One of AIATSIS’ most important functions as a research institute is to host and collaborate with researchers from Australia and abroad who can offer valuable perspectives on the AIATSIS collections, research and archiving practices, community experiences, and other major research projects.
Our Yumalundi visitors program attracts multidisciplinary distinguished scholars and community researchers to AIATSIS, to engage with staff and the AIATSIS collections and to meet the contemporary research needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. We aim to enable researchers, practitioners, students and Indigenous communities to encounter and engage with the collection whilst learning or practising skills in using and managing archival materials. The Visitors Program also provides a forum for researchers to share their research with a wide audience and to amplify the voices of those with whom they work.
We aim to support the use, return, and transformation of collection material in a way that will continue to facilitate and support cultural resurgence. Through their research, visitors will be asked to contribute to a narrative of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ thriving cultures, agency and achievement.
AIATSIS Visitors Program positions are available for visitors at any stage of their career with compelling research activities and goals.
To apply for one of the AIATSIS Visitors Programs see the application processes below. Once you complete an application form, your details will be passed on to the relevant AIATSIS staff member and you will be contacted about your potential position.
Types of visitors
Positions are available under the following categories:
Visiting scholars
These positions offer scholars the opportunity to work within AIATSIS with staff for anywhere between 4 weeks up to 12 months. Scholars will have the opportunity to collaborate on research, co-author papers, acquire training in archives management and benefit from AIATSIS’ standing with the Australian Research Council.
Positions are available for early-career and established university and independent researchers and for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community researchers with high-level research skills. Their professional and research outputs will depend on the availability of funding and AIATSIS support, as well as the duration of their fellowship and the time spent in Canberra. These outputs might take the form of presentations and publications that highlight the work completed at AIATSIS or add to AIATSIS collections data/meta data. Research outputs will be negotiated with AIATSIS staff before commencing the program.
From time to time there may be honorary funded positions available. These funded scholarship positions may assist researchers to cover travel, accommodation in Canberra, as well as a stipend. These positions are competitive and the level of funding will be negotiated on a case by case basis. Honorary Scholars are selected equally on merit but are non-funded positions, typically suited to researchers who live in Canberra. AIATSIS may be able to provide in kind support for Honorary Scholars. To ensure that AIATSIS considers your proposal for a time that you are available, you should include your preferred work program in your application.
Applicants will be assessed on the following criteria:
- their relevant skills and knowledge
- the quality of their proposed project (including a description of the research to be undertaken at AIATSIS and why AIATSIS has been selected)
- the likely benefits the fellowship will provide to them and AIATSIS
- existing collaborations with AIATSIS staff and
- the alignment of the proposed project with the program’s target investment areas.
The Yumalundi Program is designed to connect researchers with the resources and collections at AIATSIS. AIATSIS holds an extensive range of publications, films, photographs, audio records and Honours, Masters and PhD theses that provide great detail of the historical experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians. Within this unique program, scholars have the space and support to conduct constructive research and the opportunity to create professional partnerships.
Applicants will also be asked to nominate any specific areas or aspects of the collections that they would like access to and note any contribution they can make in terms of providing additional metadata and information.
A previous scholar provided an outline of her experience here.
Visiting scholars application form
Visiting students
These positions offer students the opportunity to work within AIATSIS with staff for course credit as a part of a subject or specific research task. Students will have the opportunity to work within an academic and community based research environment and benefit from AIATSIS’ standing with the Australian Research Council.
Positions are available for Masters and Honours students with demonstrated high-level research skills. Research outputs will be negotiated with AIATSIS staff before commencing the program.
From time to time there may be honorary funded positions available. These funded scholarship positions may assist researchers to cover travel, accommodation in Canberra, as well as a stipend. These positions are competitive and the level of funding will be negotiated on a case by case basis. Visiting students are selected equally on merit but are non-funded positions, typically suited to those who live in Canberra. AIATSIS may be able to provide in kind support for visiting students. To ensure that AIATSIS considers your proposal for a time that you are available, you should include your preferred work program in your application.
Applicants will be assessed on the following criteria:
- their relevant skills and knowledge
- the quality of their proposed project (including a description of the research to be undertaken at AIATSIS and why AIATSIS has been selected)
- the likely benefits the fellowship will provide to them and AIATSIS
- the connection between the proposed project, course outcomes and AIATSIS priorities and
- the alignment of the proposed project with the program’s target investment areas.
Visiting students application form
Internships
Internship positions at AIATSIS provide early-career and final year undergraduate and postgraduate university students with the opportunity to work with AIATSIS staff on their current projects in Native Title, Indigenous Culture and Heritage, Information Technology, the AIATSIS library or the collections. These positions are very competitive and applicants must demonstrate a high capacity for research and a background of study or knowledge in the respective field. Interns will gain practical legal, research and cross cultural skills and work on projects with tangible connections to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and heritage within the context of both a research institute and a government organisation.
Applicants will be assessed on the following criteria:
- their relevant skills and intellectual capacity
- the likely benefits the internship will provide to them and AIATSIS and
- their professional and/or academic record
Interested applicants can apply to complete an internship at AIATSIS for course credit. They can apply to do this through their university if AIATSIS has a pre-existing partnership with them. Alternatively, they can apply using the standard process and organise with their university to have the internship considered for course credit.
Applicants can also apply for internships at AIATSIS or similar organisations through the Aurora Project. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Aurora Interns will be provided with financial assistance to cover flights and accommodation