Conservator

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies – Canberra ACT

This is an Identified position open to all Australian Citizens

About the Group

The Collections Services Group is responsible for the development, management, preservation and provision of access to the AIATSIS Collection at both Maraga (Canberra) and Mparntwe (Central Australia) sites. The Group manages, describes, preserves, digitises and provides access to the AIATSIS Collection.

About the Program Area

The Collection Development & Care Program is responsible for building, documenting and maintaining the AIATSIS Collection to ensure its long term preservation and accessibility. The program acquires new collection materials in line with AIATSIS' legislative function and strategic priorities and ensures appropriate description, cataloguing and metadata standards are applied. The program includes the Rights and Policy Unit, the Acquisition, Registration and Cultural Gifts Unit and the Curatorial, Exhibition, Conservation and Loans Unit. Key operational activities include developing, conserving and preserving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material in the AIATSIS collection in a culturally safe way. Engaging with donors and depositors to expand the collection, curating domestic and international display and exhibitions (both online and physical), implementing collection care practices, facilitating loans and managing the rights and policy environment of the AIATSIS collection.

Role Summary

This role requires a qualified and experienced Conservation professional, who will be responsible for the care and preservation of the AIATSIS Collection. Working as part of a small multidisciplinary team, the role undertakes conservation and collection care activities across a broad range of material types in response to operational priorities. The Conservator provides specialist conservation expertise to support the preservation, accessibility, and long-term care of the collection. The role undertakes conservation assessments and treatments, contributes to preventive conservation programs, and delivers collection care activities including exhibition support, storage, transport, and rehousing. The position collaborates with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, provides specialist advice, supports capability development through training, and contributes to organisational priorities through cross-functional projects, public engagement activities, and support of exhibitions and collection work.

This is an Identified position open to all Australian Citizens

About the Group

The Collections Services Group is responsible for the development, management, preservation and provision of access to the AIATSIS Collection at both Maraga (Canberra) and Mparntwe (Central Australia) sites. The Group manages, describes, preserves, digitises and provides access to the AIATSIS Collection.

About the Program Area

The Collection Development & Care Program is responsible for building, documenting and maintaining the AIATSIS Collection to ensure its long term preservation and accessibility. The program acquires new collection materials in line with AIATSIS' legislative function and strategic priorities and ensures appropriate description, cataloguing and metadata standards are applied. The program includes the Rights and Policy Unit, the Acquisition, Registration and Cultural Gifts Unit and the Curatorial, Exhibition, Conservation and Loans Unit. Key operational activities include developing, conserving and preserving Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage material in the AIATSIS collection in a culturally safe way. Engaging with donors and depositors to expand the collection, curating domestic and international display and exhibitions (both online and physical), implementing collection care practices, facilitating loans and managing the rights and policy environment of the AIATSIS collection.

Role Summary

This role requires a qualified and experienced Conservation professional, who will be responsible for the care and preservation of the AIATSIS Collection. Working as part of a small multidisciplinary team, the role undertakes conservation and collection care activities across a broad range of material types in response to operational priorities. The Conservator provides specialist conservation expertise to support the preservation, accessibility, and long‑term care of the collection. The role undertakes conservation assessments and treatments, contributes to preventive conservation programs, and delivers collection care activities including exhibition support, storage, transport, and rehousing. The position collaborates with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, provides specialist advice, supports capability development through tra