The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) provides free copies of collection material to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through our Return of Material to Indigenous Communities (ROMTIC) program. We provide up to 20 items for personal use, free of charge, per person every financial year.
The material
Our collection holds manuscripts, photographs and unedited and unpublished sound and video recordings of community life, languages, songs, ceremonies and oral histories submitted by academics, families and Indigenous communities from all over the country. While the quality of the collection items is variable, most of it is unique and irreplaceable, and the copies you obtain may become an important and treasured part of your family collection.
You can use our collection catalogue, Mura catalogue to find materials. Once you have located materials you can put in a request via our Request collection access or appointment form. For information about how to use the catalogue, please take a look at our tutorial.
Please Contact us If you need assistance with locating materials related to your family, cultural heritage or country.