Towards Universal Access – AIATSIS - an Australian case study.

The paper will detail the challenges experienced by the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) in its institutional efforts to maximize access to its invaluable collection of audio-visual archives collected over the past 50 years, all relating to the histories, cultures and languages of indigenous Australians.
AIATSIS has an interesting history, having been initially established in the early 1960’s as a national body to undertake urgent ‘salvage’ research by non-indigenous academics on the traditional cultural aspects of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Since its inception in the early 1960s, AIATSIS has undergone considerable change, particularly so in its governance arrangements whereby indigenous people are now in charge of its strategic policy, planning and operations.
AIATSIS’ legislative role includes key responsibilities for the maintenance, preservation and access to its unique and extensive audio visual archives. The AIATSIS collection has grown over time to the point where it is now internationally recognised as the preeminent collection of such archival material.
This paper will outline the history and on-going challenges, including the related imperatives of time and distance, experienced by AIATSIS in its efforts to utilize digital technology in maximizing access to its invaluable collections.
These collections are of particular importance to Australia’s indigenous population which has very high expectations regarding ownership and access.