Resources: Web

The following organisations all have websites where you can find more information:

Government & Land Councils

National Government:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC)
Until 2005, ATSIC was the peak Indigenous body in Australia, and its website contained information on Indigenous programs and issues, as well as links to other sites.  Because the Australian Government abolished ATSIC in 2005, the website will no longer be active, but the archived link may remain an excellent source of general information.
Web: www.atsic.gov.au

Indigenous Government Services
Check this site for information on Government services to Indigenous Australians. Since the Australian Government has changed the way it works with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people (with the 2005 abolition of ATSIC), this site will be updated with details of the government’s “New Arrangements for Indigenous Services.”
Web: www.indigenous.gov.au 

Ministry for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs
The website for the Federal Minister of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs includes ministry reports, budgets, and media releases.
Web: www.atsia.gov.au

NSW State Government:

NSW Department of Aboriginal Affairs
The state government department designated to work with Aboriginal people in New South Wales to achieve social, economic and cultural independence. The website contains access to an online media kit that includes background briefings on numerous topics. Also find up-to-date information on Aboriginal affairs in NSW. 
Tower B Level 13, 280 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9219 0700  Fax: (02) 9219 0790  Email: enquiries@daa.nsw.gov.au 
Web: www.daa.nsw.gov.au

Sydney Area Land Councils:

NSW Aboriginal Land Council
Peak organisation for all local Aboriginal Land Councils in New South Wales.
33 Argyle Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Tel: (02) 9689 4444  Fax: (02) 9687 1234  Email: penwurr@alc.org.au
Web: www.alc.org.au

Deerubbin Local Aboriginal Land Council
PO Box 7184, Mt Druitt Village NSW 2770
Tel: (02) 9832 4257  Fax: (02) 9832 2496  Email: staff@deerubbin.org.au 
Web: www.deerubbin.org.au

Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council
Level 1, 103 Moore Street, Liverpool NSW 2170
Tel: (02) 602 5280  Fax: (02) 9602 2741  Email: gandangara@bigpond.com
Web: www.glalc.org.au

La Perouse Local Aboriginal Land Council
PO Box 365, La Perouse NSW 2036
Tel: (02) 9311 4282  Fax: (02) 9661 7423 

Metropolitan Local Aboriginal Land Council (MLALC)
As custodians for the traditional owners of the Sydney area, Metro is the organisation responsible for Aboriginal sites, land, and community in the Sydney metropolitan area, including the Northern Beaches region. The website is an excellent source of information about Metro’s projects, activities and services.
PO Box 1103, Strawberry Hills NSW 2012
Tel: (02) 8394 9666 Fax: (02) 8394 9733 Email: metrolalc@metrolalc.org.au
Web: www.metrolalc.org.au

Tharawal Local Aboriginal Land Council
PO Box 20, Buxton NSW 2571
Tel: (02) 4681 0059  Fax: (02) 4683 1375  Email: tharawal@ideal.net.au 
Web: www.tharawal.net.au  

Political Parties:

You may not agree with their policies, but you should know where they stand:
Australian Democrats Party: www.democrats.org.au
Australian Greens Party: www.greens.org.au
Australian Labor Party: www.alp.org.au
Australian Liberal Party: www.liberal.org.au
Australian National Party: www.nationalparty.org.au

Directories, Libraries, Statistics

Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
AIATSIS promotes knowledge and understanding of Australian Indigenous cultures, past and present. The library has extensive pictorial and sound archives, indexes, as well as family history and access units. Contact them for their extensive catalogue of resources.
GPO Box 553, Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6246 1111  Fax: (02) 6249 7310 
Web: www.aiatsis.gov.au

Australian Bureau of Statistics
Indigenous statistics from the 2001 census of population and housing.
Web: www.abs.gov.au

Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)
HREOC is responsible for anti-discrimination and human rights in Australia. See HREOC’s statistical overview of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in Australia.
Web: www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/statistics/index.html

Indigenous Australia WWW Resource Directory
The University of Sydney’s Koori Centre website contains over 800 links to various Indigenous websites, including the Blacktracka Search Engine.
Web: www.koori.usyd.edu.au

Indigoz
Indigenous Australia Internet Portal documents and promotes the development of the Indigenous Australian presence on the internet.
Web: www.indigoz.com.au

Myth Busting
Check out these two websites devoted specifically to challenging the stereotypes and myths surrounding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and communities:

