Consultation Report 2025

The Australian Museum (AM) is developing a new permanent Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander exhibition (the Exhibition). To inform the Exhibition’s development, two comprehensive surveys were undertaken between 2023 and 2024 to gather contemporary insights for the First Nations Curatorial team. This consultation report (Report) presents findings from:

1. The Australian Museum’s 2023-2024 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Consultation Survey, conducted by the AM’s First Nations Consultation Team; and
2. The AM’s 2023 Community Sentiment Study, conducted by market research company FiftyFive5, commissioned by the Australian Museum

This report outlines both consultation processes and collected data. The 2023-24 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Consultation Survey ensures First Nations voices directly shape exhibition content and approach. The 2023 Community Sentiment Study examined public knowledge and attitudes toward Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories, peoples, and cultures. Together, these insights enable the First Nations Curatorial Team to understand existing public perspectives, address and counter stereotypes, and identify and overcome the barriers to engaging with First Nations histories, cultures, and peoples in their development of Exhibition content and design.

The First Nations Consultation Team would like to thank:

• All of the First Nations peoples and communities who contributed their knowledge and feedback;
• Unsettled curatorial team Laura McBride (Director, First Nations) and Dr Mariko Smith (Head of First Nations Collections & Research) for their advice and assistance with preparing this Report;
• AM colleagues for their support, assistance in consultation, and preparing material to present in this Report;
• FiftyFive5 team: Israel Stephens, Sarah Ashby, Ariane Wright, and Aimee Griffin; and
• First Nations workshop and consultation facilitators Fleur Magick Dennis, Locky Magick Dennis, Amanda Jane Reynolds, Jane Yettica, Deslyn Marsh, and Rachel Cavanagh.

We would like to acknowledge and pay our respects to the Old People – the Ancestors and Elders past and present – who guide us in their wisdom through Country, culture, and community.