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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- Donate to the Collection We welcome donations of unpublished materials relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, culture, knowledge, and experience.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 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.
Education
AIATSIS holds the worlds largest collection dedicated to Australian
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and histories.
- Curriculum resources Our world leading curriculum resources are keyed to national curriculum requirements. We also have a range of useful teacher resources within our collection.
- Schools program We will be creating a transformative learning experience for all Australian students and teachers, when visiting Canberra or through on-line training.
- Professional development We will be developing online culturally responsive and racially literate teacher professional development.
- Guide to evaluating and selecting education resources This guide supports educators to make conscious and critical decisions when selecting curriculum resources.
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.
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’re opening a new facility in Mparntwe/Alice Springs in partnership with First Nations Media Australia.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Donate to the Collection

This information will be accessible to AIATSIS staff only.

Information about donating to the AIATSIS collection

Donate to the AIATSIS Collection

AIATSIS welcomes donations of unique, rare and unpublished materials relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, culture, knowledge and experience. We accept photographs, sound recordings, moving image, art and objects, ephemera and print materials, including manuscripts, personal papers, diaries, field notebooks and theses. We may accept offers of published materials that are otherwise hard to source.

All materials are assessed for suitability against a set of criteria before acceptance.

All offers of material are assessed by our specialist staff. We will contact you to obtain more information to assess your offer if we cannot make an assessment based on the information contained in your Offer of Material form.

Donating the Material

If AIATSIS agrees to accept your donation you will be asked to complete a Deed of Gift.

AIATSIS is experienced in the ethical and safe management of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections, including secret/sacred material and other sensitive information. We ask all donors to alert us to potentially sensitive content to ensure it is handled appropriately.

Personal details

First name ^*

Last name ^*

Phone number ^*

Email ^*

Organisation

Address ^*

Address ^*

City / Town

State / Territory

Postcode

Country

Have you previously donated material to AIATSIS?

Yes

No

Are you the owner of the material being offered ?

Yes

No

Collection details

Title

Who created or authored the works in the collection?

If you are not the author or creator of the material, are you aware of the history of its ownership, and can you describe how it came into your possession?

If you purchased the material, where did you purchase the item(s) from?

When and where were the materials created?

If relevant, why were the materials created?

Where is the collection currently located, and how is it stored?

What is in the collection or work and approximately how many items are there?

Please provide some indication of the size of the collection.

What mediums are in your collection?

Audio

Artwork or material object

Digital files

Manuscripts

Moving image (Digital disc, Digital file, Film, Video.)

Photographic

Printed material

What is the condition of the material?

Material sensitivity

Item(s) contain sensitive content

What type/s of sensitivity?

Ceremonial

Female only

Male only

Secret / Sacred

Sensitive material

Not sure

Other…

Please specify

Copyright and access conditions

Are you the copyright owner of the item(s)?

Yes

No

I am unaware who owns the copyright of the item(s)

Would you like to be involved in future administration of access to the material?

Would you like to enter into an agreement with AIATSIS regarding the copyright of your material (i.e. a Copyright Deed)?

Copyright to the item(s) is owned or shared by a third party

Are you aware of any reasons why part or all of the item(s) should be restricted to clients wanting to access this material?

Do you agree that clients of AIATSIS can access, copy and cite the items within the terms of the Australian Copyright Act 1968?

Who may own the Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) Rights in the collection material?

Are the people referred to above aware that you are depositing this material with AIATSIS in order to preserve it and make it accessible? Please state your understanding of their willingness to do so.

As a general rule, the copyright owner of a work is the creator/author/maker in the first instant, unless the creator has assigned copyright in advance (e.g to a client or publisher). More information.
If a work is created by an employee in the course of his or her employment, the employer owns the copyright, unless otherwise agreed.
Where the work is the product of a collaboration, the copyright may be jointly owned.
Upon the death of the creator copyright passes to the estate or nominee unless otherwise agreed.

Attachment(s)

For example: list, inventory, certificate of authenticity, digital images or other documentation

Unlimited number of files can be uploaded to this field.
10 MB limit.
Allowed types: pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, rtf, txt.

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Last updated: 27 July 2021

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