FACE the Facts published by the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC) at www.humanrights.gov.au/racial_discrimination/face_facts/index.htm

Rebutting the Myths published by the Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) at http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/special/rsjproject/rsjlibrary/parliamentary/rebutting/

NSW State Library
Mitchell Library has vast collections of state historical materials. The library also produces Infokoori, an online databased index to the Koori Mail (a national fortnightly newspaper published in Lismore, NSW), and to biographical information from Dawn (1952-1969), New Dawn (1970-1975) and Identity (1971-1982). Web: www.sl.nsw.gov.au

VICNET – Victoria Community Network
Victoria’s Community network, run through its State Library, has links to Aboriginal community pages in Victoria and New South Wales.
Web: www.vicnet.net.au/community/aboriginal

The Wentworth Lectures (AIATSIS)
The Wentworth Lectures, organised by AIATSIS, are held biennially in honour of the late Honourable W.C. Wentworth AO in recognition of his contribution to Indigenous studies and as a means to encourage all Australians to gain a better understanding of issues that go to the heart of our development as a nation.
Web: www.aiatsis.gov.au/lbry/dig_prgm/wentworth/wentworth_hm.htm

Indigenous Media

ABC (Australian Broadcasting Commission)
Message Stick is ABC’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander website, containing news, arts and events, cultural protocol, employment and more. A weekly TV program airs Fridays at 6pm and repeats Sundays at 1.30pm. Web: www.abc.net.au/message

Awaye is the Indigenous art and culture program on Radio National, airing Fridays at 1pm and repeated Saturdays at 6pm. Web: www.abc.net.au/awaye

Gadigal Information Service
A community based media arts and information service for the Indigenous community in Sydney.  Listen to Koori Radio (93.7FM) or check out web: www.gadigal.org.au

Koori Mail
National Indigenous newspaper published fortnightly from Lismore, NSW. See also the NSW State Library entry above for Infokoori, the databased index of the Koori Mail.
Web: www.koorimail.com

National Indigenous Times
National Indigenous newspaper published fortnightly from Batemans Bay, NSW. Check out the online version with its regular updates. Web: www.nit.com.au

Culture & Heritage

Australian Institute of Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS)
AIATSIS promotes knowledge and understanding of Australian Indigenous cultures, past and present. The library has extensive pictorial and sound archives, indexes, as well as family history and access units.
GPO Box 553, Canberra ACT 2601
Tel: (02) 6246 1111  Fax: (02) 6249 7310 
Web: www.aiatsis.gov.au
Access the excellent AIATSIS online exhibitions through their library digitisation program at www.aiatsis.gov.au/lbry/dig_prgm/online_exhibitions.htm

Australian Museum
The Australian Museum’s website provides great online access to its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural collections, as well as stories and educational resources.
6 College Street, Sydney NSW 2101
Tel: (02) 9320 6000  Web:  www.amonline.net.au
AM online – Stories of the Dreaming www.dreamtime.net.au
AM online – Aboriginal people of coastal Sydney www.livingharbour.net/aboriginal
AM online – Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander cultural collections at www.amonline.net.au/collections/ and www.amonline.net.au/anthropology/collections/australia/index.htm

Indigenous Languages of Australia
There are more than 200 Australian Indigenous languages. Less than 20 languages are strong, and even these are endangered: the others have been destroyed, live in the memories of the elderly, or are being revived by their communities. This site has annotated links to 180 resources for about 60 languages. About 25% of these resources are produced or published by Indigenous people.
Web: www.dnathan.com/VL/austLang.htm

Local Sydney Aboriginal History Websites
Some local government councils are producing excellent websites about the Aboriginal heritage of their areas, including history, language, sites, glossaries, etc. See:
Barani (Sydney City Council): www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au/barani
Cadigal Wangal (Marrickville Council): www.cadigalwangal.com.au

NSW National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS)
NPWS is responsible for the legal protection of Aboriginal sites and cultural heritage in New South Wales and maintain the official NSW Aboriginal Sites Register.
PO Box 1967 Hurstville NSW 2220
Tel: (02) 9585 6444  Fax: (02) 9585 6325 
Web: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

Education

Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG)
A community based Aboriginal organisation made up of volunteers with regional and local branches throughout the State, the NSW AECG provides support to Aboriginal communities on Aboriginal Education and related issues, and promotes their involvement in developing policy direction in NSW. Local branches work with families and schools in their local communities.
State Office, 37 Cavendish Street, Stanmore NSW 2048
Tel: (02) 9550 5666  Fax: (02) 9550 3361
Web: www.nswaecg.com.au

