57-533: The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies ( AIATSIS ), established as the Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies ( AIAS ) in 1964, is an independent Australian Government statutory authority . It is a collecting, publishing, and research institute and is considered to be Australia's premier resource for information about the cultures and societies of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. The institute
114-668: A British style of parliamentary democracy such as the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth countries like Australia , Canada , India and New Zealand . They are also found in Israel and elsewhere. Statutory authorities may also be statutory corporations , if created as a body corporate . '. A statutory authority is a generic term for an authorisation by Parliament given to a person or group of people to exercise specific powers. A statutory authority can be established as
171-574: A Research Advisory Committee, to assess research applications and advise the council. The Aboriginal Studies Press published their best-selling Aboriginal Australia map in 1996, based on research conducted for the Encyclopaedia of Aboriginal Australia , edited by David Horton . In 2001, the Institute launched a two-year Library Digitisation Pilot Program (LDPP). Among the items digitised, catalogued and made available online were 267 volumes of
228-825: A century of Australia's history. This unique archive of footage and stills is made available to the production industry. Film Australia Digital Learning creates projects targeted to the developing market for educational resources, primarily for delivery online. It draws largely on the materials in Film Australia's Library, and creates opportunities for documentary filmmakers and multimedia producers in education and new media production. Film Australia Distribution markets both National Interest Program productions and independently produced documentaries to Australian and international broadcasters, and to libraries, schools, universities and community groups. Film Australia Studios in Sydney
285-464: A corporate Commonwealth entity or a non-corporate Commonwealth entity. A statutory authority may also be a body within a Commonwealth entity, exercising the powers given by Parliament but administratively part of the entity." A statutory corporation is defined in the government glossary as a "statutory body that is a body corporate, including an entity created under section 87 of the PGPA Act" (i.e.
342-567: A more comprehensive approach by the Australian Government to the recording of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and cultures. In 1960, a Cabinet sub-committee assessed the proposal and formed a working party at the Australian National University (ANU) to consider the viability of the proposal. One of their first actions was to appoint W.E.H. Stanner to organise a conference on
399-536: A new Act with a new name. The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) Act was passed by parliament in 1989, replacing the AIAS Act. The newly established AIATSIS had a reduced Council consisting of nine members, with the AIATSIS Act specifying that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people hold a minimum of five of these Council positions. The new Act also established
456-477: A range of papers and research findings, including in the fields of linguistics, demography, physical anthropology, history and musicology. The early work of the AIAS is credited with increasing interaction between academics in different fields, as well as establishing the foundations for the extensive collections AIATSIS holds today. But before 1970, there had never been an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander member on
513-604: A request for such an initiative by the then Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Clyde Holding . The aim of the RAPP was to protect Australian Indigenous rock art. Grants were approved by the institute to fund various projects related to rock art protection. The collections were also expanding, and by 1987 the AIATSIS library encompassed the print collections, a special Bibliographic Section and the Resource Centre (which contained
570-666: A statutory authority may be a statutory corporation). An earlier definition describes a statutory corporation as "a statutory authority that is a body corporate", and the New South Wales Government 's Land Registry Services defines a state-owned corporation as "a statutory authority that has corporate status". Statutory authorities at the State or Territory level are established under corresponding State or Territory laws. Each statutory authority tends to have its own enabling legislation, or originating act , even if it
627-639: A ten-part series on Australian history was provided by the Government from 2005. Film Australia was the executive producer of these productions, drawing the creative and technical talent needed to produce them from Australia's independent documentary production industry. The company also provided support to the Australian documentary sector through a range of services and facilities, under its Community Service Obligations. The Film Australia Library manages over 5000 titles and 150,000 photographs, reflecting
