The Native Title Research and Access Service is your first stop for information about the native title resources held in the AIATSIS Collections.
The service includes
- making catalogue searches and listings of AIATSIS Collections
- arranging for individual and group research visits
- copying relevant material from the AIATSIS Collections
- providing contacts for further research and relevant Indigenous organisations
- advice on managing your own collections
All information provided to you will be treated as confidential.
You may access this yourself or you may request a search to be done for you, we can send the listings relevant to your research to you by email or in hard copy. You can provide search terms by contacting AIATSIS directly by phone (02 6261 4223) or by email (ntss@aiatsis.gov.au).
Please provide the following information on the client information form (DOCX, 784KB) to ensure that the search done will be useful to you:
- name and geographical boundaries of your claim/research
- any personal names for whom you would like information
- lists of any searches that you have made from our catalogue.
Individual visits
NOTE: The AIATSIS Library is open from 10am - 1pm. Clients who have made a booking can access the collections with an AIATSIS staff member from 9:30am – 4:30pm.
You are welcome to visit the Library from 10am – 1pm, Monday- Friday to do your own searches. A number of computer terminals are set up for your use in the Library.
If you are planning to visit AIATSIS, it is best that you book an appointment with us as far ahead as possible so that we can provide the best service for you. If you want to listen to tapes or view photographs or videos in the AIATSIS Collections, an appointment needs to be booked two weeks in advance. When you are making your appointment, please ensure that we know any names, geographical areas, or language groups that you are interested in so that material can be ready for you when you arrive.
Some information in the collections is held on restricted access. This is shown clearly on the catalogue record. If you want to view a document that you know is restricted, please let us know well ahead of your visit. We can assist you to arrange clearances, but please remember that this process can take some time.
Group visits
We can organise group visits if an appointment is made several weeks in advance. Please state the number of people in the group and search terms so that listings can be ready for you when you arrive.
Tours of the AIATSIS Collections may be set up for you if you require, but please let us know of your interest in advance.
Copying relevant material
If you are doing research at AIATSIS, you may make photocopies of material held in the Library, except where restrictions apply. All copying, however, must be done in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. AIATSIS staff can help answer any questions you may have about what may be copied.
Photocopiers are available for your use in the Library, and there is no charge if you do your own copying. Copying of rare and fragile items needs to be arranged with the Collection Managers and there may be a charge for this.
If you want copies of audio tapes, photographs or slides, films or videos, we will work with you to arrange copies with the AIATSIS Collections. There are charges for copying material from the AIATSIS Collections, and they require prepayment before making any copies.
We can provide you with a list of organisations that can be helpful in preparing your claim/research, such as:
- Native Title Representative Bodies (NTRBs)
- National Native Title Tribunal (NNTT).
Staff members at AIATSIS have expertise in many areas, and although we cannot provide advice on specific claims, you may wish to speak to someone about an area of interest. We will be happy to help you establish contact with a relevant staff member.
Contact information
Email: ntss@aiatsis.gov.au
Phone: 02 6261 4223
Fax: 02 6249 7714