Directory of Commonwealth Government evaluations, audits and ...
Directory of Commonwealth Government evaluations, audits and ...
Directory of Commonwealth Government evaluations, audits and ...
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Indigenous Heritage Program<br />
Year: 2009<br />
Auditor: Office <strong>of</strong> Evaluation <strong>and</strong> Audit (Indigenous Programs)<br />
<strong>Directory</strong> <strong>of</strong> Indigenous <strong>and</strong> related mainstream evaluation 2002-2010<br />
The Indigenous Heritage Program (IHP) provides around $3.5m annually to support projects that<br />
identify, conserve <strong>and</strong> promote the Indigenous heritage values <strong>of</strong> places important to Aboriginal <strong>and</strong><br />
Torres Strait Isl<strong>and</strong>er people.<br />
The Office <strong>of</strong> Evaluation <strong>and</strong> Audit, Department <strong>of</strong> Finance <strong>and</strong> Deregulation, conducted a performance<br />
audit <strong>of</strong> the IHP in 2009 to assess the efficiency <strong>and</strong> effectiveness <strong>of</strong> the management <strong>of</strong> the program<br />
<strong>and</strong> to determine if the IHP is meeting its objectives.<br />
Findings<br />
The audit concluded that the IHP is supported by well established <strong>and</strong> sound policies <strong>and</strong> procedures, is<br />
achieving its stated objectives <strong>and</strong> is accruing broader social <strong>and</strong> economic benefits for Indigenous<br />
communities through its activities.<br />
A key recommendation from the audit was that the Department extend the current parameters <strong>of</strong> the<br />
IHP to enable organisations to undertake longer-term heritage projects by introducing triennial funding<br />
<strong>and</strong>/or increasing the current funding cap.<br />
In response to the audit, the Department sought Ministerial approval to <strong>of</strong>fer triennial funding for<br />
future funding rounds (commencing 2011-12) to organisations that satisfy certain conditions, including a<br />
proven track record <strong>of</strong> project delivery.<br />
Indigenous Protected Areas Program<br />
Year: 2008-09<br />
Evaluator: Office <strong>of</strong> Evaluation <strong>and</strong> Audit (Indigenous Programs)<br />
Website: http://www.deh.gov.au/indigenous/publications/ipa-evaluation.html<br />
An Indigenous Protected Area is an area <strong>of</strong> l<strong>and</strong> over which the traditional Aboriginal owners have<br />
declared their intent to manage the l<strong>and</strong> for the conservation <strong>of</strong> biodiversity <strong>and</strong> cultural values. The<br />
Indigenous Protected Areas (IPA) program links the cultural priorities <strong>of</strong> Indigenous Australians<br />
together with biodiversity goals <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Government</strong> to ensure protected areas are conserved in<br />
accordance with the l<strong>and</strong> management aspirations <strong>of</strong> Indigenous l<strong>and</strong>owners. The estimated<br />
expenditure for the IPA program in the 2006-07 financial year is $2.9 million.<br />
The goals <strong>of</strong> the IPA program are to:<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
establish partnerships between government <strong>and</strong> Indigenous l<strong>and</strong> managers to support the<br />
development <strong>of</strong> a comprehensive, adequate <strong>and</strong> representative national system <strong>of</strong> protected<br />
areas which is consistent with the international protected areas classification system, by:<br />
assisting Indigenous people to establish <strong>and</strong> manage protected areas on their estates for which<br />
they hold title<br />
assisting Indigenous Groups <strong>and</strong> Australian <strong>Government</strong> agencies at various levels to develop<br />
partnerships <strong>and</strong> agreements for the cooperative management <strong>of</strong> existing protected areas<br />
promote Indigenous involvement in protected area management by supporting the<br />
establishment <strong>of</strong> cooperatively managed protected areas in each jurisdiction, <strong>and</strong> promotion <strong>of</strong><br />
national best practice approaches to cooperative partnerships in protected area management<br />
promote <strong>and</strong> integrate Indigenous ecological <strong>and</strong> cultural knowledge into contemporary<br />
protected area management practices in accordance with internationally endorsed protected<br />
areas guidelines.<br />
Office <strong>of</strong> Indigenous Policy Coordination 40<br />
June 2010