Through the international exchange of knowledge and experience in heritage conservation and management, the work of AusHeritage has contributed to the development of strong connections between Australia and Taiwan.

Between 14-16 June 2017, a delegation of Australian heritage professionals led by Sharon Veale, Chief Executive of GML Heritage, will be visiting Kinmen Island and presenting series of lectures and workshops at the National Quemoy University. Other members of the mission include Mr Peter Phillips, Mr Bruce Pettman and Mr Ian Cook. Bruce and Ian have been involved in many previous Ausheritage missions to Taiwan and have been instrumental in fostering continuing professional collaboration.

AusHeritage members with students visiting one of the eight ancestral shrine temples in Qionglin Village, September 2012. Photograph by Ian Cook.

This year marks the sixth AusHeritage mission to Kinmen Island. Co-designed with Professor Alex Ya-Ning Yen of the China University of Technology, and building on the learnings from previous missions, the thematic focus for the 2017 mission will bring the Australian experience of the five Cs from the Strategic Action Plan for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention into focus. ‘Credibility’, ‘Conservation’, ‘Capacity building’, ‘Communication’, and an enhanced role for ‘Communities’ will be explored through participatory learning modules and project based experience.

AusHeritage with students at Guningtou (Battlefield) Village, July 2013. Photograph by Peter Romey.

Students preparing for presentations, AusHeritage Kinmen Workshop, July 2013. Photograph by Ian Cook.