Note from AIATSIS Dear AIATSIS Members I am writing to advise you of some recent decisions by the AIATSIS Council and management about the priorities and operation of the institute. These follow my address to the National Press Club on 12 November, in which I referred to some of our current challenges – you can access a transcript here: 50years.aiatsis.gov.au/it%E2%80%99s-too-late-call-secure-australia%E2%80%99s-indigenous-heritage As part of our work to follow up on the review of AIATSIS that you were consulted about last year, AIATSIS commissioned an expert assessment of the significance of our treasured collection, and also a review of its management. These assessments confirmed that AIATSIS’ collection is ‘the most extensive and best contextualized collection of Indigenous Australia in the world. It is a site of pilgrimage.’ Unfortunately they also gave us a new and very concerning understanding of what is now required if its most fragile elements are to be preserved. Elements of the collection are at extreme to catastrophic risk of not being preserved before it is too late, unless significantly greater resources are dedicated to this purpose. AIATSIS Council and management are continuing to work closely with our portfolio department and the government to make the case for additional resources. However, the prospect of additional resources from government is uncertain and the outcome will not be known for some time. In the meantime, we have decided that we must make plans for AIATSIS to operate within the funding parameters known for 2015-16, and to direct as much of those resources as possible to the preservation of the collection. Given the permanence of any losses to the collection, we have concluded this must be our highest priority, even though that will necessarily be at the expense of other activities that we consider to be very important. AIATSIS received $3.2 million in the Budget in 2014-15 for digitisation of the collection, but this funding terminates in June 2015, leaving the institute with a base appropriation of $10.6 million, which is supplemented by some contracts to provide specific services and undertake particular research. To operate within this funding envelope, while maximising the resources dedicated to the collection, between now and 1 July 2015 we will: • Limit AIATSIS’ research activity to projects that are funded separately, such as the Native Title Research Unit; • Consolidate and trim corporate, finance, executive and communication functions; and • Redirect the resulting resources to the collection, and focus collections activities even more tightly on preservation. AIATSIS management has begun working with employees to plan this transition so they are afforded as many opportunities and options as possible. At this stage, no changes are planned to arrangements for access to the collection. The AIATSIS Library will remain open from 11am-3pm daily, and requests for access to audio-visual material will continue to be processed, noting that waiting times may increase. As you would appreciate, we have made these decisions with reluctance, and remain committed to doing our absolute best to secure AIATSIS’ future and the heritage of Indigenous and all Australians. In parallel with these contingencies, we will be establishing the charitable foundation which I announced in my speech, as well as the high level ‘before it’s too late’ committee to develop a plan to secure Indigenous heritage wherever it is across Australia. And we will continue to make the best possible case to the government and other potential supporters. Your continued support for the institute over the coming months will be invaluable. Prof Mick Dodson Chairperson
Posted on: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 03:44:56 +0000
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