Reflection and Personal, Professional Development
The significance of culture and heritage to Aboriginal people cannot be understated. Traditional tribal lands, ownership and occupation museums, movement and trade routes, burial grounds, and sacred sites are just some examples of the items of cultural significance to Aboriginal people. Due to their cultural attachment, many of these land lease sites outside present-day urban areas have been identified with significant Aboriginal history. Consequently, it is essential to the indigenous people, and therefore it must be protected.
During planning and construction in Australia, engineers, shareholders, and project managers have to consider the Aboriginal culture. If the culture is protected, essential customs and traditions can be preserved for future generations. It is necessary to ensure that Aborigines are not made another casualty of development; that the construction industry does not sacrifice their rights in the name of progress. Therefore, the industry’s task is to incorporate both the economic and cultural needs of the Aboriginal population into engineer’s designs and plans as they move into a new phase of Australian development.
Before starting the project’s construction, attention should be paid to various essential aspects (Achille et al. 2015). In particular, the cultural heritage of Toowoomba is complex and has deep meanings. Therefore, before starting major projects outside Toowoomba, everyone must be involved in planning to demonstrate the cultural importance and pay attention to the project. It will help the construction industry to understand the Aboriginal culture better.
Reflection is the ability of an individual to understand and critically analyze issues to produce new knowledge. It involves the creation of new ideas and information based on old ones in which you will have transformed traditional learning into an independent understanding and analysis of information, producing outcomes that are useful in your practice and field of study.
Reflective practice is an important activity in all professions. It allows professionals to identify their own learning needs and proactively address these while also enabling them to improve the quality of their services. By developing reflective skills, they can identify ‘best practices in their work and consider how they can draw on existing research or evidence to justify any particular decision.
Consequently, reflection is a tool for professional development and promoting reflective practice. Therefore, it is essential for improving skills, creating change, and growing confidence. Also, it aids growth by enabling you to acknowledge your mistakes, learn from them, move on, and celebrate what has gone well. Further, it helps people identify their strengths and weaknesses, encouraging them to become more self-aware, more critical of their actions, and more confident in their decisions.
Initial Understanding of Cultural Heritage
Cultural heritage is more than monuments and collections of artifacts. Oral traditions, performing arts, social activities, rituals, celebratory events, knowledge, practices involving nature and the cosmos, and the capacity to manufacture traditional crafts are examples of living expressions handed down from our forefathers to our grandchildren.
Heritage conservation is an essential task for Australia; they put effort into conserving their cultural heritage. The government commits more resources to save buildings, places, and national and state significance objects. Further, the cultural heritage is preserved by ensuring that as much of it as possible is digitally recorded by creating a digital archive.
Culture is formed through a process where people have to make sense of their world. The sense-making emerges from the relationships between humans, animals, and the natural environment. And while Aboriginal people maintained a strong spiritual and emotional tie to the country, Australians are now also developing a new way of feeling connected. Their “relaxed and comfortable” attitude is reflected in the environment and their efforts to re-engage with nature, such as bushwalking or gardening.
The culture of a community is an essential part of the construction process. It is imperative to be aware of the historical context and present culture of the people who may be affected by the construction. By considering and respecting these cultural factors, a construction company can avoid building on sacred grounds, upsetting local traditions, or starting a war.
Local people are often aware of the significance of particular places in their community, so listening to them intently during each step of the planning process is crucial. Consequently, if there are any culturally significant sites to the people around the construction site, an engineer can try to steer clear of those areas when mapping out their project. Further, cultural sensitivity is crucial in the construction industry; therefore, consulting with a professional cultural heritage researcher before beginning any project is recommended. It would ensure that no culturally significant sites are damaged during the construction process.
