Protocols for consultation and negotiation with Aboriginal people

This is a guide to help you when you are consulting with Queensland Aboriginal individuals, groups and/or communities. The information is useful for consultations held in urban, rural and remote settings.

• Protocols for Consultation and Negotiation with Aboriginal People - full document (PDF 341 kB)

You can also download sections of the document:

• Acknowledgments (PDF 5 kB)
• Foreword (PDF 9 kB)
• Introduction (PDF 9 kB)
• Aboriginal history (PDF 37 kB)
• Significant issues (PDF 60 kB)
• Aboriginality (PDF 51 kB)
• Protocols re consultation and negotiation
  • Community visits (PDF 28 kB)
  • Formal meetings (PDF 35 kB)
• Providing feedback (PDF 11 kB)
• Evaluation (PDF 10 kB)
• Further information (PDF 6 kB)
• Cultural communication cues (PDF 11 kB)
• Bibliography (PDF 12 kB)

Please note: this guide was written in 1999. Some sections need updating, including those relating to significant issues that need updating to include recent events, such as the 2008 Australian Government's Apology. These sections are currently being updated.

Guidelines not rules

The information is not meant to tell you what you should do in a situation. You may find that you deal with one community in one way and with another community in a different way. There is no one way to do things and there are some problems that have more than one answer. Some problems have no obvious answer.

However, the guidelines will help you make some decisions about the best way to approach a negotiation or consultation.

Last reviewed: 20 November 2009

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