Publish with us

There are several steps involved in our assessment process. When you send your manuscript to us we will send you an acknowledgment that it has been received. You will also be kept informed during each stage of the process.

1. Your manuscript will be read by Aboriginal Studies Press staff

They have an eye for identifying manuscripts that can be developed into a text that fits our list and has interest for a range of readers. 

2. Your manuscript will be submitted to peer assessors

Aboriginal Studies Press staff will provide your manuscript to appropriately qualified peer assessors. Our peer assessors are subject or discipline specialists and/or writing specialists. 

3. Consideration by the Publishing Advisory Committee (PAC)

The PAC is an independent advisory group with a majority Indigenous membership. PAC members have diverse skills, including academic credentials, knowledge of Indigenous communities and languages, and writing and publishing expertise. The PAC evaluates all manuscripts and provides recommendations to the AIATSIS CEO about publication. 

There are two to three PAC meetings a year, depending on demand. If your manuscript is going before the PAC, you will be advised when the next meeting is scheduled.

4. Authors are advised of the CEO’s publishing decision following the PAC meeting 

During this process ASP may, but is not obliged to, offer development advice or suggest alternative avenues for possible publication.

If your manuscript is accepted for publication, ASP staff will contact you to discuss a publishing contract. You will be kept informed throughout the process up until your book is published.

To assist you with the process of writing and seeking publication we have developed an Information Kit for Indigenous Authors. The kit provides detailed information on our assessment process, our timelines and more general information about contracts, rights and royalties.

You may also consider other Indigenous publishers such as:

Visit their websites for up-to-date information on the kinds of manuscripts they accept. Note that few publishers have the resources to pay for authors to develop their ideas into manuscripts.

We also administer the Stanner Award which is presented biennially to the best academic manuscript written by an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander author. The winner of the award receives editorial support to turn their thesis into a book, mentoring, prize money and publication of their manuscript. 

Any research undertaken to produce academic works must comply with the AIATSIS ethical research framework as set out in the Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies.

Authors are responsible for obtaining permission to use copyright material in their work and to pay any associated costs.  Processing copyright permissions requests can take weeks or even months so it is important to apply during the writing process, not when you have finished writing.

Kinds of material that requires copyright permission

Illustrative material such as: maps, graphs, diagrams, charts and tables, pictures, photographs and advertisements extracts of text, including poems and music.

Processing copyright permissions requests can take weeks or even months, especially from overseas publishers so it is important to apply during the writing process, not when you have finished writing.

Illustrative material

When requesting permission for illustrative material, please check the imprint page, acknowledgment page or credit line for information on the copyright holder.

The publisher may not manage copyright for that material. You may need to research who is the copyright holder and submit a permissions letter to them.

If it is unclear who the original publisher is, then ask the publisher of the publication you have for contact details.

Text material

You must obtain permission to reproduce a ‘substantial part’ of any written work protected by copyright. This can mean 200 words from a medium length book, part or whole of an article or essay and short quotations from poems. It also includes any shorter extract that summaries the crux of the creator’s argument or research. If in doubt, seek permission.

Acknowledging copyright material

All material quoted and illustrative material must be appropriately acknowledged. A list of acknowledgments should accompany the final manuscript.

Acknowledgments should include:

• original publication details (author, title, date of publication, publisher, place)
• credit wording the copyright holder has requested.

Copyright and reproduction fees

Authors are responsible for paying fees for using copyright material, and an additional fee in getting that material in a form suitable for reproduction, e.g. if digital artwork files are required.

Fees are generally determined by the intended use and the context in which the material will be reproduced, the number of copies made, as well as other factors.

Visit the publisher’s website for any copyright permission information and forms to complete.

• Refer to the spine, imprint page and/or acknowledgment page to check the publisher of the work.
• Include a copy of the imprint page as well as copies of the pages of the material you wish to reproduce to make permission clearance easier.
• If you are adapting the material, provide a copy of how you wish the material to appear.
• If you are reproducing a photograph, image, illustration, table or chart, please refer to the credit line or acknowledgment section in the work. Depending on the copyright terms, you may have to submit a letter of enquiry to the person(s) credited for the material who may not be the author of the publication.
• Go through the checklist to ensure you have included all the details and photocopies of material required.

If you are publishing with Aboriginal Studies Press and are including material published by another publisher you must contact that publisher for permission. They may have their own forms for you to complete; check their website.

When you first contact the publisher you may like to provide them with the following:

• title of the publication from which you’re reproducing material
• the author/editor/compiler of the publication
• the ISBN of the publication
• the page numbers, chapters and word count of the material you wish to reproduce
• any changes or adaptation of the material that you wish to make
• the working title of your project
• the author(s) of your project.

The publisher may also require the following information which you can obtain from Aboriginal Studies Press:

• Aboriginal Studies Press/AIATSIS contact details
• the markets and territories your publication will be published/distributed
• the proposed print run
• the proposed date of your publication
• the proposed retail price of your publication.