Our Organisation

The Australian Museum was established under the Australian Museum Trust Act 1975.

This Act constitutes the Australian Museum Trust as a corporation with the corporate name “Australian Museum Trust” (see Section 5) and defines its powers, authorities, duties and functions.

The Australian Museum is principally funded by the New South Wales Government.

The objectives of the Australian Museum Trust Act are to propagate knowledge about the natural environment of Australia and to increase that knowledge, particularly in the natural sciences of biology, anthropology and geology.

Under the Act the Museum is governed by an 11 member Trust, appointed by the Governor of New South Wales on the recommendation of the Minister. One member of the Trust must have knowledge of, or experience in, science, one must have knowledge of, or experience in, education, and one must have knowledge of, or experience in, Australian First Nations culture.

The Australian Museum Executive Leadership Team is responsible for strategic planning and management of the nation’s first museum.

To promote open, accountable, fair and effective government in NSW, members of the public have the right to access certain government information under the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.

This right is restricted only when there is an overriding public interest against disclosing the particular information.

Open access information

The Australian Museum (AM) makes available, free of charge on this website, the following open access information:

• Annual Reports
• All other documents that are tabled in Parliament concerning the AM
• Details of significant contracts and tenders with the private sector.

Information held by the Australian Museum

• Historic archives: The extant records of the Australian Museum (AM) date from 1836 and form a unique collection of source material for students of natural history, science, Australian history, and the changing role of museums in our society. In conjunction with the acquisition of large collections of specimens and artefacts, there developed a correspondingly large group of supporting documentation, such as accession schedules, purchase and exchange records, correspondence, minutes of various committees, personal papers etc., all of which are part of the Archives holdings. A large body of official inward and outward correspondence from 1837 onwards is held and the majority of this is indexed. In addition the Archives also holds Minute Books, reports, files, exhibition files, research notes and papers, news cuttings, photographs, drawings and illustrations, material archives, maps, plans, and publications.
• Staff records: All records relating to staff, selection, appraisal, recruitment and training are held in the People & Culture unit.
• Administrative records: These records cover all aspects of the Museum’s decision-making and administrative functions, and are registered in the central records system or held in local office areas.
• Scientific records: The functions of the Australian Museum Research Institute (AMRI) include: management of the natural science collections, research, contributing to public programs, and disseminating information. The records created and maintained reflect these functions: collection records (documenting the acquisition, registration, use, conservation and management of the collections); research records (notes, data, field trips, pictorial material, manuscripts); information files; publications; correspondence files; and administrative records (budgets, corporate plans, grant applications, annual reports, correspondence). Science at the Australian Museum is guided by the AMRI Science Strategy.
• Publications: The Australian Museum produces a wide range of publications of both specialist and general interest.
• Planning and Policy documents: Policy documents guide the AM's decisions, actions and procedures, while planning documents reflect the Institution's strategies and aspirations.

Information available on request

A request may be made at any time for other information held by the Australian Museum (AM). While the AM reserves the right to require a formal access application to be made, the AM will generally provide the following types of information in response to an informal request, without the need to make a formal access application:

• Copies of correspondence, where the person requesting the correspondence was the person who sent it to the Museum,
• Documents that contain only personal information about a particular individual, where the person requesting the document is the individual in question (staff of the museum may gain access to their own files by contacting the HR unit),
• Documents that have already been made public in some other way, and
• Other reasonable requests for information, the release of which would not raise any potential concerns in terms of public interests considerations against disclosure.

The Australian Museum reserves the right impose conditions in relation to the use or disclosure of information that is released in response to an informal request.

All of the AM’s published books, serials and reports may be accessed through the Australian Museum Research Library - open by appointment only, please phone +61 2 9320 6152.

Policy and planning documents and archival documents may all be accessed through the Australian Museum Archives. The AM's institutional archives are public records and come under the NSW State Records Act 1998 and are managed and accessed in accordance with that Act. As such, access to records less than 30 years old may be restricted under some circumstances. Public access to acquired archival documents may also be subject to conditions set by the donor at the time of acquisition.

Information available in response to an access application

An access application may be made for all other information held by the AM (other than certain “excluded information”, set out below). Access applications are subject to application fees and processing charges in accordance with the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009.