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#1732775435379684-503: A training program and had started employing trainee Aboriginal filmmakers on productions by the early 1980s. The AIAS began presenting a biennial Wentworth Lecture in 1978, named as a tribute to W.C. Wentworth for his role in establishing the institute. The lecture is presented by prominent person with knowledge or experience relating to issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia today. The expansion of
741-510: Is a leader in ethical research and the handling of culturally sensitive material. The collection at AIATSIS has been built through over 50 years of research and engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and is now a source of language and culture revitalisation, native title research , and Indigenous family and community history. AIATSIS is located on Acton Peninsula in Canberra , Australian Capital Territory . In
798-430: Is a purpose-built film and television production facility and provides screening venues, a sound stage, sound post-production facilities, a film laboratory, production offices, editing and transfer suites. These are used by many Film Australia and low-budget independent film and television productions, and by long-term tenants who operate production facilities and service companies. Film Australia's Digital Resource Finder
855-500: Is generally regarded as Australia's finest railway film. Film Australia also created one of Australia's most successful children's television programs, Johnson and Friends , which ran for four series. The program sold to over 50 territories and ran from 1990 until 1995. This venture also lead to the creation of further children's programs, including The Girl from Tomorrow / Tomorrow's End , Boffins , Escape from Jupiter / Return to Jupiter and Spellbinder / Land of
912-652: Is on at the centre until 14 June 2024. The official opening was attended by Linda Burney , the Minister for Indigenous Australians , and NT Minister for Arts, Culture and Heritage Chansey Paech . Statutory authority A statutory body or statutory authority is a body set up by law ( statute ) that is authorised to implement certain legislation on behalf of the relevant country or state, sometimes by being empowered or delegated to set rules (for example regulations or statutory instruments ) in their field. They are typically found in countries which are governed by
969-586: The Dawn and New Dawn magazines held in the AIATSIS collection. AIATSIS also distributed over 2000 free copies of these magazines on CD-Rom, to Indigenous organisations, schools and libraries in New South Wales . Throughout this period, AIATSIS continued to undertake projects focused on the digitisation of collection materials, including their holdings of the complete back catalogue of Koori Mail . This involved scanning over 35,000 pages from 500 editions of
1026-493: The AIAS Council as well as employment at the institute. The committee was renamed in 1978, to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Committee. In 1975–1976, a category of research grants for Aboriginal researchers was introduced. The emergence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people filling the role of 'cultural practitioner', travelling to the AIAS to provide advice on projects and research being undertaken,
1083-432: The AIAS Council. "Money and other resources are in short supply for Aboriginal control of their livelihood, but not, it seems, for discussing it." – Eaglehawk and Crow letter, 29 March 1974 The 1970s marked a period of change for the AIAS. This began with the appointment of the first Aboriginal member of the AIAS Council in 1970. Phillip Roberts, an Alawa man, served on the council from September 1970 until June 1972. This
1140-618: The Cinema and Photographic Branch (also known as the Cinema Branch) was created in Melbourne under cameraman Bert Ive , after he had been appointed government photographer and cinematographer . The Branch was administered by a number of Commonwealth government departments during its existence, changing the focus of the photographs and films, including the promotion of Australian merchandise, tourism, and immigration. When it came under
1197-687: The Commonwealth Film Unit) produced a movie titled One Man's Road which prominently featured Aboriginal Australian activist Clive Andrew Williams , in which he shared many stories about his life. Upon the film's release, Williams was dismayed to discover that the Australian Department of Territories had been using the movie as propaganda to promote the cultural assimilation of Aboriginal people, something which Williams opposed. In 1973 Film Australia gained its first female producer, Suzanne Baker , who in 1977 became
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#17327754353791254-688: The Commonwealth Immigration Office in 1921, the Cinema Branch was expanded, and by the end of the Silent era (1927 onwards), it was making a film a week. Lyn Maplestone , production manager from 1926, directed many of the films made by the Branch in the 1930s. The Cinema and Photographic Branch wound up in 1938, Ive died on 25 July 1939, and Australia was at war with Germany two months later. The Cinema Branch moved into
