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Family history
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Before you start Read about what you should know before you begin.
- Research step-by-step Follow our steps for doing family history research.
- Family history sources Learn about the different sources of family history information.
- Where to get help Access assistance in your state and territory.
Collection
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Search the Collection Search and explore the AIATSIS Collection of more than 1 million items related to Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Featured collections Browse some of our featured collections which have been digitised as part of our ongoing preservation work.
- Using the Collection You can search the Collection online or visit the Stanner Reading Room to view or listen to collection items and conduct research.
- Caring for the Collection We have the largest and best contextualised collection of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage in the world, and it continues to grow.
- Donate to the Collection We welcome donations of unpublished materials relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, culture, knowledge, and experience.
Research
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Current projects Our research contributes to the wellbeing of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and has a direct benefit to the communities we work with.
- Ethical research We provide leadership in ethics and protocols for research related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and collections.
- Indigenous Research Exchange We improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples by ensuring there is more involvement and agency in research projects.
- Native title research and access service The Native Title Research and Access Service is your first stop for information about the native title resources in the AIATSIS collection.
- Research publications and reports We produce a range of publications and other resources derived from our research.
- Guides and resources We have produced a range of resources, databases, indexes, finding aids and reading lists to help you with your research and to find information in our Collection.
- AIATSIS Centre for Australian Languages Most of the estimated 250 Australian languages and 600-700 dialects are represented in our unrivalled language holdings.
Education
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Curriculum resources AIATSIS Education offers a growing bank of educational resources aligned with Version 9 of the Australian Curriculum.
- Expression of Interest – AIATSIS Education Advisory Committee
- Schools program We offer transformative learning experiences for all Australian students and teachers.
- Professional development We offer high quality, culturally responsive and racially literate teacher professional development both in person and online.
- Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources This guide supports educators to make conscious and critical decisions when selecting curriculum resources.
- Core e-learning suite The Core e-learning suite consists of courses that have been developed to strengthen individual and organisational cultural capability.
What's new
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- News Read all our latest news and media releases.
- Events Find out about all of our upcoming events and conferences.
- Podcasts Listen, learn and be inspired by the stories of Australia’s First Peoples.
- Blogs Discover the stories behind the work we do and some of the items in our Collection.
- Summit 2025 We are please to partner with LNAC as co-hosts to deliver Summit 2025 in Garramilla
About
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Connect with us We invite you to connect with us on social media. Join our strong and growing membership and support our foundation.
- What we do We tell the story of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia and create opportunities for people to encounter, engage and be transformed by that story.
- Who we are We are Australia's only national institution focused exclusively on the diverse history, cultures and heritage of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australia.
- Work with us We recognise that our staff and volunteers are our most valuable asset.
- Ngurra Ngurra: The National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Precinct will be nationally significant in speaking to the central place that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples hold in Australia’s story.
- AIATSIS Central Australia We’ve opened a new facility in Mparntwe/Alice Springs.
- Aboriginal Studies Press Aboriginal Studies Press (ASP) is Australia’s leading publisher of Australian Indigenous studies.
- Return of Cultural Heritage AIATSIS is leading the Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) program to return Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material held overseas to Australia.
- Public Facilities Discover our public facilities options and services
- Support our work Join us and support the revival and maintenance of some of the oldest languages, songs and words in the world
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Featured collections

A.M. Fernando Notebooks

In the late 1920s, a lone Australian Aboriginal man stood outside Australia House in London protesting the treatment of Aboriginal people in Australia. His notebooks offer a glimpse into his life in London and reflect his views on the treatment of Aboriginal people in Australia.

Ann Curthoys' diaries

Ann Curthoys' diaries have become an essential piece of historical material that tells the story of the 1965 Freedom Ride.

NAIDOC Week posters

Each year NAIDOC Week has a theme that represents current issues important to Indigenous peoples. These themes are reflected throughout the years in the different NAIDOC posters.

The Aborigines Inland Mission

Our AIM and The Australian Evangel newsletters were published by the Aborigines’ Inland Mission (AIM); an evangelical Christian mission which began in 1905.

Dawn

The Dawn collection is the only complete online archive of these magazines which were issued between 1915 to 1969 by the New South Wales Aborigines Welfare Board.

Identity

Identity was a key publication of the Aboriginal Publication Foundation between 1971 and 1982. Its focus was Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander views, opinions and experiences in Australian society at the time. AIATSIS has digitised the complete set of Identity issues.

New Dawn

Monthly magazine produced by the New South Wales Department of Youth, Ethnic and Community Services reflecting the times between 1970 to 1975.

Koori Mail

Explore the complete online archive of Australia’s fortnightly national Indigenous newspaper dating back to 1991.

Jimmy Pike

We hold the largest collection of Jimmy Pike’s original artworks which includes over 440 individual artworks, many adapted by Desert Designs in the 1980s and 1990s into internationally renowned fashion.

Maningrida Mirage

The Maningrida Mirage was produced by the Maningrida community from September 1969 until October 1974 with just under 250 issues of the newsletter being produced.

To remove and protect

This collection contains the full text of the annual reports of all state and territory ‘protection boards' and the subsequent government agencies. The state and territory government legislation featured was originally compiled for the Bringing Them Home Report.

Last updated: 17 February 2023