AIATSIS’ effective Return of Cultural Heritage (RoCH) programme

In July 2020, the Australian Government announced the introduction of the RoCH program with funding until June 2024. The research and community work continued and at the end of this period RoCH identified 383 overseas collecting institutions holding 126,000+ Aboriginal and / or Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage items.

Of these, 161 institutions shared information regarding their collections and 131 expressed an eagerness to establish a relationship with AIATSIS and/or Indigenous communities in Australia. Significantly, 115 expressed a willingness to consider a repatriation request.

Up to June 2024 RoCH has partnered with sixteen language groups to facilitate the return of their material. AIATSIS has facilitated the return of 2317 cultural heritage items to Australia through 28 returns. 336 items have been returned to the Country of their original makers.