Museum Development Officer Network

This paper was delivered by Dr Dan Robinson, Director, Cultural Heritage, Queensland Museum at the MAQ State Conference, 15-16 September 2001, Cairns

Successes

Having someone resident in the region, able to follow up on training sessions or workshops they have organised or run, has resulted in significant improvements in the way the museums in the region are working. As always, there are some groups that are able to benefit more than others, but the overall client response has been very positive.

An example of the sort of results being achieved is reflected in recent grant allocations to community collecting groups, where well thought out regional projects, fostered by MDOs, have been very successful. Across the regions served, in the last financial year, grants of at least $850,000 have been secured for museum related projects.

In their three monthly reports, each of the MDOs is able to report on a wide range of different positive outcomes being achieved by their clients. My earlier knowledge of the slow progress being made before the advent of the MDOs further emphasises the success of the program.

Queensland's achievements through this program have been mentioned positively, and with some envy, by other States at, for instance, Council of Australian Museum Director Conferences.