Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

The AIATSIS Collection is the world's largest collection dedicated to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories. It includes published books, journals, and pamphlets, as well as unpublished manuscripts, maps, sound recordings, films and video recordings, photographs, artworks, and objects. AIATSIS calls these collection items.

You can search for items in the AIATSIS Collection, using Mura, the Collection catalogue or search through records and images for some other media types. 

Some larger unpublished collections have a finding aid, which is a descriptive listing of what is in a collection of papers, sound recordings, or films and videos. A link to the finding aid is in the catalogue record.

See our Mura User Guide for further information about how to search for items in the collection.

The AIATSIS Collection is not a complete collection of work authored by or about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and studies. If you cannot find a particular title, try searching Trove to locate the item at your local, state or university library.

The Stanner Reading Room is located at AIATSIS, Canberra. The majority of published items held in the collection are readily available for public access in the Reading Room.

Rare published items may be accessed on request depending on the condition of the item.

Unpublished items may be subject to access and use conditions. Their catalogue records provide information about these conditions in the Access field. If you want to access unpublished items, you will need to complete an Indemnity form. You may also need to gain permission from depositors, copyright owners or community representatives, which may take some time. We encourage you to contact us before visiting.

A copy of parts of a published item can be sent to you subject to copyright law.

Copies of unpublished items in the collection may be sent to you depending on the access and use conditions (see below). Please use the

Items in the AIATSIS Collection may have conditions that mean only some people may view, listen to and/or have a copy of them. There are a number of reasons why. For example, some items:

• contain culturally sensitive content;
• are restricted to men or women only;
• are restricted to specific community groups or families;
• contain personal information or genealogical information; and/or
• the depositor or creator of the collection material would like to be informed of and/or approve access to their items.

For further information please refer to the AIATSIS Access and Use Policy. 

You can make a request for access to or get a copy of items in the Collection by completing our online request form. 

When making a request, we encourage you to send us one of the following:

Please also tell us the names of the particular people, languages, places or subjects you are interested in.

Note that fees may apply.

Unfortunately, no. The published items in the AIATSIS Collection are reference items which means they cannot be loaned out to the general public.

If you would like to borrow published items, search Trove to check if you can borrow a copy from your local, state or university library.

Unpublished items cannot be borrowed but a copy may be provided to you subject to access and use conditions.

Requests for exhibition loans can be made by sending an email to registrar@aiatsis.gov.au.

Our return of material to Indigenous communities (ROMTIC) program recognises the importance of providing copies of collection items to the communities from which they originated. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians can receive free copies of up to twenty collection items per financial year relating to their cultural heritage or their family. Normal collection copying fees will apply to any further additional copies.
We also encourage people to check what is in the collection from year to year as new items are added and digitised.

ABI stands for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Biographical Index. The ABI is an index of personal names that have been published or mentioned in materials held in the AIATSIS print collection. The ABI can be searched via our Collection catalogue, Mura. The index may be useful for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are researching their family history. 

We are currently developing teacher eLearning modules for teachers that will be available later in 2022. The eLearning modules will align with AITSL Professional Standards for Teachers and support both pedagogical improvement and the appropriate ways to embed Indigenous perspectives into the curriculum.

To be notified when the teacher eLearning modules are launched, stay connected with us via our social channels.

For more general training, AIATSIS offer access to Core Cultural Learning. Core is an innovative online course developed to strengthen cultural capability. It's designed to be informative, interactive and to create a greater awareness of the vast history and cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Yes. AIATSIS offer access to Core Cultural Learning. Core is an innovative online course developed to strengthen cultural capability. It's designed to be informative, interactive and to create a greater awareness of the vast history and cultural heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. For further details please visit https://aiatsis.gov.au/about/what-we-do/core-cultural-learning

For localised cultural awareness training, search Supply Nation.
 

In collaboration with curriculum specialists across the nation, we are building a bank of authoritative resources that will be available to teachers who complete the AIATSIS teacher eLearning modules.

Please visit our website to see the current curriculum resources available.

AIATSIS curriculum resources will be developed in an ongoing basis, beginning with Fighting for Country, curriculum resources ready for ANZAC Day 2022.

Current curriculum resources available.

