Early engagement directly with Aboriginal people is the best way to manage Aboriginal heritage within ground disturbing projects.

During that process, there may be requests for heritage surveys, assessments and reports. Generally, these services are performed by commercial heritage professionals in consultation with Traditional Owners.

Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation does not:

• recommend or endorse one consultant over another
• make any warranty as to the skills, capability, knowledge, experience or suitability of any consultant for any particular work.

Engaging a heritage consultant

Many qualified heritage consultants are members of the Australian Association of Consulting Archaeologists (AACAI) or Australia International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS).

Heritage consultants should be willing to provide their services in accordance with a code of ethics, such as those maintained by AACAI, ICOMOS and the Australian Archaeological Association.

If you want to engage a heritage consultant, you should seek testimonials and references from them, including from relevant Aboriginal people and communities.

Some Aboriginal people and organisations already have established relationships with particular heritage professionals.

Where possible, all consultants providing Aboriginal heritage services or advice should be working directly with appropriate Traditional Owners and Aboriginal organisations.