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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- Donate to the Collection We welcome donations of unpublished materials relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, culture, knowledge, and experience.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.
- 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 2024 We are pleased to partner with FPAV as co-conveners to deliver Summit 2024 in Naarm
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.
- 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
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Blogs

Blogs are our space where you can discover the stories behind the work we do and some of the items in our collection.

Displaying 11 - 20 of 48

two hands hold a necklace made of thin tube shaped shells

Return of Cultural Heritage Project

audio cleaning device - a wooden box with a cassette tape and spools and mechanisms guiding the magnetic tape around the device

Innovative audiotape device designed in-house

Two women and a young girl using sign language

Yolŋu Sign Language

Dr Bentley James

Yolŋu Sign Language (YSL) is a unique, endangered sign language of the Yolŋu people of North East Arnhem Land.

four pieces of hand written card on a cutting board

Conservation of Indigenous language cards

Rhonda Smith, James Campbell

The Ken Hale language cards in the AIATSIS Collection number over 3500 and help document various Indigenous languages from the remote regions of Australia.

A man singing in front of a large crowd with dancers

'Treaty' by Yothu Yindi

Rita Metzenrath

‘Treaty' was a worldwide hit and the first song by a mainly Aboriginal band to peak on the ARIA singles chart.

Photograph of Tardun, taken by Martin Coopman, of buildings, surrounded by dirt roads and scrub.

Pallottine Mission student records – Tardun, WA

Cathy Zdanowicz

In July 2017, the Pallottines donated a collection of material to AIATSIS relating to the Mission, hostel and school that had been operating in Tardun, WA, from 1948 to 2004.

Book cover of a sketch of a scene with a scene of aboriginal men and a white man. There is a multi coloured background of blue, magenta and yellow. At the top of the scene are the words Nganapurru malngmarama balandanha runungura baman

Nganapurru malngmarama balandanha runungura baman

Rita Metzenrath

A first-hand account of the rescue of U.S Air Force Flight Lieutenant Clarence Sanford by Rirratjingu clan leader Wandjuk Marika and his two fathers.

Laurie 'big boss' Baymarrwaŋa.

Wisdomatic Women Leader: The Spirit of Baymarrwaŋa

Dr Bentley James

AIATSIS is celebrating 2019 International Woman’s Day by recognising Senior Australian of the Year Laurie Baymarrwaŋa’s vision to ‘give language back to the children’.

handmade pine mat circular in shape in a spiral pattern

A Rare Pine Needle and Raffia Mat by Marilyne Nicholls

Rita Metzenrath

In 2016, AIATSIS acquired a tiny woven object only 16cm in diameter for our Art and Object Collection. Its small size belies the complex story behind its creation.

beautifully embroidered card with flowers and the words 'To my dear sister'

Remembrance Day 2018

Rita Metzenrath

AIATSIS pays our respects to Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders who served and died in all wars.

Each year on the 11th November Australians observe one minute’s silence at 11am, in memory of those who died or suffered in all wars and armed conflicts.

Lest we forget

Last updated: 25 May 2022