ATNS - Agreements, Treaties and Negotiated Settlements project

Back to search results

Print this page
Surat 'Surat - Culture' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Date:	5 June 2006
Sub Category:	Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA)
Place:	Surat
	Click this link to search this location with google maps
State/Country:	Queensland, Australia
	Click this link to search this location with google maps
	Surat is located 65 kilometres south of Roma (Travelmate Website, Janaury 2007).
Subject Matter:	\| Cultural Heritage
URL:	http://www.indigenous.gov.au/sra/search/document.aspx?id=8014
Detailed Information:
The Surat 'Surat - Culture' Shared Responsibility Agreement (SRA) is an agreement between the Indigenous community in Surat, the Waroo Shire Council, the Australian Government and tourism providers which provides for the engagement of a Heritage Tourism Officer to promote three cultural projects, namely 'bush gardens', 'Combarngo Humpy Site Restoration' and 'Interpretative Shelter on Balonne Riverscape'. Shared Responsibility Agreements are agreements between governments and Indigenous communities to provide discretionary funding in return for community obligations. The new arrangements developed from an initiative of the Council of Australian Governments and replace the previous ATSIC system of funding. For more information see 'Shared Responsibility Agreement' below. Purpose The SRA aims to address specific community-identified priorities including the promotion, protection and preservation of the Indigenous culture of Surat. The SRA notes that it builds upon the community's past and ongoing strategies, funding and projects including: funding of $15,000 secured by the Surat Aboriginal Corporation from the Queensland Government Gambling Community Benefit Fund to complete the 'Interpretive Shelter' (Gambling Benefit Report 2001-2002, January 2007); 'The House and Humpies - Stories from the Riverbank Project' (DCITA, January 2007); 'The Aboriginal Bush Garden'; 'Planning and design of an Aboriginal mural at the school'; and 'Planning and development of [National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee] NAIDOC activities'. Shared Responsibilities The community's families, elders and individuals will provide information and guidance for the various projects (such as the Combarngo Humpy Project) to increase the awareness and understanding of local culture and history. A community member will be trained and employed as the Heritage Tourism Officer. In addition, the community will protect the sites and reinforce the anti-vandalism message by providing information sessions to students at the Surat State School about the protection, preservation and value of these cultural and community assets. The community will also work with the Warroo Shire Council to further develop projects and increase community knowledge and understanding of Indigenous culture. Community members will also meet on a regular basis to develop strategies ensuring the ongoing promotion, protection and preservation of Indigenous culture in Surat after the completion of the activities provided for by the SRA. The Surat Aboriginal Corporation Cultural Officer will provide supervision and guidance to staff employed as part of the SRA activities. The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts has proposed a contribution of $24,500 towards: 'funding for plants, mulch and an upgrade of the watering system at Bush Gardens'; and 'funding for the printing of promotional material and signage in relation to the Bush Gardens'. The Department of the Environment and Heritage has proposed a contribution of $86,000 towards funding for: 'the employment of a Heritage Tourism Officer for 12 months'; 'the materials for the restoration and fencing of the Combarngo Humpy'; 'the archaeological survey of the Combarngo site'; and 'the printing of promotional material and signage in relation to the Combarngo Humpy'. The funding of the SRA is subject to the partners entering into a legally binding funding agreement Performance Indicators and Feedback Mechanisms In addition to the completion of the activities outlined above, the SRA provides for the Heritage Tourism Officer's monthly assessment of the levels of community involvement, visitors and types of activities undertaken which are directly related to the heritage tourism. Members of the community will meet with the Roma Office Indigenous Coordination Centre (ICC) staff on a monthly basis to discuss the progress of the SRA. In addition, the Heritage Tourism Officer will provide a monthly report to the ICC on the basis of the above performance indicators.