Responsible practice

The RMIT University Library is creating physical and virtual environments where Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices, ideas and concerns can be safely expressed, heard and amplified. Toward this end, we’re endeavouring to do better; to improve the inclusivity of Library collections, spaces and services.

The document captures RMIT University Library’s commitment to conducting our day-to-day business in a way that supports our own reconciliation journey and makes a positive impact on the representation and inclusiveness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in all that we do.

It will foster a supportive and inclusive environment, and contribute to the ethical and equitable representation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge within our collections, services and spaces. 

Adapted from “Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Protocols“ by University of Sydney Library, RMIT Library's Responsible Practice Principles document is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. 

Responsible Practice Principles for RMIT University Library title page.
Responsible practice is the next step in our reconciliation journey where we consider what we can do in our day-to-day jobs that uplifts Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, establishes strong relationships with the community and gives us practical approaches to reconciliation in our daily work.

David Howard, Executive Director, Library Services

Our guiding principles

  1. No decisions are made about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people without Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
  2. We will celebrate and recognise Indigenous knowledge and ways of keeping and sharing this knowledge alongside the traditional western idea of an Academic Library.
  3. We will actively build Indigenous voice into our collections to counter racism and misrepresentation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by non-Indigenous peoples.
  4. We are committed to our spaces being culturally inclusive, welcoming and respectful to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
  5. We will embed concepts of Indigenous intellectual property and Indigenous knowledge into all aspects of the resources and services we develop.
  6. We will build real and lasting relationship with Indigenous staff and students at RMIT.  

Responsible Practice outcomes

Feedback on our Responsible practice.

RMIT University Library is committed to responsible practice; to improve our collections, spaces and services by making them more inclusive and representative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and knowledges. Feedback on our Responsible Practice work will help with this agenda.







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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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