Acceptance and Deaccessioning of Human Remains and
Burial Artefacts Procedure (MPF1290)
GOVERNING POLICY
This procedure is made under the Human Remains and Burial Artefacts Policy.
SCOPE
This procedure applies to all teaching, research and collection areas within the University which
hold human remains or manage burial artefacts. These include, but are not limited to: faculties,
libraries, archives and regional campuses.
This procedure does not apply to:
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

human remains or human tissue that are covered by government policies or existing
laws, such as the Human Tissue Act 1982 (Vic) (e.g. bodies that come to the University
via the University’s bodydonor program)
Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander human remains and burial artefacts, which are the
subject of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Policy
subsidiary companies and affiliated organisations of the University.
PROCEDURE
1. Appointment of donations officers
1.1. Each unit responsible for holding human remains or managing burial artefacts (responsible
unit)
will appoint a donations officer who will have sole responsibility for:
into that responsible unit
responsible unit.
1.1. Each unit responsible for holding human remains or managing burial artefacts (responsible
unit) will appoint a donations officer who will have sole responsibility for:


the decision to accept any donations of human remains and/or burial artefacts coming
into that responsible unit
facilitating deaccessioning of human remains and/or burial artefacts from that responsible
unit.
2. Acceptance of human remains and/or burial artefacts
2.1. When accepting a donation of human remains and/or burial artefacts, the donations officer
must ensure that:
a. a Deed of Donation/Gift of Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Human Remains and/or
Burial Artefacts (refer to Schedule A to this procedure) is completed
b. detailed information relating to the donation, including its provenance, is recorded in Schedule
1 to the deed.
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2.2. The donations officer must seek advice from an anthropologist when completing Schedule
1 to the deed under section 2.1.b, unless the human remains and/or burial artefacts have been
commercially sourced and have satisfactory documentation and authorisation.
2.3. Where human remains and/or burial artefacts are being considered for acquisition into one
of the University’s cultural collections, the donations officer will ensure that the acquisition policy
and procedure of that collection are also followed.
3. Deaccessioning of human remains
3.1. When a collection of human remains and/or burial artefacts has been identified for
deaccessioning, the donations officer must complete a physical examination of the collection and
prepare a Human Remains or Burial Artefacts Recommended for Deaccessioning/Interment
(refer to Schedule B of this procedure), ensuring that:
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the University’s title to the collection is verified to the extent that it is reasonably possible
there are no restrictions or prohibitions relating to deaccessioning in the original bequest,
gift or donation.
3.2. The Human Remains or Burial Artefacts Recommended for Deaccessioning/Interment
must be authorised by a dean, head of department, chief librarian or other relevant senior
member of staff with responsibility for the collection to be deaccessioned.
3.3. When a request is made for repatriation by a descendant or family, by an indigenous or
non-indigenous community outside Australia, or by a foreign government (claimant), the
donations officer will assist in making the human remains available for repatriation, subject to the
claimant providing evidence of entitlement to those human remains.
3.4. When the University makes a decision that human remains consisting of skeletons, or part
thereof, will no longer be used, the donations officer will:ensure that the remains are identified
and stored respectfully for a maximum of twelve monthsarrange a cremation or burial ceremony
on behalf of the University so that the human remains are interred in a respectful manner.
3.5. Following the deaccessioning of human remains, the donations officer will implement post
deaccessioning activities and/or external relations activities where required.
4. Records
4.1. The Vice-Principal Engagement is responsible for the development of a database and
cataloguing system for all human remains and burial artefacts at the University to assist
international indigenous communities or international governments which may be attempting to
locate human remains or burial artefacts that they wish to legitimately claim:
4.1. The Vice-Principal Engagement is responsible for the development of a database and
cataloguing system for all human remains and burial artefacts at the University to assist
international indigenous communities or international governments which may be attempting to
locate human remains or burial artefacts that they wish to legitimately claim.
SCHEDULES
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Schedule A - Deed of Donation/Gift of Non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Human
Remainsand/or Burial Artefacts
Schedule B - Human Remains or Burial Artefacts Recommended for
Deaccessioning/Interment
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RELATED DOCUMENTS
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Heritage Policy
Human Remains and Burial Artefacts Policy
DEFINITIONS
Term
Definition
burial
artefacts or
artefacts
Objects from a burial site or which have been associated with human remains
or which are regarded as sacred by the communities from which they originated
Objects from a burial site or which have been associated with human remains
or which are regarded as sacred by the communities from which they
originated.
human
remains
The whole or any part of bodily remains, including any part of a skeleton, teeth,
human tissue and hair, whether alone or entwined with artefacts.
responsible
unit
An area within the University that holds human remains or manages burial
artefacts; including, but not limited to, faculties, libraries, archives and regional
campuses.
IMPLEMENTATION OFFICER
The Vice-Principal Engagement is responsible for the promulgation and implementation of this
procedure in accordance with the scope outlined above. Enquiries about interpretation of this
procedure should be directed to the implementation officer.
REVIEW
This procedure is to be reviewed by 28 February 2017.
VERSION HISTORY
Version Approved By Approval Date Effective Date Sections Modified
1
Council
25 Aug 2014
25 Aug 2014
N/A
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