NSW HSC Online – Aboriginal Studies Page
This information network services the HSC needs of students and teachers. Arranged by subject. Click onto Aboriginal Studies page.
Web:  www.hsc.csu.edu.au

Linga Longa Aboriginal Philosophy Farm

Philosophy Week is held annually, commencing Easter Monday, at Linga Longa Farm and is "a unique opportunity to spend five fulfilling days with Australia's Indigenous Philosophers and Teachers, sharing their cultures, values and spiritual beliefs to heal ourselves, our spirit and our land".
PO Box 713, Telegraph Point NSW 2441
Tel: (02) 6585 8282  Fax: (02) 6585 8042  Email: PhilosophyFarm@iprimus.com.au
Web: www.philosophyfarm.org

Tranby Aboriginal College

The first and only independent, Aboriginal controlled adult education centre in Australia and the scene of a number of key issues in Indigenous activism. Courses for the Indigenous community include Aboriginal Studies, Legal Studies, and Development Studies. An Applied Aboriginal Studies course is available for members of the non-Indigenous community.
11-13 Mansfield Street, Glebe NSW 2037
Tel: (02) 9660 3444  Fax: (02) 9660 1924  Email: Tranby@tranby.com.au
Web: www.tranby.com.au

See also our Inform Yourself section for further information about where to take advantage of educational opportunities to learn more about Indigenous Australia.

Economics & Enterprise

Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR)
Centre at the Australian National University focussing on national indigenous economic policy issues.
Web: www.anu.edu.au/caepr

Indigenous Stock Exchange (ISX)
This website links and features Indigenous enterprises from around the country. The primary goal of ISX is to support the development of sustainable Indigenous businesses across Australia. The trading floors allow either large or small businesses to put forward their needs for investment and/or mentoring support. Use this site to find out about how to support Indigenous businesses.
Web: www.isx.org.au

Black Pages
Black Pages is Australia's first and only national on-line Indigenous Business and Community Enterprise Directory. It provides a comprehensive national listing of Indigenous businesses, community enterprises and services.
Web: www.blackpages.com.au

Health

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Health
This site provides information relating to Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander health research.
Web: www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au

Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health
This is the website for Australia’s national office for Indigenous health.
Web: www.health.gov.au/oatsih

The Fred Hollows Foundation
The Fred Hollows Foundation is a non-government organisation which aims to improve the health outcomes of Indigenous Australians and to eradicate avoidable blindness in developing countries. The website includes information about their Indigenous Health Program, 'Facts & Figures' about Indigenous health, information sheets, photos etc.
Web: www.hollows.org/content/CountryHome.aspx?s=14

Cuz Congress
This website targets Aboriginal youth seeking help online and is a gateway site for a wide range of medical and mental health support services, including Lifeline, Kids Help Line, Reach Out and Healthy Vibes.
Web: www.cuzcongress.com

Mt Theo-Yuendumu Substance Misuse Program (MYSMAC)
Based in the Warlpiri region of Central Australia, the MYSMAC program is recognized nationally and internationally as providing an effective and innovative response to substance misuse. A community-based initiative, the program has ongoing success in assisting young people recover from substance misuse and preventing them from starting petrol sniffing. The program also works with families and the broader community to address the underlying causes of substance misuse.
Web: www.mttheo.org

  top of page

Human Rights & Legal

Australasian Legal Information Institute’s Indigenous Law Resources
The Reconciliation and Social Justice Internet Project is a collaborative project of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and the Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII) which aims to further Aboriginal reconciliation and social justice via the internet. This excellent site provides access to a range of Indigenous law resources, including links to legislation, reports, and research.
Web:  www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes

Human Rights & Equal Opportunity Commission (HREOC)
HREOC is responsible for anti-discrimination and human rights in Australia. Issues relating to Indigenous Australians include the Stolen Generations, Black Deaths in Custody, etc. 
Web: www.humanrights.gov.au

See also HREOC statistics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples at www.humanrights.gov.au/social_justice/statistics/index.html

See also FACE the Facts, which answers some frequent questions about Indigenous Australians, at www.humanrights.gov.au/racial_discrimination/face_facts/index.htm

NSW Anti-Discrimination Board
Information relating to the NSW Anti-Discrimination laws and complaints processes.
Web: www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/adb