The AIATSIS Education team are available to consult, review and provide advice on curriculum resources that contain Indigenous perspectives. Please contact us for more information education@aiatsis.gov.au

In order to find information about the traditional custodians of a particular area please contact the local area council, local Aboriginal land council or community organisation. Try a web search for ‘Aboriginal’ and the place name. You could also try the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations to locate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations within a particular area.

Learn more about whose Country you are on.

Extensive information about Prescribed Body Corporates can be found on the PBC website.

AIATSIS cannot help with referral services for engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities or individuals. We recommend that people who want to engage with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should get in touch with their local Aboriginal land council or other local Indigenous organisation(s).

There are more than 250 Indigenous Australian languages and many more dialects. Each language is unique and specific to a particular area. We recommend that you reach out to your local Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander language centre or community group, community organisation or land council for advice. AIATSIS is unable to provide advice about the appropriate use of Aboriginal language terms.

You can search for languages by name or location with our Austlang database.

First Languages Australia also has resources about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

Learn more about Australia’s first languages or the language work at AIATSIS.

It is important that those who are on the traditional lands of Australia’s First Peoples are right-minded and cleansed. Welcome to Country rituals go back to when visitors had to wait to be welcomed into a camp or ceremony — sometimes left sitting outside the camp for days until people were ready for them and sure that they would not bring harm.

Welcomes to Country have become strong features of contemporary Australian life and are often held at the beginning of meetings and events and may include song or dance and other local rituals such as smoking ceremo­nies.

Welcomes can only be given by the traditional custodians of that Country, or those who are given permission by the traditional owners to do so.

Acknowledging when you’re on the land of traditional owners is a sign of respect which recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ownership and custodianship of the land, their ancestors and traditions. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples can show this form of respect.

Most areas will have a local Council of Elders, land council or community organisation who can advise about Welcomes to Country.  It’s important for non-Indigenous Australians to recognise that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander organisations have a lot of demands on their time and that access to knowledge may need to be paid for.

Australia is made up of many different and distinct Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander groups, each with their own culture, language, beliefs and practices. Explore our page about Australia's First Peoples or read more here.

No, AIATSIS does not provide this type of service. However, to undertake research or study that involves Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people you must obtain ethics approval. Before interviewing or undertaking research involving Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people please ensure you have read the AIATSIS Code of Ethics.

Acknowledging when you’re on the land of Traditional Owners is a sign of respect which acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ownership and custodianship of the land, their ancestors and traditions. Both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples can show this form of respect. Only the traditional owners can speak for and welcome visitors to Country or give others the authority to do so. More information can be found here.
 

The AIATSIS Family History program aims to assist Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Stolen Generations survivors and their families by providing family history research assistance and access to information about their families. 

We are located on Ngunnawal Country nestled on the Acton Peninsula in Canberra. 

We welcome visitors to the AIATSIS building, Maraga. 

Link-Up organisations provide family tracing and reunion services to Stolen Generation survivors and their families and are located nationally around Australia (except ACT and TAS).  Their services include:

• Researching family and personal records
• Emotional support when accessing family and personal records
• Finding family members
• Assistance and support at family reunions
• Support and counselling before, during and after family reunion

Family History works closely with Link-Ups to assist Stolen Generation survivors to find their families and/or research information about their family history.

We do not charge for family history research support.

Yes you can undertake your own family history research. We provide a range of resources available on our website that can assist you with your research journey.

No, we do not assist with or provide proof of Aboriginality or DNA testing. 

Family History does not assist in Native Title Claims, but AIATSIS does have a Native Title program that can assist you with these enquiries.

The AIATSIS Collection contains more than 1 million items, including books, audio, photographic, manuscript, moving image and art and object material, related to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.

You can purchase a copy of the AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia online from the AIATSIS Shop or contact Aboriginal Studies Press via email asp@aiatsis.gov.au.

If you would like to use the AIATSIS map of Indigenous Australia in a publication you must get permission from Aboriginal Studies Press. See further information about permissions.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags and merchandise can be purchased directly from Flag Worlds.

Learn more about the Aboriginal Flag.

No, AIATSIS does not assist with or provide proof of Aboriginality. More information.

