Skip to main content

  • Research the community you’re going into—the Country, the people and appropriate protocols.
  • Follow local Indigenous news websites and social media accounts to help identify stories that are important to the community and to better understand the experiences and views of First Nations residents.
  • If you don’t have a relationship with a community yourself, try to find someone who does have a connection and can help introduce you.
  • Don’t expect communities will just come out and tell you all you need to know. Make time for this, it may take several visits.
  • Approach community leaders and all others with respect. Put time aside to get to know people and let them know you.
  • Communicate honestly and clearly about the content you want, how it will be gathered, and how and where it will be distributed.
  • Explain clearly to participants their proposed role or the proposed role of their material in the content you are making. You should do your best to minimise ambiguity and make sure everyone is clear on the implications of their participation.
  • Permission is often required to access Indigenous lands and communities and to record and capture images of sacred sites, cultural objects and ceremonies.
  • When obtaining permissions to access locations and communities, wherever it is possible and appropriate, ensure Elders and other community leaders have been properly introduced to you and know why you are there.
  • Make sure to remain in touch with communities after your story has been published. This will demonstrate your continuing interest and respect.
  • Permission to enter a community once should not be taken as permission for re-entry or unlimited access to that community. Permissions must be sought in all instances.

  • the name or images of the deceased are not being used, in order to meet local cultural practices; or
  • permission has been granted by the appropriate source to use the name, image, or other depiction of a deceased person.

Share