Workers responsible for cultural heritage operations during construction must continuously find a balance between project efficiency and the cultural preservation needs of indigenous peoples. Because budgets and timetables drive efficiency concerns, project managers will be conversant with the strategies necessary to meet these goals. Cultural allusions emerge from communication procedures such as the Queensland Government’s Protocols for Consultation and Negotiation with Aboriginal People. Cultural aspects of building projects are included in compliance with existing laws. Percival and Crowley use the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services to illustrate their method of engaging with and studying Aboriginal cultural heritage (TSI-SP & S.N 2018)
Initial Reflections
The clause specifies that all project phases should be open to First Peoples’ participation; the program’s first step is to identify and consult indigenous peoples (Wilson & Pearce 2017). To undertake on-site cultural heritage surveys, the project team will need to engage with cultural heritage professionals. Specialists will provide suggestions based on the requirements of persons who discovered cultural heritage items during these surveys. Consultants must review archaeologists’ suggestions. It is customary to seek the assistance of outside specialists when unexpected complications develop throughout a construction project.
Cultural heritage is the whole of any culture’s visible and tangible expressions of its past, including places, artifacts, buildings, and landscapes. It encompasses all aspects of a culture passed on from generation to generation. Knowledge about these aspects is often kept alive by people with associated skills and practices. These skills may be in manufacturing or use, preservation, conservation, restoration, interpretation, or knowledge transmission. Cultural heritage can also consist of intangible things like rituals, traditions, beliefs, songs, and stories.
Cultural heritage is essential in most countries; it is on the frontline when starting a significant project (Guzzoni et al., 2022). In addition, it has been used to educate the people and help them know their roots. The culture of the people is shown through the art they do and their daily activities. Consequently, the most crucial fact about cultural heritage is that it helps empower the youth and educate them on critical decisions they make in life. The children are the future leaders, and if you want to create a good nation, you have to ensure that you raise them well.
The government should always ensure that it does everything possible to preserve the cultural heritage of its people. Some of the strategies that can be used include:
- Creating centers where all cultural activities are done to help all generations learn from each other.
- Showing how important it is for one generation to pass down some knowledge to another so that it can be preserved for a long time
Australian cultural heritage laws are fundamental to preserving Australia’s natural and artificial wonders. Cultural heritage in Australia is defined as anything linked to a person or group with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander ancestry (Walter, 2016). It includes the tangible sites of the land, such as rock art, buildings, archaeological sites, relics, and the intangible cultural heritage of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (O’Rourke, 2018). Therefore, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have deep cultural links to their land that date back tens of thousands of years. Consequently, there are various laws concerning cultural heritage about construction. The rules are fundamental in helping preserve these sites for future generations, who will be able to continue to learn from them.
First Peoples’ Cultural Heritage and Construction Projects
Cultural heritage is essential to the identity of a country, and protocols such as the Queensland Protocols of Aboriginal Peoples’ Cultural Heritage should be followed before commencing any construction work. Further, the Queensland Protocols of Aboriginal Peoples’ Cultural Heritage were developed to guide best practices complying with the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 (Ross 2010). The Protocols are aimed at anyone involved in cultural heritage management practices and focus on identifying and respecting culturally essential sites.
The first step outlined in the Protocols is to identify traditional indigenous owners and seek their input on the project. Indigenous conventional owners are those with an active interest in cultural heritage management, including descendants from a local indigenous community or those recognized through native title rights. Once identified, these individuals should be appropriately consulted throughout the planning process for and implementation of a construction project and after it is completed.
The New South Wales Roads and Maritime Services procedure for Aboriginal cultural heritage consultation and investigation is one document used during Australia’s construction. This procedure is mainly oriented toward protecting archaeological sites and objects and remains significant to the Aboriginal people (Slotte 2012). It also helps positively identify the archaeological sites and objects. This document helps Aboriginal people to maintain their culture by keeping their history alive. The procedure also ensures that all staff who work on projects involving potential Aboriginal sites know their responsibilities regarding Aboriginal places, objects, and remains.
The culture and heritage of the Aboriginal people of Australia are unique and special. Australia has a rich history that the Aboriginals have helped to create, and they must continue providing education to the people about their culture (Hickey et al. 2019). Therefore, after school, an individual becomes a professional. They can support the culture of Australia by using the resources and skills that they acquired during their high school education. The Aboriginals want to see a bright future for the country and will continue helping others understand that history.