Royal Commission into Deaths in Custody
The Royal Commission into Black Deaths in Custody confirmed that the rate of Indigenous detention was 27 times higher for police custody and 15 times higher for prison custody than for the general population. The Commission’s 1991 final report also contained 339 recommendations to deal with the gross over-representation of Indigenous Australians in custody, as well as the underlying causes of Indigenous discrimination and disadvantage. Fifteen years on, most of the recommendations remain unimplemented, while the prison death toll and incarceration rates continue to rise.
Web: www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes/rciadic/index.html

United Nations Human Rights Commissioner
Australia is a member of the United Nations and a signatory to its international human rights conventions. The High Commissioner is the principal UN official with responsibility for world human rights.
Web: www.unhchr.ch

UNSW Aboriginal Law Centre
Centre at the University of NSW that specialises in aspects of Australian Indigenous law.
Web: www.law.unsw.edu.au/centres/ilc/

Stolen Wages Information
Find out more about how wages and entitlements of Indigenous people were withheld or misappropriated through past practices of Commonwealth, State and Territory governments. These two websites provide fact sheets, articles, and links to further information. 

Stolen Wages Fact Sheet published by AIATSIS at www.aiatsis.gov.au/lbry/fct_shts/stolen_wages.htm

For a general outline of the Stolen Wages situation and ways you can help, see ANTaR at www.antar.org.au

Land

National Native Title Tribunal
The Tribunal is a Commonwealth Government body that facilitates the making of agreements among Indigenous people, governments, industry and others whose rights or interests may co-exist with native title rights and interests.
Web: www.nntt.gov.au

Native Title Representative Bodies (NTRB)
This website provides information on NTRBs and assists native title claimants and the general public to understand the function of the NTRBs under the Native Title Act 1993.
Web: www.ntrb.net

Treaty Online Exhibition (AIATSIS)
The Treaty exhibition contains material relating to the history and development of a treaty with Indigenous Australians. It traces how the idea of a treaty was first proposed and the main events moving this idea along. Access documents from the Aboriginal Treaty Committee, the 1988 Barunga Statement, etc.
Web: www.aiatsis.gov.au/lbry/dig_prgm/treaty/hm.htm 

Treaty Support Group
A project of the National Treaty Support Group and ATSIC, this site provides background information on the establishment of a Treaty process.
www.treatynow.org

Protocol

Acknowledgement of Country
As a sign of respect to the traditional owners of this land, more and more speakers at public events are opening their addresses with an "Acknowledgement of Country". The ASG have produced a bookmark outlining the protocol for Acknowledging Country. Please click here for details.

Ask First: A Guide to Respecting Indigenous Heritage Places and Values
Ask First: A guide to respecting Indigenous heritage places and values, Australian Heritage Commission, 2002 (now the Australian Heritage Council).
www.ahc.gov.au/publications/indigenousheritage/index.html

Protocols for Consultation and Negotiation with Aboriginal People
Jackie Huggins, Protocols for Consultation and Negotiation with Aboriginal People, Queensland Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Development, 1999.
www.indigenous.qld.gov.au/resources/publications.cfm

Respect, Acknowledge, Listen: Practical Protocols for Working with Indigenous Communities
Angelina Hurley, Respect, Acknowledge, Listen: Practical Protocols for Working with the Indigenous Communities of Western Sydney, Community Cultural Development NSW, 2003. This document provides information about working with the Aboriginal communities of Western Sydney, but also has broader relevance. The guide provides a listing of other protocol resource documents, including guidelines for ethical research, copyright and intellectual property rights, writing about Indigenous Australia, arts protocols, respecting culture, etc.
Web: www.ccdnsw.org/ccdnsw/artwork/protocols.pdf

New South Wales Reconciliation Council Inc
This webpage includes protocol guidelines useful for community groups, local councils and schools to help build effective partnerships with Indigenous groups and to ensure Indigenous involvement in their activities.
Web: http://nswrecon.com/resources/resource_categories/protocols/

ABC Message Stick: Cultural Protocol
The ABC Indigenous Programs Unit developed these protocols to assist media outlets, journalists, and filmmakers to understand the importance of abiding by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander protocols. The ABC guidelines outline strong principles of respect, Indigenous control, as well as communication and consent. Particularly helpful are sections focusing on copyright and image permissions, as well as the provision of further resources. Found on the Message Stick website, the Protocols can be downloaded in PDF format.
Web: www.abc.net.au/message/proper/

