal cultural places & objects
(In- class exercise).
11th March:
Ass 1.1 due .
Definitions of Cultural heritage terms
3 21st Mar Field Trip: Walkin’ Birrarung tour 23rd March
Ass 1.2 due.
Aboriginal places and Objects
 
4 4th April Reflection on Walkin’ Birrarung (1/2 hour)
Fabric, setting, condition, protection.
Processes of deterioration and damage /
Construction techniques and materials

Checklists for inspection

Cultural protocols investigated and explained (1/2 hour)

Who are the Wurundjeri? (Video) (1 hour)

Student responses to Walkin’ Birrarung, developed in groups

Uncle Mik for cultural protocols
 

5 11th April All Day Field Trip:
Wurundjeri sites tour with Uncle Bill Nicholson
 
 
6 18th April Reflection on Wurundjeri Sites Tour
Approaches to maintenance, restoration and modification.
Monitoring and responding to Stakeholder views
Case studies: Coastal middens; Scar trees; Ceremonial sites
 
20th April:
Ass 1.3 Due
Wurundjeri Checklists
 
7 2nd May TBA (Bruce away)  
7 9th May ½ day Field Trip to Murundaka Parklands
Checklist of condition
 
 
8 16th May Mapping a cultural site: Mapping exercise
Planning Maps online: Areas of Aboriginal cultural sensitivity
 
 
9 23rd May Historic site in Melbourne:
Alexandra Gardens / Camp Sovereignty
Representations of Country: Ian Potter Gallery
 
 
10 30th May Preparation of Final Reports

 

Assessment 2. Final Reports due 30th May


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Ask First: A guide to respecting Indigenous heritage places and values. Australian Heritage Commission 2002 

The Burra Charter: The Australian ICOMOS charter for places of cultural significance, 2013 at http://australia.icomos.org/wp-content/uploads/The-Burra-Charter-2013-Adopted-31.10.2013.pdf

Aboriginal cultural heritage mini-poster series at: http://www.dpc.vic.gov.au/index.php/aboriginal-affairs/publications-and-research/aboriginal-cultural-heritage-mini-poster-series


References


Other Resources

Additional resources will be supplied via your Blackboard learning hub, as required.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course may include reports, assessments and project work


Assessment Tasks

ASSESSMENT:
Note: The 3 parts of Assessment 1 (1.1; 1.2 & 1.3) will be completed largely in class time. The Final Report (Assessment 2) will be a comprehensive assessment of a cultural place (Mt William or Murundaka). Details of all assessments will be provided in class and in the Blackboard  Assessments Folder.

Assessment 1.1 : Definition of Cultural heritage terms.  Due: 11th March   10%
Assessment 1.2: Aboriginal cultural places and objects Due: 23rd March  20%
Assessment 1.3: Site Inspection checklist,                        Due: 20th April     20%
Assessment 2: Report on a cultural place.                        Due: 30th May       50%


Assessment Matrix

Other Information

Assessment Information

This course is graded in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also utilises graded assessment
CHD Competent with High Distinction (80 – 100%)
CDI Competent with Distinction (70 – 79%)
CC Competent with Credit (60 – 69%)
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded (50 – 59%)
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for assessment

All assessment types must be passed (in-class assessments & final report). You can’t make up marks from one type of assessment to another (e.g. pass the in class assessments but fail the assignment component).
APPLICATION FOR EXTENSION OF TIME FOR SUBMISSION OF ASSESSABLE WORK- A student may apply for an extension of up to 7 days from the original due date. They must lodge the application form (available online http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/extension) at least 24 hours before the due date. The application is lodged with the School Admin Office on Level 6, Bdg 51, or emailed to the Coordinator (namrita.kaul@rmit.edu.au).
Late work that is submitted without an application for an extension will not be corrected.
Students requiring extensions longer than 7 days must apply for Special Consideration (see the ‘Help me’ link in blackboard, via myRMIT studies or http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/specialconsideration) For missed assessments such as exams - you (& your doctor if you are sick) must fill out a special consideration form. This form must be lodged online with supporting evidence (e.g. medical certificate), prior to, or within, 48 hours of the scheduled time of examination.
If you miss an assessment task due to unavoidable circumstances, you need to follow the procedure of special consideration and apply within the allowed time frame.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview