Collaborations for heritage education and management: two examples from Australia

Effective protected area governance and management has become a complex and demandining responsibility that requires diverse knowledge and skills. A collaboration of protected area experts from universities, governments, conservation and community-based organisations is developing education products to meet this need across Australia, Asia and the western Pacific. Courses will be designed to address International competency and accreditation standards. Developmental learning pathways will span educational needs from unskilled workers to senior leaders In any protection area category and under any mode of governance. The collaboration Is adopting a blended delivery approach with on-line, on-campus, field-based and experiential components, Students will have opportunities to study at multiple universities, thereby gaining experience and understanding in a variety of cultural and environmental contexts. Some courses will be jointly developed by universities and local cultural authorities, providing a strong platform for training that transcends the spurious nature-culture divide, I will also discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with governance and management of the Tasmanian Wilderness World Heritage Area (TWWHA). The TWWHA is one of only 31 World Heritage properties listed for both natural and cultural values. Since its inception, management has primarily focused on protecting natural values and fostering recreation opportunities. This is now changing, with a new approach that is recognising fundamental links between the natural and cultural values of the TWWHA. Joint management arrangements between Tasmanian Aboriginals and government agencies are being developed to consolidate this new direction.