News Archive

A new Master in Professional Archaeology course at UWA, launched with support from BHP Billiton Iron Ore, aims to build the knowledge base within the heritage profession through advanced archaeological training.

UWA’s new Master in Professional Archaeology course, which accepts its first intake of postgraduate students next year, is designed to meet the increasing demand for archaeologists equipped to manage ongoing heritage and land access issues relating to the resources boom.

BHP Billiton Iron Ore has committed $400,000 to fund the development and delivery of this much needed postgraduate course.

UWA is consulting widely with the company and industry, and with Aboriginal groups, government departments (including the Department of Indigenous Affairs), museums and heritage agencies, archaeological consultants and professional archaeological bodies in designing the course.

This extensive consultation has underlined the significant shortage of archaeological graduates with a working knowledge of relevant heritage issues in contemporary Australia.

“The current situation potentially exposes the industry to non-compliance risks that could occur when underqualified personnel and contractors might provide advice that ultimately may not be in the best interests of the company or the cultural heritage resource,” says Course Co-ordinator Professor Alistair Paterson of the School of Social Sciences.

“By offering the very highest level of professional training at UWA, there will also be a reduced need for companies to source expertise from the Eastern States.

“Graduates will also have a better understanding of government legislation and approval processes and will be familiar with the reporting required outlined by industry, government and Indigenous groups.”

A key attribute of the course is that students will be able to hone their professional development, with teaching and research expertise matched to external partnerships, allowing a focus on rock art (through the Centre for Rock Art Research and Management), historical archaeology, Indigenous archaeology, and maritime archaeology (assisted by the WA Museum).

The course will involve both coursework and a thesis and will take two years of full time study. For more information contact Professor Alistair Paterson or visit the Archaeology website .

Published in Uniview Vol. 31 No. 3 Spring 2012