We do, however, have a range of resources to assist you with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family history research. Contact the Family History unit for more information.

AIATSIS is committed to ensuring greater involvement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in setting research priorities, leading research projects and determining the appropriate collection and use of data about communities. The Indigenous Research Exchange grant program has funded 32 projects that:

• support high quality, impactful, Indigenous-led research; 
• improve the accessibility and availability of quality robust research and evidence-based solutions
• support organisations (outside of research bodies) to participate in research activities that will have relevance and impact beyond the community and project.

 The current grant program is fully expended. Any new rounds will be announced on this website. 

What is Yumi Sabe?

Yumi Sabe is a central online portal for Indigenous data discovery and research. It will highlight Indigenous-led research and provide a culturally safe place for knowledge (data and evidence).

What is the purpose of the Yumi Sabe?

To make research findings more accessible, more contestable and more usable. The platform will make data and evidence available and accessible to communities and other stakeholders.

What research/data will be available on the platform?

The Exchange is currently investigating research and data sets that can be made accessible through the platform. Yumi Sabe will provide access to:

• AIATSIS research and data sets
• Project findings and outcomes from the Indigenous Research Exchange Grant Program
• Other relevant Indigenous data repositories
• Indigenous research or data that is deposited into the platform by other organisations, communities or individuals

Research findings to be available on the platform include (but are not limited to):

• Project reports
• Qualitative and quantitative data
• Frameworks
• Models of best practice
• Recordings
• Images/video
• Publications
• Conference/workshop presentations

Data will only be shared and made accessible where permission has been granted by the respective copyright and Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) holders.  

How is research being kept safe on the platform?

The platform is being developed with consideration of the highest standards in regards to IT security and cultural safety. The platform build is guided by Indigenous expertise to ensure best practice in data management, governance and access protocols. More information on security and safety strategies will be provided as they are finalised. 

Will I be able to deposit my research on the platform? And who can access it?

Researchers, organisations and individuals will be able to offer their research and data for inclusion on the platform once it has been tested and launched. The aim is to continually add new research to build on the evidence base. 

Access to research and data on the platform will follow protocols that are being developed by the Exchange. Indigenous data governance, ICIP and the management of sensitive data will be the overarching principles of the platform to protect the rights of copyright and ICIP owners. For this reason access conditions will be determined by the owners of the data to ensure access is culturally appropriate – only those with permission will be able to access sensitive data.

Yes, the committee welcomes applications from external organisations (fees apply).

Applicants will receive an outcome within ten (10) working days after the committee meeting.

Ethics approval granted by AIATSIS applies nationally and to cross-jurisdictional research. In most cases, approval from the AIATSIS committee is adequate.

Depending on the nature of the project, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities may request additional approval from their local or preferred Human Research Ethics Committee. In projects relating to education or health, ethics approval may be required from relevant education departments, health departments or hospitals for each jurisdiction. The AIATSIS committee can provide further advice on this.

Letters of support are typically always required for all projects involving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. An applicant may use other means to provide evidence of support by demonstrating the project has been discussed with relevant stakeholders, the stakeholders understand the implications of the project and the stakeholders agree the project is worthwhile. 

Variations to approved applications must be submitted to the Co-Chairpersons for review and approval. Depending on the complexity of the variation, it may be reviewed in-session by the full Committee.

To progress a Variation Request, please submit:

• A Variation letter addressed to the Committee Co-Chairpersons. (see template below)
• The revised Ethics Application form with tracked changes applied.
• Relevant supporting documents with tracked changes applied.

Variation Requests for approved projects that were allocated a REC# can be submitted through the AIATSIS Research Ethics Platform. All projects that were allocated an EO # will need to email their Variation Requests to the Secretariat of the AIATSIS REC.

Complaints relating to research projects approved by the AIATSIS Research Ethics Committee can be directed to the Executive Director of Research and Education and/or the Co-Chairpersons of the AIATSIS Research Ethics Committee.

Executive Director of Research and Education
ethics@aiatsis.gov.au 

Ms Mandy Downing and Mr Chris Bourke
Co-Chairpersons, AIATSIS Research Ethics Committee
ethics@aiatsis.gov.au