Accreditation Programs
At the end of 2024, there were 84 participants in our gold-standard Accreditation Programs: Museum Accreditation Program (MAP) and Community Museum Accreditation Program (CMAP). Through a holistic, peer-supported model of excellence developed according to the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries, the Programs enable strong mentoring between participants and sector experts. This facilitates the sharing of best practice, up-skilling of staff and volunteers, and raising the profile of participating organisations.
AMaGA Victoria's Accreditation programs bring about positive change by supporting Victorian organisations to ethically preserve and manage collections and enrich community experiences.
The Community Museum Accreditation Program (CMAP) contributes to capable and sustainable volunteer managed organisations, embedded in community by strengthening practice using the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries for guidance, and providing access to industry knowledge.
The Museum Accreditation Program (MAP) contributes to a future focussed, skilled, and sustainable sector by guiding ongoing development through the application of the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries and by connecting peers with industry knowledge.
2024 HIGHLIGHTS
Over 40 hours advising 37 individuals across 12 site visits (see map on main page)
Over 135 pages of mentoring reports incorporating panel advice
A record number of 22 peer reviewers contributed (since launching the new Reaccreditation model)
Increased lived experience representation and enhanced cultural diversity across peer review panels, enriching the review process and increasing program learnings
Significant progress in reviewing MAP and CMAP, including the development of additional portal modules, and efforts toward a new web platform
Delivering 4 online sessions to 32 attendees
2024 REACCREDITATION
2024 saw the Accreditation Programs Managers (APMs) continue the third year of MAP and CMAP’s new approach to Reaccreditation, which is informed by a focus on participants’ future directions and goals. It involves the APMs and Peer Review Panellists working with each organisation to provide strategic guidance and to affirm commitment to continuous improvement.
The APMs worked with twelve organisations including galleries, museums, heritage sites, and historical societies, across metropolitan Melbourne and regional Victoria. The programs also recognised the Reaccreditation of ten organisations at the Victorian Museums and Galleries Awards (see acknowledgements). During the Reaccreditations APMs, Peer Reviewers, staff, and volunteers at participant organisations had in-depth, focussed discussions together with targeted advice in response to diverse aspects of museum and gallery practice.
Image: The Honourable Colin Brooks, Minister for Creative Industries, with reaccreditation recipient from the Australian National Surfing Museum.
A notable highlight was the Reaccreditation of the Shrine of Remembrance, Victoria's national memorial honouring the service and sacrifice of Australians in war and peacekeeping. The Accreditation Programs Managers and Peer Review Panellists met with key personnel, including representatives from the Accessibility Action Group, to contribute to the strategic direction of the next Disability Action Plan. They also discussed challenges and successes related to the exhibition galleries and collections. Special thanks go to the Shrine of Remembrance staff who engaged in insightful discussions and facilitated behind-the-scenes tours of the museums’ spaces.
The new Reaccreditation model continues to be positively received by participants from both MAP and CMAP, with annual listening sessions taking place to continue to improve processes. The APMs are looking forward to working with participants due in 2025 for Reaccreditation, and those into the future.
ENHANCING LIVED EXPERIENCE
In 2024, the Accreditation Programs strengthened and formalised processes for including lived experience panellists in Reaccreditation site visits. While panellists with both professional and lived experience have long contributed to the Reaccreditation process, MAP introduced enhanced support measures to better recognise and assist these peer reviewers, who are invited for both their lived experience and their professional expertise relevant to an organisation’s future focus. These measures included improved induction processes, compensation aligned with the Cultural Advisor rate from the NAVA guidelines, and financial assistance for counselling if needed.
As part of this initiative, two organisations, the Jewish Museum of Australia and the Shrine of Remembrance, demonstrated a strong commitment to this model, including financial compensation. In return, they received invaluable, tailored advice on improving disability access – equipping them with insights and confidence to continue this essential work. CMAP and MAP will continue exploring ways to promote and support diversity within our sector.
CMAP/MAP REVIEW
In 2024, AMaGA Victoria reaffirmed its commitment to reviewing and expanding the Accreditation Programs for organisations seeking Accreditation. Accreditation staff collaborated with web consultants Mecca Medialight to commence transitioning the bespoke accreditation portal to a new platform featuring simplified code, enhanced user functionality, and improved accessibility.
Erina McCann (Tiaki Objects Conservation) joined the team a in the role of Content Developer, building on her previous work on Disaster Preparedness modules. She contributed to the development of the CMAP Succession Planning and CMAP Collection Care Guidelines modules, while also providing invaluable guidance on framing preventive conservation practice for volunteer-managed groups.
Additionally, Accreditation staff developed new CMAP modules, including Digitisation and Disaster Preparedness, and Amelia Marra lent her expertise to the CMAP Interpretation Policy module. This work will continue into 2025, with plans to engage a First Peoples consultant, expand module offerings and tutorials, and finalise the launch of the Key Document Scheme—the prerequisite for MAP and CMAP Accreditation—for early 2026.
ADVISORY COMMITTEE & PEER REVIEW PANELLISTS
The Accreditation Programs Advisory Committee meets quarterly to discuss the program and contribute advice and support to the Accreditation Programs Managers. This year, the Committee bid farewell to long-term member Samantha Hamilton – the APMs extend their gratitude for her dedication and the invaluable and extensive expertise she contributed to the programs, participants, and staff.
Peer Review Panellists and Committee members play a crucial role at site visits by contributing to discussions, providing mentoring, and giving expert advice. In turn, they benefit from professional development opportunities as peer reviewers.
Image: Reaccreditation site visit National Wool Museum with (L-R) Caroline Wall, Luci Wilson, Jo-Anne Cooper, Kim Biggs, Josephine Rout, Andrea Cross and Toyah Horman. Photo: National Wool Museum.
We would like to thank all Peer Review Panellists and Advisory Committee members for their time and contribution throughout 2024, in particular Liz Marsden for her service as Chair, and Simone Ewenson for her role as Vice Chair. A full list of Panellists and Advisory Committee members can be found in the Acknowledgements section and the Governance and Support section, respectively.
TOYAH HORMAN & CAROLINE WALL
Managers, Accreditation Programs