The Museum Development Officer (MDO) Program, delivered by Queensland Museum, is a vital lifeline for regional museums and historical societies across regional, rural and remote Queensland. Since the 1990s, MDOs have provided expert support in collection management, exhibition development, cultural planning, conservation, and community engagement – ensuring that our local stories, heritage, and cultural treasures are preserved and shared for generations to come. 

The proposed discontinuation of the MDO Program threatens the sustainability of Queensland’s regional museums and the preservation of our shared history, leaving hundreds of regional volunteer-run community organisations without essential support, putting at risk Queensland’s collections, heritage and stories.

This program empowers volunteers, strengthens regional networks, and builds capacity in communities that often lack access to professional museum services. From the Torres Strait, Cape York, Winton, to the Darling Downs, MDOs have helped safeguard thousands of artefacts, revitalise exhibitions, and support First Nations cultural custodianship.

The MDO Program is directly aligned with the intent and guiding principles of the Queensland Museum Act 1970, particularly in relation to regional service delivery and community engagement.

1. Fulfilling the Object of the Act (Section 1A):
The Act’s primary object is:
“To contribute to the cultural, social and intellectual development of all Queenslanders.”

2. Guiding Principles (Section 1B):
One of the key principles is:
“Responsiveness to the needs of communities in regional and outer metropolitan areas.”

As the peak body for Queensland’s public museum and gallery sector, Museums & Galleries Queensland (M&G QLD) frequently works with the MDO Program to deliver vital training, mentoring, and sector development initiatives. This important collaboration ensures that regional museums meet professional standards, access funding opportunities, and build capacity through our tailored support.

M&G QLD’s Executive Director, Rebekah Butler, said, “M&G QLD and the MDOs play a critical role in coordinating sector responses during natural disasters – supporting museums affected by floods, cyclones, bushfires and other crises with recovery, planning, conservation advice, and emergency documentation. Our combined expertise, resources and industry networks help safeguard irreplaceable cultural heritage in times of disaster.”

She continued, “The work of both our organisations aligns strongly with the Queensland Government’s Queensland’s Time to Shine: A 10-Year Strategy for Arts and Culture 2025-2035, particularly in our commitment to state-wide access, regional equity and cultural resilience. Our work is symbiotic and relies on both organisations being resourced appropriately to effectively support our sector.”

We call on the Queensland Government and Queensland Museum to continue funding and supporting the MDO Program. Investing in regional heritage is investing in community identity, education, tourism, and cultural resilience. This is crucial in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic Games and associated cultural programs.

Please sign this petition to show your support for the continuation of the Museum Development Officer Program and help protect Queensland’s cultural heritage.

We also encourage you to share this petition with colleagues and to write directly to the Minister for Education and the Arts, the Hon John-Paul Langbroek MP, your local State Members of Parliament, and the Chair of the Queensland Museum Board, Professor Margaret Sheil AO, to express your concerns.

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History: [1]

The MDO program grew out of two important reviews. The first was the 1990 Review of the Arts in Queensland, which recognised that the contribution of community museums to the ‘cultural milieu in Queensland had been previously overlooked’. ‘The subsequent report described these museums as ‘one of the most dynamic and little recognised resources in the cultural area’ of the state.’

The second was an assessment of the community museum sector conducted by Arts Queensland two years later, recommending the formation of the Museum Resource Centre Network. ‘This unique partnership, forged between the Queensland Museum, Arts Queensland and local authorities, employs museum development officers (MDOs) to live and work in the regions and provide professional services to hundreds of heritage collecting organisations in regional Queensland.’

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[1] Drawing people together: the local and regional museum movement in Australia, by Kimberley Webber, Liz Gillroy, Joanne Hyland, Amanda James, Laura Miles, Deborah Tranter and Kate Walsh
 

Image: MDOs working with volunteers from the Winton and District Historical Society to recover objects from the fire-damaged Waltzing Matilda Centre in Winton, 2015. Taken from the MDO Blog.