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 the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Previously to the new administrative arrangements announced on 18 September 2013, AIATSIS was within the Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (DIICCSRTE) portfolio.