Due Diligence Assessment
Identify and Manage Risks Anywhere Throughout Australia
Cultural heritage due diligence assessments are a critical foundation for informed, responsible, and efficient project decision‑making.
Due diligence assessments provide proponents with a clear understanding of cultural heritage considerations early in project planning, improving the quality and certainty of information available about heritage values, constraints, opportunities, costs, and opportunities before key decisions are made.
Our cultural heritage due diligence assessments systematically identify and assess potential risks associated with a defined activity or development footprint. This includes evaluating the likelihood of impacts on Aboriginal and historical cultural heritage places and understanding the cultural, social, and legal significance of those places to Traditional Owners and other stakeholders.
By clearly articulating heritage risks and sensitivities, ACHM works with projects leaders to ensure harm minimisation wherever possible, through informed design, staging, and pro-active management strategies.
Early and robust due diligence reduces project uncertainty, approval delays, and reputational risk. It demonstrates a proactive and responsible approach to heritage management, supports meaningful engagement with Traditional Owners, and helps ensure compliance with relevant cultural heritage legislation.
Ultimately, ACHM’s due diligence assessments provide clients with confidence, clarity, and a defensible basis for approvals and project delivery, while supporting respectful engagement with Traditional Owners and stakeholders.
Why Choose ACHM
Experienced Team
Our anthropologists and archaeologists bring decades of skill and expertise to every project.
Nationwide Reach
From urban developments to remote communities, we operate across Australia.
Reputation of Excellence
Trusted by clients for our professionalism, accuracy, and commitment to cultural preservation.
Let’s Get Your Project Started
How we do it
The types of risks encountered in cultural heritage include:
- accidental archaeological or ethnographic site destruction;
- prosecution;
- damage to stakeholder relationships;
- time delays, and
- major cost overruns.
Benefits of this service
Undertaking due diligence assessments for a project where cultural heritage may be an issue will:
save time and money
Identify and address potential risks to keep projects on time and on budget
Preservation
Assist in avoiding unintended harm to Aboriginal places or objects
Positive Relationships
Stay informed of cultural heritage to preserve valued lands and maintain good relationships with all stakeholders
Confidence
Provide certainty to landowners, managers and developers about appropriate cultural heritage management strategies to ensure the desired outcomes
Case Studies
Testimonials
Sector Manager | Millar Merrigan
ACHM has consistently provided us with expert advice on Aboriginal cultural heritage matters, including the preparation of Cultural Heritage Management Plans. They’re great to work with—professional, competitively priced, and reliable in meeting timeframes. Their practical approach and responsiveness make them a valued partner on our projects.
Chief Executive Officer | Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation
ACHM are engaged extensively across Banjima Country and they provide exceptional expertise, professionalism, customer service and a genuine passion for preserving and promoting cultural heritage. ACHM goes beyond mere consultancy through consistently delivering professional services, solutions and best practice in every thing they do.
Senior Development Manager | Dav Consulting
We recently engaged ACHM to manage extensive Cultural Heritage Artefact Salvage Operations for an expansive and complex greenfields development site on north side of Melbourne. The diligence, open communication, efficiency and positive outcomes achieved by the ACHM Team, including in their coordination and management of the local RAP, was first class, and made my job as Development Manager substantially easier. Cannot recommend highly enough
Senior Development Manager | Avid
I have been a client of ACHM for over a decade and have engaged their services across four large-scale projects. Throughout this time, their dedication and professionalism have remained consistently impressive. ACHM excels at managing client expectations while operating sensitively within complex environments. They are highly skilled at guiding clients through cultural heritage approval processes, striking the delicate balance between client priorities and cultural sensitivities. I highly recommend ACHM for their expertise and commitment.
ABIGroup
We wish to thank yourself, Erica Walther and Shaun Canning who have at all times been professional, free to discuss potential options and provide feedback on the status of the Cultural Heritage Management Plans. We have found the ACHM team to be knowledgeable and very easy to deal with.
Environmental Coordinator, GMW Connections Project
ACHM have provided us with numerous due diligence assessments and Cultural Heritage Management Plans to both standard and complex level. They approach their scope with our project timeframes and budgets in mind, and I know I can rely on them to get the best outcome for these projects. ACHM provide pragmatic staff with great traditional owner relationships allowing for quick turnaround times.
Sector Manager | Millar Merrigan
ACHM has consistently provided us with expert advice on Aboriginal cultural heritage matters, including the preparation of Cultural Heritage Management Plans. They’re great to work with—professional, competitively priced, and reliable in meeting timeframes. Their practical approach and responsiveness make them a valued partner on our projects.
Chief Executive Officer | Banjima Native Title Aboriginal Corporation
ACHM are engaged extensively across Banjima Country and they provide exceptional expertise, professionalism, customer service and a genuine passion for preserving and promoting cultural heritage. ACHM goes beyond mere consultancy through consistently delivering professional services, solutions and best practice in every thing they do.
Senior Development Manager | Dav Consulting
We recently engaged ACHM to manage extensive Cultural Heritage Artefact Salvage Operations for an expansive and complex greenfields development site on north side of Melbourne. The diligence, open communication, efficiency and positive outcomes achieved by the ACHM Team, including in their coordination and management of the local RAP, was first class, and made my job as Development Manager substantially easier. Cannot recommend highly enough
Senior Development Manager | Avid
I have been a client of ACHM for over a decade and have engaged their services across four large-scale projects. Throughout this time, their dedication and professionalism have remained consistently impressive. ACHM excels at managing client expectations while operating sensitively within complex environments. They are highly skilled at guiding clients through cultural heritage approval processes, striking the delicate balance between client priorities and cultural sensitivities. I highly recommend ACHM for their expertise and commitment.
