Spotlight on Reaccreditation | Sovereign Hill
AMaGA Victoria is delighted to announce that Sovereign Hill Museums Association has successfully achieved Reaccreditation as part of the 2025 Reaccreditation cohort through the Museum Accreditation Program (MAP).
The Reaccreditation process recognised Sovereign Hill’s exceptional commitment to best practice, guided by the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries. The review panel acknowledged that Accreditation is not a one-time achievement, but part of an ongoing journey of continuous improvement, a philosophy clearly embedded across the organisation.
Sovereign Hill’s Reaccreditation highlighted an exemplary, organisation-wide commitment to accessibility across financial, human, and governance resourcing. Panelists praised the substantial investment and detailed tracking of physical accessibility upgrades, complemented by the quality of accessibility information on the Museum’s website and equal professional development for both paid staff and volunteers in areas like hidden disability awareness.
The panel was particularly impressed by the museum’s authentic First Peoples partnerships—moving well beyond tokenism to truth-telling and physical space activation. Additionally, Sovereign Hill continues to deepen community connections through innovative programming like Pecha Kucha nights at the Rare Trades Centre and public behind-the-scenes tours of its new collection store, dynamically opening up the collection for research and learning.
The Museums Accreditation Program congratulates Sovereign Hill on this significant milestone and looks forward to recognising their future achievements.
"We are pleased to announce the Reaccreditation of Sovereign Hill. We welcome their ongoing commitment to continuous improvement. Through their Reaccreditation, Sovereign Hill demonstrates leadership in meaningful and responsible museum practice and contributes to strengthening these practices across Victoria’s museum sector."
Ashley Robertson, Executive Director, AMaGA Victoria
"Being awarded reaccreditation is a significant achievement for Sovereign Hill and a strong endorsement of the quality, care and professionalism demonstrated across our organisation. It recognises the collective effort of our Board, staff and volunteers, and our commitment to creating a place where everyone can participate and belong. We are particularly proud that the assessment acknowledged our genuine partnerships with First Peoples, our approach to sharing complex and meaningful stories, and our stewardship of cultural heritage. This recognition gives us great confidence in the future we are shaping, while reinforcing our commitment to continued learning and improvement."
Craig Mathieson, CEO, Sovereign Hill Museums Association
The Museum Accreditation Program congratulates Sovereign Hill on this significant milestone and looks forward to recognising their future achievements.
ABOUT THE MUSEUM ACCREDITATION PROGRAM (MAP)
The Museum Accreditation Program is administered by the Australian Museums and Galleries Association Victoria (AMaGA Victoria) and provides a nationally recognised framework for museum excellence. MAP accreditation acknowledges institutions that demonstrate adherence to the National Standards for Australian Museums and Galleries and a commitment to continuous improvement.
ABOUT SOVEREIGN HILL
Sovereign Hill is an open-air museum in Ballarat, Victoria, bringing the Australian gold rush era to life through living history, immersive experiences, and a rich collection of artefacts. Through its Rare Trades Centre, Outdoor Museum, education programs, and deep First Peoples partnerships, Sovereign Hill connects communities with Australia's complex goldfields heritage.
For all media enquiries please contact: AMaGA Victoria | enquiries@amagavic.org.au