City of Sydney: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Protocols
The City of Sydney is home to a culturally diverse Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and in 2005 established a set of protocols for working with these groups. The protocols give an overview of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community history in the city, and specific ways to show respect for traditional custodians, observe significant ceremonies and dates, fly Indigenous flags, and work in consultation with Indigenous community. The protocols give helpful cultural and heritage guidelines in terms of media permissions, publications, signage, copyright and intellectual property, naming the deceased, etc. A copy of the protocols can be downloaded as a PDF document.
Web: www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au

Stolen Generations

Bringing Them Home Report
One of the most widespread and damaging assaults on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Australia has been the forced separation of children from their families. This occurred in every state and territory from the late 1800s until well into the 1970s. Thousands of children were taken from their families during this period, and have become known as the Stolen Generations. Bringing Them Home, the 1997 Report of the National Inquiry into the Separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children from their Families, detailed evidence of the forced removals and provided 54 recommendations to help address the complex issues arising from this practice.
Web: www.austlii.edu.au/au/other/IndigLRes/stolen/

Journey of Healing
The recommendations of the Bringing Them Home report focused on ways of helping Aboriginal people through the consequences of separation, and were also aimed at fostering a healing process benefiting all Australians. One of the recommendations was that a ‘Sorry Day’ be held, which stirred over half a million people to take part in commemorations all over the country. In 1999, this people's movement launched a ‘Journey of Healing’ that continues to observe 26 May as a focus for bringing home the Stolen Generations.
Web: www.journeyofhealing.com

Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation
Founded in 1980, Link-Up works with Aboriginal adults who were separated from their families under when they were children, aiming to reconnect them with their roots and with their Aboriginal identity.
PO Box 93 Lawson NSW 2783
Phone: (02) 4759 1911  Fax: (02) 4759 2607 
Email: linknsw@pnc.com.au or linkup@nsw.link-up.org.au

Sorry Book Online Exhibition (AIATSIS)
Explains the background to the Sorry Books, which were seen as an opportunity for Australians who wanted to do something in response to the Federal Government’s refusal to make a formal apology to the Stolen Generations. The site displays a selection of messages written in the Sorry Books and gives the opportunity to add a message in the Online Exhibition Visitors’ Book.
Web: www.aiatsis.gov.au/lbry/dig_prgm/sorrybooks/sorrybooks_hm.htm 

Reconciliation

Australians for Native Title and Reconciliation (ANTaR)
ANTaR is a national umbrella organisation that aims to generate a moral and legal recognition of and respect for the distinctive status of Indigenous Australians as First People. The website includes useful links to Indigenous sites and information about the latest actions and events in NSW and around the country.
PO Box 1176, Rozelle NSW 2039
Tel: (02) 9555 6138  Fax: (02) 9555 6991 
Web: www.antar.org.au

Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation
The Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation was established in 1991 by federal parliament and worked for ten years to build bridges and better understanding between Indigenous and settler Australians. The Council delivered its recommendations and strategies in 2000, but this archived site contains all the documents and history of the Council over its ten-year period of existence. The Council’s work continues through Reconciliation Australia (see entry below).
Web: www.austlii.edu.au/au/orgs/car/

NSW Reconciliation Council Inc.
Search their website to find a reconciliation group in your area, events and information about the NSW Reconciliation Council.
Tower B Level 13, 280 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Tel: (02) 9219 0719  Fax: (02) 9219 0790  Email: lindsas@daa.nsw.gov.au 
Web: www.nswrecon.com

ReconciliACTION Network (RAN)
The ReconciliACTION Network (RAN) is a network of Indigenous and non-Indigenous young Australians from metropolitan, regional and rural Australia, which aims to encourage more young people to become active in the Reconciliation movement, and to support young people who are working to overcome racism in their communities.
Web: www.reconciliaction.org.au

Reconciliation Australia
Reconciliation Australia is the body that continues the work of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation by providing national leadership on the issues associated with reconciliation. Along with useful links and event details, the site provides information about the Council and Australians for Reconciliation, the state-based organisations that continue to be a resource for grassroots reconciliation groups.
PO Box 4773, Kingston ACT 2604
Ph: (02) 6273 9200  Fax: (02) 6273 9201
Web: www.reconciliationaustralia.org

For Northern Sydney Reconciliation information, please see our resource section on Sydney's Northern Beaches Area.