Access Application

All access applications and any enquires must be submitted to GIPA@australian.museum.

Access applications may also be mailed to:
Attention: GIPA Officer
Australian Museum
1 William St
Sydney NSW 2010

Information that is not available in response to an access application

Although an access application may be made for all government information held by the Australian Museum, the AM will not release information if there is an overriding public interest against the disclosure of the information. Some of the particular information that the AM cannot release in response to an access application may include:

• A document prepared primarily for the purpose of submission to Cabinet, Trust or the Executive,
• Commercially sensitive information,
• Personal and/or defamatory material,
• Culturally sensitive information (for example traditional secret/sacred Aboriginal knowledge or images),
• Sensitive information about locations of items of Aboriginal or environmental heritage, but only if that information is subject to certain actions under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974, the Threatened Species Conservation Act 1995 or the Local Government Act 1993, and
• Documents whose release would constitute a contempt of court or breach a judicial order.

Otherwise, the AM will release information in response to a valid access application unless there is an overriding public interest against disclosure.

The Australian Museum may hold copies of information that was originally created by other agencies. For the purposes of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009, requests for such information should be made through the originating agency.

The Australian Museum Strategic Plan outlines our strategic direction and priorities to ignite wonder, inspire debate, and drive change through world-leading science, collections, exhibitions, and education programs.

The Australian Museum Archives holds copies of all the Annual Reports from 1853 to the present.

The Australian Museum Media Centre features media resources including images, expert commentary, and information on scientific and cultural research, exhibitions, and museum activities.

Work at the Museum

The Australian Museum is truly a great place to work. As part of the NSW public sector, we are committed to diversity and inclusion across all aspects of our workplace, from recruitment to career development.

Work experience and internship programs

The Australian Museum offers work experience placements for high school students in years 10-12, providing five-day programs across areas including science, research, education, exhibition design and marketing. For tertiary students, the Museum's internship program offers practical experience relevant to their area of study, supervised by Museum staff.

Volunteer at the Museum

Discover our volunteer programs and how you can contribute to the Australian Museum. You can volunteer either onsite at 1 William Street, Sydney or get involved in our remote Citizen Science projects.

Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan

The Australian Museum Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan 2023-2025 sets out our commitment to real consultation and collaboration to amplify First Nations voices and advance reconciliation with First Nations peoples.

Restricted Collections and Repatriation Policy

The Australian Museum Restricted Collections and Repatriation Policy provides a framework for the culturally appropriate management and return of First Nations Ancestral Remains and Secret/Sacred Objects to their communities of origin.

Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)

The Australian Museum Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) Protocol guides how the Australian Museum respects, protects, and engages with First Nations peoples' cultural heritage and knowledge.

Sustainability & Climate Action Plan

The Australian Museum Sustainability & Climate Action Plan outlines our commitments to environmental sustainability and climate action. The AM continues to develop plans to advance its environmental program and sustainability monitoring as part of its commitment to reducing environmental impact while maintaining operational excellence.

Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Report

The Australian Museum's Climate-Related Financial Disclosures Report on our climate risks, opportunities, and governance in alignment with the NSW Government's reporting framework.

Australian Museum Research Institute Science Strategy

Science at the Australian Museum is guided by the Australian Museum Research Institute Science Strategy, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of museum science and our unique ability to deliver first-class research through our collections, while strengthening our role as a trusted advisor to community and industry.

Animal Care and Ethics Committee, Terms of Reference

The Australian Museum Animal Care and Ethics Committee, Terms of Reference outlines our ethical responsibilities and governance for the use of animals in scientific and educational research.

Australian Museum scientific publications

A comprehensive register of scientific publications authored by Australian Museum staff and research associates.

The Australian Museum Accessibility and Inclusion Action Plan details our commitment to championing accessibility and inclusion by ensuring the exploration of nature and culture is accessible to all.

Privacy Statement

The Australian Museum is committed to protecting your personal information, in accordance with the NSW Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (Privacy Act) and other applicable Privacy legislation (Privacy Laws). The Australian Museum Privacy Statement outlines how the AM deals with your personal information when you engage with us via AM's websites, buy tickets or goods from us, use Apps and other software, our public Wi-Fi and when you visit the Museum.

