Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this webpage contains references to sensitive information.
The University of Melbourne is committed to working with communities of origin to reconcile the wrongs of the past to strengthen and heal for a better future. Many people in our community will find the following information confronting, especially Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
The University of Melbourne acknowledges and apologises for the part it played in collecting, using and holding Aboriginal Ancestral remains. The University has a dedicated repatriation team that is carrying out a community-led approach to repatriation.
How we can help?
If invited, the University of Melbourne’s repatriation team can help communities of origin access information about their cultural material including Ancestorial remains and secret or sacred material held by the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council and the University of Melbourne.
Our repatriation team is currently working with clan groups to assist with the repatriation of Ancestral remains and secret sacred material.
Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) (the Act) entrusts the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council (VAHC) with overseeing and monitoring the system of reporting, safeguarding and repatriating Ancestors in Victoria.
Museums and Collections collaborate with VAHC to support the repatriation of Ancestral remains previously held in the University’s collections and transferred to VAHC in 2018 in compliance with amendments to the Act. We also support the repatriation and safekeeping of secret or sacred objects that remain in the University’s care.
For more information call or visit the Aboriginal Heritage Council website:
P: 03 99227002
Alternatively, get in touch with the University Repatriation Team: iac-collection@unimelb.edu.au
Truth Telling and Justice at the University of Melbourne
We encourage you to learn more about the University’s commitment to truth-telling and justice as an institutional priority towards understanding and transformation.
The two-volume series, Dhoombak Goobgoowana: A History of Indigenous Australia and the University of Melbourne by Redmond Barry Distinguished Professor Marcia Langton AO and historians Dr Ross L Jones and Dr James Waghorne, addresses the University’s historical and ongoing injustices committed against Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
The University’s Indigenous Strategy 2023–2027, Murmuk Djerring, ‘working together’ in Woi Wurrung language marks a watershed moment in the University’s history, presenting a number of important priorities and opportunities to elevate the University as an exemplar in the stewardship of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural collections and of Indigenous culture internationally.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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A: Contact the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council
The Aboriginal Heritage Act 2006 (Vic) was amended in 2016. From 1 August 2016, responsibility all Aboriginal Ancestral Remains previously held organisations in Victoria was transferred to the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. The responsibility for the repatriation of Aboriginal Ancestral Remains was also transferred to the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. The University of Melbourne supports Communities of Origin in seeking senior leadership consensus and the return of materials held by the VAHC according to their wishes.
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A: All remains located in Victoria are the responsibility of the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council. If you come across human remains in the landscape, please do not disturb them. Contact your local police station immediately. The police will contact relevant organisations or parties, including the State Coroner’s Office to determine whether or not they are the remains of an Indigenous person.
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A: Ancestral remains were not formally acknowledged until 1984 when Gunditjmara man, Jim Berg, and others began work on the Victorian Archaeological and Aboriginal Relics Preservation Act 1972 as a part of an Advisory Committee.
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A: Known ancestral remains came from the New South Wales side of the Murray River, Victoria, Arnhem Land, Cape York and Central Desert.
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A: Some records show that the practice ceased in the 1980s. However, it is unclear if their use has ceased globally.
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A: All Aboriginal ancestral remains held by the University previously are now in the care of the Victorian Aboriginal Heritage Council.
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A: Recognising historical wrongs, The University of Melbourne has a policy that informs the way forward and aligns to the VAHC. It has an advisory committee, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Oversight Committee (ATSICHOC) and a sub-committee on Ancestral Remains.
The University of Melbourne seeks to accept both its responsibility for the initial collection of ancestral remains by past staff, as well as future engagement with communities of origin beyond their successful return with VAHC. It continues to audit and review collections and teaching facilities to ensure that the policy and safe keeping of human materials meets the publics expectations.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Policy
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A: The University has developed an Indigenous Strategy and established Indigenous leadership and governance. The University is working actively to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage and collections are developed, cared for, and made accessible in collaboration and relationships with communities of origin.