1311-596: The Dragon Lord . Before becoming Screen Australia, Film Australia was one of the nation's leading producers of television documentaries and educational programs. Film Australia produced programs under the National Interest Program: a contract with the Australian Government to devise, produce, distribute and market productions that deal with matters of national interest or illustrate and interpret aspects of Australian life. Additional funding for
1368-674: The Film Australia Collection was transferred from Screen Australia to the National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) on 1 July 2011, and the Film Australia Library became the Film Australia Collection. The Australian Children's Television Foundation became distributors for Film Australia's children's catalogue, with the exception of Boffins , maintained by the NFSA. In 1967 Film Australia (then
1425-555: The Film Unit operated until 1988 when its functions were absorbed back into the institute. During the MacDougall/McKenzie era, a new style of ethnographic film was explored. One that moved away from film as a scientific record in favour of telling the story of individuals lives. The filmmakers also practised a more collaborative approach to their films, and chose to use translations and subtitles to give direct access to
1482-626: The Institute continued into the 1980s. The Aboriginal Studies Press began publishing the Australian Aboriginal Studies Journal in 1983, a peer-reviewed journal aimed at "promoting high-quality research in Australian Indigenous studies". In 1982, the AIAS established a task force that identified the prevailing need for further 'Aboriginalisation' of the Institute's workforce. At the time, there were four Aboriginal staff members, making up around 7% of
1539-596: The Institute's audiovisual materials). Between 1987 and 1989, the survival of the AIAS as an independent statutory body was tied to a proposal for a new statutory commission that would take over all aspects of the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio. This commission would become the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC), conceived in an Act of Parliament in 1989. The AIAS would not be folded into this commission; instead it would be recreated under
1596-458: The creation of the new Australian Institute for Aboriginal Studies the following year. The Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies was established as a statutory authority under an Act of Parliament in June 1964. The mission of the Institute at that time has been described as "to record language, song, art, material culture, ceremonial life and social structure before those traditions perished in
1653-631: The face of European ways". This notion is also reflected in the Institute's official functions, as recorded in the Reading of the Bill in Parliament. These were: AIAS had a twenty-two member Council, composed mainly of academics, and had a foundation membership of one hundred. The founding Principal of the newly formed institute was Frederick McCarthy , a professional anthropologist and graduate of Sydney University who had spent nearly 30 years working in
1710-478: The field. The creation of the AIAS provided an opportunity for greater cross-discipline interaction in fields relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander studies in Australia. The Institute's founding principal, Fred McCarthy, was an advocate of film as an important part of research methodology as early as his tenure as curator of anthropology at the Australian Museum in Sydney in the 1940s. This
1767-540: The first Australian woman to win an Academy Award , for Best Animated Short Film , for Leisure , animated by Bruce Petty . Some of Michael Thornhill 's first films were short documentaries made for the Commonwealth Film Unit, including The Esperance story (1968) and Cheryl and Kevin (1974). One of Film Australia's most successful films is A Steam Train Passes . It has won many awards and
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1824-514: The first chair of the institute now known as AIATSIS. In August 1962, a draft constitution for the institute was submitted to the Menzies government, and rejected. The Interim Council completed a revised constitution in July 1963. Amendments to the document included the change from the title 'director' to 'principal' of the institute. This version of the constitution would go on to form the basis for
1881-694: The following areas; Commonwealth Film Unit Film Australia was a company established by the Government of Australia to produce films about Australia in 1973. Its predecessors were the Cinema and Photographic Branch (1913–38), the Australian National Film Board (1939–1955, under different departments), and the Commonwealth Film Unit (1956–72). Film Australia became Film Australia Limited in 1988 and
1938-417: The institute. But the move did not allay the belief held by some Aboriginal activists that the AIAS was engaging in 'tokenism' in the extent to which Aboriginal people were involved in the administration of Aboriginal Studies. The changes to the Institute that would take place in the following decade were also influenced by the shifting social and political landscape in Australia. The Aboriginal rights movement
