Legislative awareness is a workshop of up to three hours designed to introduce project planners and policy makers to the Aboriginal Heritage Act 1988 (AHA). The Act is the primary legislation relevant to the protection of Aboriginal heritage in South Australia.

The workshop covers the legal framework and obligations under the AHA. It discusses risk assessment, including how to request a search of the Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects and how to use this information to manage the potential risk of breaching the AHA.

The information provided at the workshop should not be taken to be legal advice.

The workshop is recommended for project staff from state government agencies, local government and industry responsible for planning or overseeing construction, exploration, mining or development projects that involve ground disturbing works and other activities that may constitute damage, disturbance or interference with Aboriginal sites, objects or remains (e.g. digging, excavation, tunnelling and piling).

The workshop can be customised for local councils, Aboriginal organisations and other representative bodies interested in a better understanding of the AHA.

Site recording workshops are designed to give Aboriginal people throughout South Australia the knowledge and tools used to accurately record their own heritage sites, objects and remains to the standard required for entry onto the Register of Aboriginal Sites and Objects.

By the end of this workshop, participants should be able to confidently identify and record a variety of site types (e.g. artifact scatters and middens) using digital photography and GPS and complete the Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation (AAR) site cards.

Site recording workshops may take the form of a single day session or can take place over multiple days and involve both practical and classroom-based learning.

Site recording workshops can be delivered in any part of South Australia and can be tailored to the specific needs of any Aboriginal group.

The aim of site conservation workshops is to build the capacity of Aboriginal groups to conserve and protect their own heritage sites.

Under the supervision of AAR archaeologists, the workshops can cover topics including:

• managing exposed Aboriginal ancestral remains
• protecting artefact sites from environmental and human pressures
• the non-invasive removal of organic material from rock art sites.

AAR archaeologists can provide assistance in the field to Aboriginal groups working on site protection and conservation.

This assistance is provided when the work has been approved by the relevant Aboriginal group.

AAR staff will work to appropriately upskill the Aboriginal people involved in the field work with site recording and site conservation skills to a standard whereby they can undertake similar works independently in the future.

From time to time, Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation hosts tertiary students required to complete a student placement or practicum as part of an accredited program of study.

Students working in the Aboriginal Heritage Team would normally, but not always, come from disciplines like archaeology, anthropology or cultural heritage management.