In May 2024, the Australian Government announced ongoing funding for the Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) program.
Originally established as a pilot between 2018-2020, the RoCH project identified 199 overseas collecting institutions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage collections. During this short period RoCH was able to facilitate the return of 86 items to the country of five language groups.
In July 2020, the Australian Government announced the introduction of the RoCH program with funding until June 2024. The research and community work continued and at the end of this period RoCH identified 383 overseas collecting institutions holding 126,000+ Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage items.
Of these, 161 institutions shared information regarding their collections and 131 expressed an eagerness to establish a relationship with AIATSIS and/or Indigenous communities in Australia. Significantly, 115 expressed a willingness to consider a repatriation request.
Up to June 2025 RoCH has partnered with 20 language groups to facilitate the return of their material. AIATSIS has facilitated the return of 2259 cultural heritage items to Australia in 34 return projects across 7 states and territories.
Overseas collecting institutions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage collections that have been identified.
Overseas collecting institutions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage collections that have been identified.
Regional distribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage items across the world.
Regional distribution of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage items across the world.
RoCH program timeline
Larrakia, 11 objects, Darwin, NT.
Palawa, 1 shell necklace, TAS.
Gamilaraay, 1 tree, Gunnedah, NSW.
Warlpiri, 24 objects, Yuendumu, NT.
Warumungu, 10 objects, Tennant Creek, NT.
Kelton Foundation, 116 objects, to be determined.
Warumungu, 20 objects, Tennant Creek, NT.
RoCH program funded as permanent program
Kaurna, 4 objects, Adelaide, SA.
La Perouse, 4 objects, Sydney, NSW.
Anindilyakwa, 174 objects, Groote Eylandt, NT.
Eastern Maar, 35 objects, Warrnambool, VIC.
River Murray and Mallee region, 3 objects, Berri, SA.
Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung, 5 objects, Melbourne, VIC.
Dja Dja Wurrung, 1 object, Bendigo, VIC.
2 Warumungu returns, 10 objects, Tennant Creek, NT.
Lardil Elders and the Wellesley Islands community. 1 object, Wellesley Island, Mornington Island, QLD.
2 Arrernte returns, 28 objects, Alice Springs NT.
Warumungu, 2 objects, Tennant Creek, NT.
2 private collections, 4 objects.
Stone tool collection from Israel, 1848 objects.
Yawuru return, 4 objects, Roebuck Bay, WA.
Yindjibarndi, 8 objects, Roebourne, WA.
RoCH project turns into RoCH program with funding till June 2024.
Collaboration and negotiations.
Receiving first catalogues of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander holdings.
Arrernte return, 11 objects, Alice Springs, NT.
Bardi Jawi return, 31 objects, Cape Leveque, WA
Gangalidda and Garawa return, 12 objects, Moungibi, QLD
Nyamal return, 6 objects, Marapikurrinya, WA
Planning and initiation of project.
Research and identification of overseas holdings.
Contacting overseas institutions.
Key facts
The RoCH program only returns Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander material from overseas institutions and private collectors. We do not have the mandate for domestic returns.
RoCH does not return ancestral remains. They are returned under the Indigenous Repatriation Program.
Return of Cultural Heritage Project - John Carty
John Carty, Director of South Australian Museum, talks about the importance of the AIATSIS Return of Cultural Heritage Project (2019).