1995-438: The late 1950s, there was an increasing focus on the global need for anthropological research into 'disappearing cultures'. This trend was also emerging in Australia in the work of researchers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, leading to a proposal by W.C. Wentworth MP for the conception of an Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies (AIAS) in 1959. The proposal was made as a submission to Cabinet, and argued for
2052-665: The new Department of Information (DOI), becoming the Australian National Film Board (also referred to as the Film Division, created in order oversee coordination of government and commercial filmmaking , and to engage film production in the war effort and based in Sydney ). From 1950, the division came under the Australian News and Information Bureau , until 1955, and from 1956 until 1972 it
2109-687: The new centre will work closely with local people to take care of the cultural heritage from the region. There is a dedicated ancestry section in the new centre, which before its completion was referred to as AIATSIS Alice Springs Engagement and Digitisation Centre and is now officially known as AIATSIS Central Australia. The centre will be run in collaboration with the Northern Territory Government , and allow access to AIATSIS materials for people living in Central Australia . An exhibition titled To Know, To Respect, To Care
2166-660: The newspaper, with searchable copies launched on the AIATSIS website in partnership with Koori Mail in 2011. As part of their research functions, AIATSIS also initiated a number of public programs and research related events during this time that are still run today. The institute has convened the National Indigenous Studies Conference every two years since 2001 and the National Native Title Conference every year since 2002. The After 200 Years photographic project
2223-403: The next 30 years, the Film Unit would go on to produce "one of the largest assembly of ethnographic films created in the world". In keeping with the AIAS official function "to publish and to support the publication of the results of research", a publishing arm of the institute was established in 1964. Publishing under the name Australian Institute of Aboriginal Studies, the publishing arm released
2280-423: The running of the Institute and for greater control over commissioning and funding of research into their cultures. The policy and structural changes to the Institute continued throughout the 1970s. The Aboriginal Advisory Committee was established in 1975, and consisted of the six Aboriginal members of the AIAS Council. Early recommendations including increased representation of Aboriginal people on committees and
2337-564: The same fashion as an act of parliament, but usually with specific initials (depending on the authority) and a number. Just as with laws enacted by Parliament, all laws made by a statutory authority must be published in the Government Gazette. The Parliament of Australia , or a State or Territory Parliament , will delegate its authority to a statutory authority for several reasons; The power to enact legislation has been delegated by Australian Parliaments (State and/or Federal) in
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2394-436: The southern, urban parts of Australia. Aboriginal involvement in selecting subject matter, photographing and documenting the collection was a major part of the project. The three-year project culminated in the publication of a book containing hundreds of photographs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and selected by them to represent their community. The Rock Art Protection Program (RAPP) commenced in 1986 following
2451-532: The state of Aboriginal Studies in Australia, to be held in 1961 at the ANU. Academics and anthropologists in the field of Aboriginal Studies attended the conference, and contributed research papers published in a conference report in 1963. No Aboriginal people were present at the conference. The Prime Minister at the time, Robert Menzies , appointed an Interim Council in 1961. The role of the Interim Council
2508-418: The subjects voice and thoughts rather than the dominant 'voice of god' narration style. One of the most notable films produced towards the end of this period was Waiting for Harry , a prize-winning film directed by Kim McKenzie with anthropologist Les Hiatt and now considered to exemplify the "style of collaborative filmmaking" the Film Unit favoured in their work. The power of film to "influence opinion"
2565-411: The total staff. This was followed in 1985 with the creation of the role of Aboriginal Studies Coordination Officer within the AIAS, whose responsibilities involved improving access for Aboriginal people to the research and resources of the institute. The After 200 Years project was launched in 1985, aiming to fill some of the gaps in the AIAS photographic collection; particularly images of daily life in
2622-560: Was also documented from around 1976 onwards. The time Peter Ucko spent as Principal of the AIAS saw a phase of "rapid expansion" for the institute. The AIAS Film Unit that had operated in Sydney until 1973 was re-established in Canberra in 1975. Prominent American-born ethnographic filmmaker David MacDougall was appointed the Director of this new AIAS Film Unit. With his wife and filmmaking partner Judith MacDougall and Kim McKenzie,
