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AIATSIS at a glance
Further understanding of Australian Indigenous cultures, past and present through undertaking and publishing research, and providing access to print and audiovisual collections
- the world’s leading research, collecting and publishing institution in the field of Australian Indigenous studies
- a network comprising a Council and committees, members, staff and other stakeholders in urban, regional and remote areas throughout Australia, and abroad
- a community working in partnership with Indigenous Australians to carry out tasks that acknowledge, affirm and raise awareness of Australian Indigenous cultures and histories, in all their richness and diversity
- a staff of 118 people, headed by the Principal, engaged in a range of endeavours of interest to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, scholars and the Australian and international public
- a research team conducting high-quality research and administering research grants for significant projects approved by Council
- a prestigious publisher, Aboriginal Studies Press, producing and promoting an array of books, CDs, film, videos, reports and the Institute’s journal, Australian Aboriginal Studies
- a Library and Audiovisual Archive managing the world’s most extensive collections of printed, audio and visual materials on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, history and societies
- an accessible source of abundant information about Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies, retrievable by Internet, mail, telephone or email, or by arranging to visit the headquarters on Acton Peninsula in Canberra
About us
The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is the world’s premier institution for information and research about the cultures and lifestyles of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, past and present.
The Institute undertakes and encourages scholarly, ethical community-based research, holds a priceless collection of films, photographs, video and audio recordings and the world’s largest collections of printed and other resource materials for Indigenous Studies, and has its own publishing house.
Its activities affirm and raise awareness among all Australians, and people of other nations, of the richness and diversity of Australian Indigenous cultures and histories.
AIATSIS is a Commonwealth statutory authority within the
Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIISR 
) portfolio.
Our functions
- to undertake and promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies
- to publish the results of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies and to assist in the publication of the results of such studies
- to conduct research in fields relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies and to encourage other persons or bodies to conduct such research
- to assist in training persons, particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, as research workers in fields relevant to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies
- to establish and maintain a cultural resource collection consisting of materials relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
- to encourage understanding, in the general community of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander societies