Comparing 2019–2020 to 2018–2019
Despite the impacts of COVID-19, the bushfires and hailstorm, AIATSIS continues to strengthen its strategic intent detailed in Figure 1.
Funding
Less direct funding yet growth in other sources of revenue — $17 thousand less funding than the previous year, while revenue generated was up by approximately $3.17 million.
- $20.445 million in 2019–2020, $17,000 less than the previous year ($20,462 million)
- An impressive increase in revenue of $3.169 million derived from the sale of goods and services, grants and other sources — $8.030 million in 2019–2020 compared to $4,861 million last year.
Staff
Growth in staff and those who identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander.
- 4 additional staff members who identified as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander — up from 36
- 121 ongoing and 14 non-ongoing employees — up from 116 ongoing and 7 non-ongoing last year.
Committees
Growth in advisory committees.
- 2 new committees, the Indigenous Advisory Committee for the National Resting Place and Knowledge and Culture Centre scoping project and the COVID-19 Taskforce — totalling 15 committees of which 3 operate under a Board of Directors structure.
- 66 highly regarded Australians, who are not AIATSIS staff, participating in committees —a significant increase up from 44 in the previous year.
Publications and presentations
An increase of activity —compared to the previous year.
- 65 presentations at conferences, seminars and inquiries — compared to 57
- 8 workshops and conferences convened — compared to 6
- 30 contributions to journals, articles and reports
- 2 multimedia publications and exhibitions.
Research
A small decrease in research projects — 24 compared to 29.
- 6 major research projects completed — the same as the previous year
- 16 continuing research projects — compared to 10
- 2 new research projects — compared to 13.
Partnerships
Stable partnerships and networks — approximately 34.
- 4 new strategic partnerships — compared to 3
- 12 ongoing strategic partnerships
- 12 networks
- 6 other partnerships.
Performance
Each year we perform exceptionally well above targets. In 2019–2020 examples include:
- the number and the types of activities with an education focus including the utilisation of our products and curriculum resources
- the number of AIATSIS led events with the majority of attendees stating their satisfaction level was excellent
- increasing the collection catalogue records and photographic descriptions
- the total number of publications with the majority of authors being Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- our bookshop activity increasing by as much as 300 per cent
- the use and influence of our Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies
- doubling the number of ethics clearances through our Research Ethics Committee
- the number of new members of AIATSIS
- the number of submissions and times that we have engaged with decision makers, policy leaders, senior bureaucrats and politicians. For example, initiatives such as the Return of Cultural Heritage Project and the delegation to Latin America supported by the Council on Australia Latin America Relations resulted in high levels of engagement (27 interactions) with governments internationally, increasing our global influence and networks.
Legislation and purpose
AIATSIS is established by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Act 1989 (Cth). AIATSIS’ purpose, as set out in this Act, is to:
AIATSIS is a statutory agency under the Public Service Act 1999, (Cth), and a corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth).
- develop, preserve and provide access to a national collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage;
- use that collection to strengthen and promote knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage;
- provide leadership in the fields of:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research; and
- ethics and protocols for research and other activities relating to collections related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage; and
- use (including use for research) of the national collection and other collections containing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage;
- lead and promote collaborations and partnerships among the academic, research, non-government, business and government sectors and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in support of other functions of the Institute;
- provide advice to the Commonwealth on the situation and status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage.
AIATSIS is a statutory agency under the Public Service Act 1999, (Cth), and a corporate Commonwealth entity under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (Cth).