The Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) is pleased to release the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research (AIATSIS Code) with A guide to applying the AIATSIS Code of Ethics for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research. The AIATSIS Code supersedes the Guidelines for Ethical Research in Australian Indigenous Studies 2012 (GERAIS).

The AIATSIS Code continues to set the highest standards of ethics and human rights in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research across all disciplines and methodologies.

In the 12-month implementation of the AIATSIS Code, we will continue to work closely with the National Health Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Australian Research Council (ARC) to ensure that the Code is successfully integrated with the broader framework for ethical and responsible conduct of research in Australia.

Other supporting resources and templates will be developed and published during the implementation period.

For more than 20 years, AIATSIS  has set the benchmark for ethics in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander research. In 2018, AIATSIS began a two-year comprehensive consultative process aimed at transforming the GERAIS into the AIATSIS Code.

We would like to thank everyone who provided input, for the overwhelming number of submissions and stakeholder consultations in during the revision of the GERAIS.

We are encouraged to see users of the document pulling together teams, organisational leadership, elders and community groups within the sector to discuss the impact and implementation of the AIATSIS Code.