Course Title: Inspect and monitor cultural places

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2017

Course Code: HUSO5220C

Course Title: Inspect and monitor cultural places

School: 174T School of VE Engineering, Health & Science

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5367 - 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

none

Course Description

This unit of competency describes the skills and knowledge required to inspect and monitor cultural places.
This unit applies to those whose job role includes inspecting and monitoring the fabric and setting of heritage or culturally significant places to identify non-conformities with conservation and management plans. A high level of cultural awareness and the need to observe cultural protocols are important in parts of the process.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

AHCLPW403 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.

3.6. Collected data and information is submitted for inclusion on information management system.

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.

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.

 

 

 

Week Date Topic Assessment details
1 27th 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
5th March:
Ass 1.1 due .
Definitions of Cultural heritage terms
2 6th Mar Aboriginal cultural places & objects
(In- class exercise).
12th March
Ass 1.2 due.
Aboriginal places and Objects
3 20th Mar Field Trip: Walkin’ Birrarung tour
 
4 27th March 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 3rd April All Day Field Trip:
Wurundjeri sites tour with Uncle Bill Nicholson
 
 
6 10th 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
 
9th April:
Ass 1.3 Due
Wurundjeri Checklists
 
7 24th April Mapping a cultural site: Intro to smartphone App
Planning Maps online: Areas of Aboriginal cultural sensitivity
 
8 1st May TBA (Bruce away)
 
 
9 8th May ½ day Field Trip to Murundaka Parklands
Checklist of condition of culturally scarred trees / Mapping exercise
 

 14th May: Ass 1.4 Murundaka scarred tree mapping

10 15th May Historic site in Melbourne:
Alexandra Gardens / Camp Sovereignty
Representations of Country: Ian Potter Gallery
 
 
11 22nd May Preparation of Final Reports

 

Assessment 2. Final Reports due 28th 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

Below are some texts that we will be addressing in class.

 

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

https://www.environment.gov.au/system/files/resources/4afff65c-00dd-4001-878b-a28d8831293a/files/ask-first.pdf

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


Overview of Assessment

Asassessment for this course may include reports, written assignments 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: 5th March   5%
Assessment 1.2: Aboriginal cultural places and objects       Due: 12 March    15%
Assessment 1.3: Site Inspection checklist,                         Due: 9th April     15%
Assessment 1.4: Murundaka scarred tree mapping             Due: 14th May    15%

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