Integrating Responsible Practice in your open book
To ensure Responsible Practice is embedded in the structure of our books, the following sections are required in all RMIT Open Press books.
Acknowledgment of Country
The purpose of an Acknowledgment of Country is to authentically recognise the significance of, and pay respect to, the country, elders, people and history of a place on which people live and activities are conducted. The intention is to pause and make proper impact, and to mainstream Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture in RMIT’s institutional activities. Importantly, the acknowledgment does not focus on the person giving acknowledgment. The RMIT Acknowledgment of Country is embedded in the front matter of all RMIT Open Press books. Additional Acknowledgments of Country might be included to recognise the country, Elders, people and history of other places involved in the creation of a book.
Right of reply
The statement below must be included in the front matter of all RMIT Open Books:
RMIT University Library asserts the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to challenge and respond to the content in RMIT Open Press books.
What is the Right of Reply?
The Right of Reply is for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples to directly address material related to, or depicting, themselves or their culture. The Right of Reply enables Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples to provide alternative versions of knowledge held in collections and archives of RMIT University, including RMIT Open Press books. It is related to truth-telling, sovereignty and self-determination in recognition of the legal and moral rights of Indigenous Australian people to enhance, correct, update, critique or even withdraw knowledge and resources (Indigenous Archives Collective, 2021).
How to exercise your Right of Reply
You are invited to exercise your Right of Reply by emailing: open.library@rmit.edu.au. We will respond as soon as possible.
Removal of permission
“Removal of permission” refers to the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander individuals or Community to withdraw their consent for the use of their cultural Knowledge, stories, images, or other contributions — even after it has initially been granted. If permission is withdrawn, the Open Education library team will remove or amend the relevant material — such as a story, image, or reference — in the online version of the book.
Cultural warning notice
This statement must be included in the front matter of all RMIT Open Books:
Please be aware that this resource might contain content that is culturally sensitive, including images, voices, names or information about people who are deceased.
