General advice from Aboriginal Victoria
The Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council (the Council) registered Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation (BLCAC) as a Registered Aboriginal Party on 19 July 2017
The Council is an independent statutory body of up to 11 Traditional Owners from Victoria, established by the Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (the Act). The Council makes decisions on Registered Aboriginal Party (RAP) applications.
Since the Council’s establishment in 2006, the Council has appointed 11 RAPs. RAPs are organisations that hold decision-making responsibilities under the Act for managing and protecting Aboriginal cultural heritage in a specified geographical area.
This decision means BLCACnow has statutory functions under the Act. For a detailed interactive map showingBLCAC’s area of appointment go to:
Select the Layers button on the toolbar above the map and then select the checkbox next to Appointed RAPs.
What this means for sponsors, agencies and officers
In the area where BLCAC has been appointed as a RAP:
Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006
▪Consultation with Traditional Owners facilitates the appropriate assessment of the cultural significance of Aboriginal places and objects, and is consistent with the Act’s objectives. The Act establishes RAPs as the appropriate bodies with such knowledge. In areas where BLCAC has been appointed, consultation should be with this organisation.
▪Where assessment for a cultural heritage management plan (CHMP) commenced prior to 19 July 2017, the preparation of the plan may continue using existing consultation arrangements.
▪CHMPs, cultural heritage permit applications, and cultural heritage-related programs or projects that commence after 19 July 2017mustinvolveBLCAC.
Other matters
▪Agencies and officers may continue pre-existing relationships and involvement in community and cultural programs with other organisations at their discretion. However, they are advised to consider that the Council has determined that BLCAC is a body representing the Traditional Owners of this area.
▪If undertaking an Acknowledgement of Country, you should acknowledge the Traditional Owners represented by BLCAC, the people of the Boonwurrung[1] language group.It is best to ask BLCAC the preferred name to be used when making an acknowledgement.
▪If you are organising a Welcome to Country for an event or function, you should contact BLCAC to arrange the Welcome to Country. Further information about Welcomes and Acknowledgements can be found on the Aboriginal Victoria website.
General advice regarding consultation in areas where no RAP has been appointed can be found here:
The Council will provide reasons for its decision in mid-September 2017.
Registration of Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation1
[1]"Boonwurrung” is the spelling used by the Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages to assist users with correct pronunciation.