The document discusses evaluation in the context of the Australian Museum's Aboriginal Heritage Unit. It outlines three key projects the unit has undertaken: 1) an Indigenous Youth Access project to understand how to increase indigenous youth engagement, 2) Outreach Programs developed through ongoing community consultation and evaluation, and 3) a Keeping Culture CD-ROM prototype tested with indigenous communities. The overall message is that consultation and evaluation with indigenous communities is essential to developing culturally appropriate and effective programs.

1. Evaluation: What is it good for? Phil Gordon Head Anthropology Division Australian Museum/ Manager Aboriginal Heritage Unit

2. The Unit’s mission is to assist Australian Indigenous communities in gaining access to their cultural heritage Creating a sufficient skill base to allow communities to manage their cultural heritage Staffed by Indigenous people Aboriginal Heritage Unit

3. Consultation Museum’s guiding principle is self determination We talk and listen and then act Processes have to be developed to input this information thus consultation = evaluation rolling basis

4. Our Protocol is Consultation is to be undertaken in a place acceptable to Aboriginal people Long-term commitment Tangible results Indigenous people involved Has to be something in it for them Ownership and ability to direct

5. Three projects Indigenous Youth Access project Outreach Program Keeping Culture CD-ROM

6. Youth Access Project Aim to increase Indigenous youth access to museums Identify political and social issues affecting their access Method: focus groups/interviews with young Indigenous people broader discussion and stakeholder interviews literature analysis

7. What they wanted Respect for them as people Welcoming atmosphere Seeing themselves reflected in content, programming and staffing Active learning experiences Involvement in program development Use of technology Deal with contemporary issues

8. Outreach Programs Community Workshop: rolling evaluation to fine tune program started off with basic museum practices (eg curatorial, conservation, etc) program refined through workshop evaluation long history of consultation people know they will be listened to: and their suggestions acted on

9. Keeping Culture CD-ROM Developed to provide information Using Indigenous experiences to help others develop their own museums/ cultural centres Prototype tested giving feedback in development stage Evaluation pivotal in the outcome

10. Future Move into the delivery of services using new technologies and online access e-learning outreach program and surprises