The RMIT University Library is creating physical and virtual environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, ideas and concerns can be safely expressed, heard and amplified. Toward this end, we’re endeavouring to do better; to improve the inclusivity of Library collections, spaces and services.
The document captures RMIT University Library’s commitment to conducting our day-to-day business in a way that supports our own reconciliation journey and makes a positive impact on the representation and inclusiveness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in all that we do.
It will foster a supportive and inclusive environment, and contribute to the ethical and equitable representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge within our collections, services and spaces.
Adapted from “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols“ by University of Sydney Library, RMIT Library's Responsible Practice Principles document is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.
Responsible practice is the next step in our reconciliation journey where we consider what we can do in our day-to-day jobs that uplifts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, establishes strong relationships with the community and gives us practical approaches to reconciliation in our daily work.
David Howard, Executive Director, Library Services
Our guiding principles
- No decisions are made about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people without Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
- We will celebrate and recognise Indigenous knowledge and ways of keeping and sharing this knowledge alongside the traditional western idea of an Academic Library.
- We will actively build Indigenous voice into our collections to counter racism and misrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by non-Indigenous peoples.
- We are committed to our spaces being culturally inclusive, welcoming and respectful to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
- We will embed concepts of Indigenous intellectual property and Indigenous knowledge into all aspects of the resources and services we develop.
- We will build real and lasting relationship with Indigenous staff and students at RMIT.
2024 Responsible Practice Project
The Collections Unit is leading a range of projects working towards the implementation of our Responsible Practice Principles. We aim to investigate, and where possible implement, the following outcomes by 30 November 2024:
Events and spaces
- Defining events needing Welcome to Country or other ceremonies.
- Native plants in spaces, including information on what the plant is and the significance.
- Investigate events that could be hosted for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Collections
- Scope/investigate and draft procedures for harmful content, identifying content and cataloguing.
- Cataloguing the principles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Perspective in Learning & Teaching into our digital collections.
Primo/LibrarySearch
- Acknowledgement of Country in Primo.
- Cultural Sensitivity banner based on keyword search.
- Identify searches that could be used to assist in Curriculum Architecture.
All Library staff
- Attendance of Introduction to Responsible Practice Principles workshop.
For more information or questions on the 2024 Collections Unit projects please contact collection.support@rmit.edu.au.
Feedback on our Responsible practice.
