The CAMD submission addresses five priorities:

First Nations First. Repatriation must be treated as core national cultural work with dedicated, sustained funding, not project grants. CAMD calls for a whole of government repatriation working group, standalone ICIP legislation with a GLAM implementation framework, and a genuine shift from advisory-only models to First Nations co- governance over cultural heritage decisions.

Strengthening Philanthropic Investment. Museums require increased tax incentives for philanthropic giving, simplified administrative processes for donors, and a shift from short-term project funding to sustained systemic investment. Museums must be repositioned as essential public infrastructure, not solely as cultural venues.

Investing in Australia’s Cultural and STEM Workforce. Museums sustain a broad ecosystem of creative, scientific and technical practitioners. The new policy must enable museums to access Australian Research Council funding directly, formally recognise the sector as critical national research infrastructure and extend STEM and cultural education investment across the full learning spectrum.

Recognising Scientific Culture. Scientific collections, natural science research and STEM engagement are integral to Australia’s cultural identity. The policy should explicitly recognise science as a foundational cultural pillar and consider science as a potential sixth pillar, while funding science centres and major natural history museums as critical cultural infrastructure.

Museums’ Economic, Educational and Social Value. Museums are significant economic contributors, core educational institutions and essential anchors of social cohesion. The policy should formally recognise this, invest in the care and accessibility of longitudinal scientific collections and reflect museums’ unique role in building connection, understanding and national identity across all communities.

CAMD is ready to work with government to ensure museums are fully understood, appropriately resourced and centrally positioned in Australia’s next National Cultural Policy.

(Summary of CAMD’s submission to National Cultural Policy – 22 May 2026)