2679-468: Was also responsible for a significant boost to AIAS funding. The appointment of Peter Ucko in 1972 as Principal of the AIAS has since been described as the beginning of an increase in involvement of Aboriginal people in the workings of the institute. In his time as Principal, Ucko was responsible for implementing a policy later labelled "Aboriginalisation", which was aimed at opening up the institute to Aboriginal involvement and representation. This policy
2736-538: Was becoming increasingly recognised and with this, the lack of representation of Aboriginal people telling their own stories. In 1978, a meeting chaired by prominent activist and academic Marcia Langton expressed these concerns, arguing for greater access to film and video in Aboriginal communities, and training in film production by the AIAS. By the following year, the AIAS Film Unit had begun to implement
2793-544: Was consolidated into Screen Australia in 2008. Administration of the Film Australia Collection was transferred from Screen Australia to the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia on 1 July 2011. The mission of the organisation changed through its earlier incarnations, but from 1973 its aim was to create an audio-visual record of Australian culture, through the commissioning, distribution and management of programs that deal with matters of national interest or illustrate and interpret aspects of Australian life. In 1913
2850-680: Was established before the relevant over-riding legislation. For example, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) was established in 1949 by the Science and Industry Research Act , but it has since come under the jurisdiction of the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act 1997 as legislation covering statutory authorities has evolved. Laws made by statutory authorities are usually referred to as regulations. They are not cited in
2907-429: Was evident in the contributions he made during his involvement in establishing the AIAS and also as its principal, in continuing to support the development of the AIAS Film Unit and championing ethnographic film in global forums. In the early years of the AIAS, the Film Unit largely outsourced early filmmaking work to other companies, or worked in collaboration with the Commonwealth Film Unit (as early as 1962). But over
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#17327754353792964-459: Was followed in 1971 with a second Aboriginal Council member, Senator Neville Bonner , who served on Council until 1974 and for a second term in the late 1970s. And again in 1972, with the appointment of Dick Roughsey to replace Phillip Roberts at the end of his term. The appointment of Phillip Roberts to the Council reflected a growing pressure for an increase in Aboriginal representation within
3021-454: Was growing and Aboriginal people were demanding a voice on Council, consultation with communities and an increased focus on projects relevant to the needs of Indigenous people. In 1972, the Whitlam government was elected. Their policy of Self-determination for Aboriginal people echoed calls for greater Aboriginal involvement in the administration and functions of the AIAS. The new government
3078-529: Was influenced by a document circulated in 1974, called the Eaglehawk and Crow letter, which criticised the current model of academic research. The letter asserted that anthropologists "should not pretend that their studies are objective when the overwhelming factor in the lives of Aborigines is our oppression by the society of which the anthropologist is, to a greater or lesser extent, a part of." Its authors called for increased participation of Aboriginal people in
3135-533: Was revisited in 2014 with an exhibition of images at Parliament House, Canberra , to coincide with AIATSIS' 50-year anniversary. On 2 February 2024, coinciding with its 60th anniversary, AIATSIS opened a new facility in Mparntwe-Alice Springs , building on its long partnership with First Nations Media Australia , which is based in the city. AIATSIS staff, six of whom are Indigenous locals (of seven in total; intended to grow to up to 24) located at
3192-677: Was the Commonwealth Film Unit. By the late 1940s all film production took place in Sydney, and the Melbourne branch closed in 1954, after continuing to process some non-theatrical film until this time. Stanley Hawes was the Producer-in-Chief from 1946 to 1969. In June 1973 the unit was superseded by Film Australia, which became Film Australia Limited in 1988. The operations of Film Finance Corporation Australia , Australian Film Commission , and Film Australia were merged as Screen Australia in July 2008. Administration of
3249-440: Was to plan for a national Aboriginal research organisation and establish how this organisation would interact with existing research and scientific bodies. The Interim Council was also tasked with immediately developing a programme that would identify and address urgent research needs. The Interim Council consisted of 16 members and was chaired by Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the ANU, Professor A. D. Trendall , officially recognised as
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