ABIGroup
We wish to thank yourself, Erica Walther and Shaun Canning who have at all times been professional, free to discuss potential options and provide feedback on the status of the Cultural Heritage Management Plans. We have found the ACHM team to be knowledgeable and very easy to deal with.
Environmental Coordinator, GMW Connections Project
ACHM have provided us with numerous due diligence assessments and Cultural Heritage Management Plans to both standard and complex level. They approach their scope with our project timeframes and budgets in mind, and I know I can rely on them to get the best outcome for these projects. ACHM provide pragmatic staff with great traditional owner relationships allowing for quick turnaround times.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cultural heritage due diligence assessment?
A cultural heritage due diligence assessment is the systematic identification and quantification of risks associated with a proposed activity or development footprint. It evaluates the likelihood of impacts on Aboriginal and historical cultural heritage places, clarifies legal obligations, and provides proponents with a clear, defensible basis for informed project decision-making before key commitments are made.
When should a cultural heritage due diligence assessment be carried out?
A cultural heritage due diligence assessment should be undertaken as early as possible in project planning, ideally at the site selection, feasibility, or land acquisition stage. Engaging a specialist before key decisions are made reduces project uncertainty, avoids approval delays, and prevents costly design changes or heritage incidents later in the project lifecycle when options for avoidance are far more limited.
What is the difference between a cultural heritage due diligence assessment and a Cultural Heritage Management Plan?
A due diligence assessment is a risk-scoping exercise that identifies whether Aboriginal or historical cultural heritage is present or likely, and determines what statutory obligations apply. A Cultural Heritage Management Plan (CHMP) is a more formal instrument, prepared to set out how identified heritage will be managed throughout a project. A due diligence assessment is typically the first step.
What risks does a cultural heritage due diligence assessment identify?
A cultural heritage due diligence assessment identifies and quantifies risks to Aboriginal or historical heritage places, so risks can be managed and proponents can avoid ensure that there are no regulatory penalties, damage to stakeholder relationships, project delays caused by unplanned heritage discoveries, and major cost overruns from remediation or redesign. Identifying these risks early enables harm minimisation through informed design, project staging and proactive management.
Is a cultural heritage due diligence assessment a legal requirement in Australia?
Requirements vary by jurisdiction. In New South Wales, a due diligence assessment is a defined process under the Due Diligence Code of Practice for the Protection of Aboriginal Objects. In other states and territories, equivalent pre-assessment obligations exist under local heritage legislation. In all Australian jurisdictions, knowingly or unknowingly harming unrecorded Aboriginal cultural heritage can result in significant legal liability, financial penalty and prosecution.
Can a due diligence assessment be used to determine whether a CHMP is required?
Yes. In Victoria, one of the primary purposes of a cultural heritage due diligence assessment is to determine the level of statutory process required for a project. Where a due diligence assessment establishes that heritage is absent or that the activity is unlikely to cause harm, it may support a Preliminary Aboriginal Heritage Test (PAHT) application or confirm that a full Cultural Heritage Management Plan is not required.
What does a cultural heritage due diligence assessment involve?
A cultural heritage due diligence assessment typically involves a review of heritage registers and databases, desktop research into historical land use and known Aboriginal places, landscape analysis using GIS and aerial imagery, a field inspection of the project area where required, and a written report outlining the heritage constraints, legal obligations, and recommended next steps for the proponent.
Should I commission a due diligence assessment before purchasing land?
Yes, and the earlier the better. Purchasing land without understanding the cultural heritage constraints can expose buyers to unexpected statutory obligations, additional costs, and design limitations that fundamentally affect project viability. A cultural heritage due diligence assessment at the pre-purchase stage provides the confidence and clarity needed to make a fully informed land acquisition decision.
How does a due diligence assessment support Traditional Owner engagement?
A well-conducted due diligence assessment establishes a clear picture of the cultural heritage values present in a project area and identifies the Traditional Owner groups with connections to that Country. This provides the documentary foundation for meaningful, respectful engagement with Traditional Owners well before regulatory obligations formally require it.
How long does a cultural heritage due diligence assessment take?
Timeframes depend on the size and complexity of the project area, the volume of existing heritage data available, and whether a field inspection is required. Desktop-focused assessments for straightforward sites can be completed within two to four weeks. Australian Cultural Heritage Management works to project schedules from the outset, providing realistic turnaround times to ensure due diligence does not become a bottleneck on the critical path.
Who should conduct a cultural heritage due diligence assessment in Australia?
A cultural heritage due diligence assessment should be conducted by qualified specialists with expertise in Aboriginal and historical heritage, archaeological and anthropological assessment methods, and the applicable state or territory legislation. Australian Cultural Heritage Management holds ISO 9001, 14001 and 45001 certifications and has delivered due diligence assessments for projects of every scale across all Australian jurisdictions, on time and on budget.
Need Expert Cultural Heritage Support for Your Project?
ACHM is here to help. Call us today on 1300 724 913 or email us for more information.