A new professional development program is supporting cultural respect and reconciliation in Australian libraries.
The Respect and Recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples, Cultures and Country in Australian Libraries course is an initiative of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), in partnership with the University of Technology Sydney's (UTS) Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research.
Designed to help library workers build their understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and connections to Country, the foundational course is designed to embed cultural respect and recognition into everyday practice.
The course was developed by the Jumbunna Institute's Indigenous Archives and Data Stewardship Hub, led by Associate Professor Kirsten Thorpe, and informed by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics, library staff, and ALIA's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Group.
Associate Professor Thorpe said it was a privilege to work collaboratively to develop the course.
"We especially want to thank the contributors for sharing their journeys and expertise—and the ALIA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Expert Group for helping shape the course from start to finish," the Worimi woman said.
"Their vital expertise, lived experience, and professional knowledge grounded the course in community priorities and aspirations.
"We really believe that libraries have a leadership role to play in supporting truth-telling and reconciliation in Australian society."
Although designed for the Australian library and information workforce, the course also offers value to international colleagues seeking to strengthen cultural capability and respectful practice.
Associate Professor Thorpe highlighted the role libraries can play in emerging fields such as Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous librarianship.
"As information workers, the sector is strongly placed to assist the emerging Indigenous Data Sovereignty field, and more broadly, to support the field of Indigenous librarianship," she said.
The program comes at a critical time with the 2024 Australian Reconciliation Barometer revealing a 40 per cent rise over the past decade in reported incidents of racial discrimination experienced by Indigenous peoples.
This course offers a timely and practical pathway to address racism, strengthen cultural capability, and foster respectful engagement.
Designers say the course offers a timely and practical pathway to address racism, strengthen cultural capability, and foster respectful engagement.
"This project demonstrates the importance of partnering with industry to connect research with professional development," Jumbunna Research director Professor Lindon Coombes said.
"By centring Indigenous leadership and community knowledge, libraries are better equipped to grow in ways that are both culturally grounded and impactful. This is how we ensure change is informed, relevant, and lasting".
The self-paced online course combines text, videos, guided reflections, and short quizzes.
Participants explore cultural protocols, Acknowledgment of Country, and the significance of Indigenous knowledges and histories in the library and information environment, with practical steps for further learning are woven throughout, supporting culturally safe practice, inclusive collections, and respectful community partnerships.
ALIA, the national professional body for the library and information sector, says it is "deeply committed to truth-telling, reconciliation, and the recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledges".
"We hope this course inspires all libraries to give voice to local Elders, acknowledge their knowledge and connection to land, and celebrate First Nations cultures across the nation," ALIA president Jane Cowell said.
"It's about embedding recognition into everyday practice, not as a one-off action, but as part of our ongoing professional responsibility."
The course can be accessed via the ALIA website.