Privacy Collection Notice

The Australian Museum Privacy Collection Notice applies only to the information provided from australian.museum website enquiry forms and AM newsletter signup forms.

The information you have given the Australian Museum will only be used for your enquiry, and directly related actions arising from that enquiry, or newsletter subscription.

Cookie Declaration

This website uses cookies to personalise content, provide social media features and analyse traffic. Some cookies are strictly necessary for the site to operate, while others require your consent. You can change or withdraw your consent at any time from the Cookie Declaration.

Australian Museum Foundation Privacy Policy

The Australian Museum Foundation (AMF) is a not-for-profit entity that raises funds to support the Australian Museum. The AMF is committed to handling your personal information appropriately, in accordance with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) contained in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth).

Personal information such as names, addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers is collected when you donate, sign up for newsletters, enquire about fundraising, attend events, or interact with the AM website's fundraising pages. Information may also be obtained from publicly available sources for fundraising purposes.

Data Breach Policy

The Australian Museum Data Breach Policy outlines how the Museum manages and responds to data breaches, including a register of public notifications.

The Australian Government’s Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan Scheme (PCOL Scheme) has been established to administer the Commonwealth Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan Act 2013 (PCOL Act). The PCOL Act was established to encourage international lenders to lend objects for temporary public exhibition in Australia.

The Act limits the circumstances in which the lender, exhibiting institution, exhibition facilitator, and people working for them can lose ownership, possession, custody or control of an object through legal proceedings or seizure while the object is in Australia.

In order to be eligible for protection under the Act, the objects must be loaned by a lender ordinarily resident or incorporated in a country outside Australia or the government of another country, and the objects must be imported into Australia for the primary purpose of temporary public display. The objects will be protected from the date of import until they are exported from the country.

PCOL and the Australian Museum (AM)

The Australian Museum is an approved borrowing institution under the PCOL Act. In compliance with the PCOL Act the AM will publish information about all objects to be protected under the Act prior to their import and until they are exported from the country.

Images published on this website that are Copyright Australian Museum and do not contain cultural content may be used for education, research and other non-commercial purposes without seeking prior permission.

All Australian Museum (AM) images must be credited as the source in every instance of use, with appropriate attribution to the photographer or creator where applicable.

Requests that require research by AM Archives may incur an image reproduction fee.

Images containing cultural content

Australian Museum images that contain Indigenous cultural knowledge or depict cultural activities, cultural materials or people — including material from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Australia, Indigenous communities in the Pacific, or Indigenous communities worldwide — are likely to include Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP).

These images require consultation and approval prior to use. Please contact the relevant community for approval and/or support, followed by the AM First Nations team for processing.

Requests involving Cultural Collection material or cultural content will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with the AM’s ICIP Protocol and will incur an image reproduction fee.

Where possible, ICIP support or approval letters from the relevant community or cultural authority should be obtained before submitting an image reproduction request.

The Australian Museum is an NSW Government organisation operating under the Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (DCITHS). It supports and encourages the reuse of its publicly funded information, in line with the NSW Government’s Open Data Policy 2016.

This website contains information, data, documents, pages, audio, video and images ('the material') prepared by the Australian Museum for the purposes of:

• providing the public with information about the Australian Museum's public programs and services
• furthering the Australian Museum's objective to propagate and increase the knowledge about the natural environment of Australia.

The material is protected by copyright under the Copyright Act (Cth) 1968 ['the Act'], and is owned either by the Australian Museum or by other copyright owners.

The Australian Museum's social media channels share stories from our collection, staff knowledge, and content that inspires engagement with science, research and natural history. Our accounts are monitored 9am - 5pm on weekdays. We welcome respectful discussion and ask that all participants follow our Social Media Community Guidelines, which govern behaviour across all our platforms. Comments that are offensive, abusive, misleading, or otherwise breach our guidelines may be removed, and repeat offenders may be blocked without notice.

Our Ticket Terms and Conditions outline the terms governing ticket purchases for exhibitions, events and programs at the Australian Museum.

To ensure the safety and security of all our visitors and staff and to protect our valuable collections, we ask that you observe our Terms of Entry.