As a profession, it is essential to support the culture of Australia. Consequently, when students complete their studies as professional architects, they should continue providing education to people about construction and culture to help them appreciate the benefits of supporting their country’s culture and heritage.
The teaching of construction and heritage provides a vital role in educating people on the importance of preserving Australian culture. Education in this field assists students in developing critical thinking skills that will enable them to evaluate problems and come up with new solutions. It also helps the development of people’s understanding of their own culture, allowing them to be better informed when making decisions regarding their cultural practices.
Personal, Professional Reflections: Growth and Understanding
Conclusion
During planning and construction in Australia, engineers, shareholders, and project managers have to consider the Aboriginal culture of Toowoomba (Achille et al. 2015). The importance of culture and heritage to Aboriginal people cannot be understated. Aborigines are not made another casualty of development; the construction industry does not sacrifice their rights in the name of progress. Therefore, the industry’s task is to incorporate both the economic and cultural needs of the Aboriginal population into engineer’s designs and plans. During planning and construction in Australia, engineers, shareholders, and project managers have to consider the Aboriginal culture.
Traditional tribal lands, ownership and occupation museums, movement and trade routes, burial grounds, and sacred sites are just some examples of the items of cultural significance to Aboriginal people. Cultural heritage is preserved by ensuring that as much of it as possible is digitally recorded by creating a digital archive. Construction companies should be aware of the people’s historical context and present culture affected by the construction. Aboriginal people maintained a strong spiritual and emotional tie to the country. Consequently, Australians are also developing a new way of feeling connected. The Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs has produced Protocols for the Queensland Government’s Consultation and Negotiation with Indigenous People.
According to the plan, First Nations are invited to participate actively in the project at all levels. Buildings are designed and constructed with cultural factors in mind. Project managers are well-versed in the methods necessary to adhere to strict timelines and financial constraints. Consequently, the Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have deep cultural links to their land (O’Rourke, 2018). Australian cultural heritage laws are fundamental to preserving Australia’s natural and artificial wonders. The rules are essential in helping protect these sites for future generations, who will be able to continue to learn from them. Queensland Protocols of Aboriginal Peoples’ Cultural Heritage should be followed before construction work. After school, an individual becomes a professional and can support the culture of Australia by providing education about construction and cultural heritage.
References List
Achille, C., Lombardini, N., & Tommasi, C., 2015. BIM and cultural heritage: Compatibility tests in an archaeological site. WIT Transactions on The Built Environment. Available from: <https://doi.org/10.2495/bim150481>[7 April 2022 ]
Cruz, A., Coffey, V., Chan, T. H., & Perovic, M., 2021. Engineering in heritage conservation. Journal of Cultural Heritage Management and Sustainable Development. Available from: <https://doi.org/10.1108/jchmsd-09-2020-0129>[7 April 2022 ]
Guzzoni, L., 2022. Construction management of cultural heritage. Conservation of cultural heritage during its construction site stage. Building information modeling supporting on-site information collection and management for cost control.
Hickey, A., Pauli-Myler, T., and Schroder, R., 2019. Engaged and active: engaging young people across the Toowoomba Region. Toowoomba Regional Council Youth Study.
O’Rourke, T., 2018. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Domestic Architecture in Australia. In The handbook of contemporary Indigenous architecture (pp. 25-56). Springer, Singapore.
Ross, A., 2010. Defining cultural heritage at Gummingurru, Queensland, Australia. Bridging the divide: Indigenous communities and archaeology into the 21st century, pp.107-128.
Slotte, I.,2012. Culture Crisis: Anthropology and Politics in Aboriginal Australia. Ethnos, 77(1), 138-140.Available from:< https://doi.org/10.1080/00141844.2011.586467> [7 April 2022 ]
TSI-SP, S.N., 2018. ROADS AND MARITIME SERVICES. Innovation, 5, pp.1-0.
Walter, M., 2016. Social exclusion/Inclusion for urban Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Social Inclusion, 4(1), 68-76. Available from: <https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v4i1.443>[7 April 2022 ]
Wilson, R. and Pearce, T., 2017. Management challenges for aboriginal cultural heritage in Peri-urban Queensland. Australian Geographer, 48(2), pp.203-217.
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