The Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) project was established in 2018 with two-years of funding from the Australian Government.
Through the RoCH project, 199 overseas collecting institutions with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage collections were identified. Of those, 124 institutions shared information regarding their collections and 74 expressed an eagerness to establish a relationship with AIATSIS and/or Indigenous communities in Australia. Significantly, 44 expressed a willingness to consider a repatriation request. During this short period RoCH was able to facilitate 86 returns to 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 continues and since then RoCH research has identified 302 overseas collecting institutions holding 113,000+ Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage items.
By August 2023 AIATSIS has facilitated 18 returns of 1,976 cultural heritage items to Australia of which 154 were returned to Country.
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
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.
Yawuru return, 4 objects, Roebuck Bay, WA.
Yindjibarndi, 8 objects, Roebourne, WA.
Stone tool collection from Israel, 1848 objects.
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.