Ensuring we are the national forum for dialogue and we are delivering transformative experiences and high-quality exhibitions, products and publications.

Performance criteria topics:

Communication

Education and cultural learning

Public events

Publishing (Aboriginal Studies Press)

Performance measures summary:

Communication: At least 70% of survey respondents rate our public communication, education and engagement as having high-level impact.

Education and cultural learning: Increasing the number and type of activities with an education focus.

Public events: Deliver at least 5 public events; 70% of survey respondents rate our events as having high-level impact.

Publishing: Majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authorship of Aboriginal Studies Press publications; deliver 8 publications.

Source:

Corporate Plan 2020–2024, pages 14 and 15. PBS 2020-21, page 69.

Result:

2 = substantially achieved, despite a few shortcomings.

Analysis:

AIATSIS is developing impact methodology with a target of 70% for the number and quality of public communication, education and engagement activities. The methodology also includes measuring the number and satisfaction of attendees at AIATSIS events. Consequently, the target of 70% cannot be reported on, although anecdotally feedback has been positive.

Communications

As anticipated, the initial impact of the pandemic on our media engagement decreased as online engagement increased. Notable results that reflect this change in engagement are AIATSIS Newsletter subscribers increasing by 63%, excluding Native Title and Research Exchange Newsletter subscribers, and our social media audience increasing by 53.6%. Total audience grew to 59,965, a 53.6% increase on the previous year. Engagements (people interacting with us in some way) were also up, from 170,395 in 2019–20 to 247,071. An evaluation methodology is currently in development to measure high-level impact; however we are pleased with the growth in our online presence.

Engagement and cultural learning

The rapid growth of interest in Core Cultural Learning is demonstrated by institutional uptake growing by 19% last year and 30% this year. Council’s endorsement of education as a strategic initiative implies the growing importance of this activity.

This annual report measures sales and downloads of The Little Red Yellow Black Book (LRYBB) and the AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia, both of which have increased. It also measures sales and downloads of the teaching resources for LRYBBand Our Land, Our Stories (OLOS), both of which decreased. A slight decrease in figures for OLOS and LRYBB web resources was expected following the first year of release. For this reporting period OLOS sales were $825,623.17. New education products are in development.

Public events

We exceeded the target despite having fewer attendees due to COVID-19 restrictions. Our signature event, the AIATSIS Summit, plus the three live streamed virtual events drew lower numbers than in previous years, as expected – a 63% decline.

Publications program

The number of publications (books, journal editions, other publications) grew by 100% in 12 months and the number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who publish via Aboriginal Studies Press continues to grow.

Performance criterion: Communication

Performance measure: Number and quality of public communication, education and engagement assessed through surveys/feedback channels

Target: 70% of respondents indicate high level impact

Measure

2018–19 result

2019–20 result

2020-21 result

Number of public communications:

Media releases, alerts and web news stories

35

24

31

Media interviews with AIATSIS staff or affiliates

43

14

13

Requests for content or information by media

66

170

151

E-newsletter—issues distributed

10

12

17

Newsletter subscribers

Not reported

4,409

7,211*

Media mentions (hard copy and digital)

928

1,843

607

Social media audience (LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter)

39,122

47,549

59,965 **

Surveys distributed (internal and external)

Not reported

9

+70% in online engagement

20

Quality of public communications, assessed through surveys/feedback channels—percentage of respondents who agreed ‘high level impact’

Not reported

Evaluation process still being developed

Impact evaluation methodology in development.

Outcome: An evaluation methodology is currently in development to measure high-level impact (as specified in the PBS and Corporate Plan). Performance targets were either met or exceeded. In this reporting period, the impact of the pandemic on our media engagement decreased, and online engagement increased. An increase in AIATSIS Newsletter subscribers by 63% (excludes Native Title and Research Exchange Newsletter subscribers) and an increase in our social media audience by 53.6% are two notable results.

Performance criterion: Education and cultural learning

Performance measure: Increase in number and type of activities with an education focus

Target: Measured by:

1. % increase in uptake of Core cultural learning (sales or users)

2. % increase in utilisation of education products and services

Measure

2018–19 result

2019–20 result

2020–21 result

Core Cultural Learning—institutional uptake

92

110

143

Utilisation of AIATSIS education products—purchases/downloads of curriculum resources

Existing resources (The Little Red Yellow Black Book (LRYBB) and AIATSIS Map of Indigenous Australia)

New resources (The Little Red Yellow Black Book teaching resources, Our Land, Our Stories (OLOS))

25,866

25,866

N/A

N/A

30,585

20,647

1,509

8,429

31,915 (LRYBB)

27,108 (OLOS)

1,330 kits sold

6,461 web views LRYBB

New educational activities and resources introduced

New measure

2

0

Outcome: Products and services designed to educate are integral to our success. With the rapid growth of interest in Core and the Council’s endorsement that education is a strategic priority, the measures published in the PBS and Corporate Plan need refinement. For this reporting period OLOS sales were $825,623.17. A slight decrease in figures for OLOS and LRYBB web resources was expected following the first year of release. New education products are in development.

Performance criterion: Public events

Performance measure: Number and satisfaction of attendees at AIATSIS events

Target:

5 annual events

70% of respondents indicate high level impact

Measure

2019–20 result

2020–21 result

Number of AIATSIS public events

9

11

Number of attendees at AIATSIS public events

3,700

1320

Satisfaction levels reported by attendees at AIATSIS events.

Majority ‘excellent’

Majority ‘excellent’

Outcome: The 2020-21 result exceeded the target despite fewer attendees due to COVID-19 restrictions. Our signature event, the AIATSIS Summit, had 910 delegates across the 5-day program. These attendance numbers include participation rates for the 3 live streamed virtual events we held, but not the participation rate for the online Indigenous Art Market, as the AIATSIS website provided direct links to the art market website that managed the e-commerce exchanges.

Performance criterion: Publishing (Aboriginal Studies Press)

Performance measure: Increase Indigenous authorship through ASP Publications

Targets:

Majority Indigenous authors

Publish 8 or more publications annually

Measure

2019–20 result

2020–21 result

Number of publications (books, journal editions, other publications)

13

20 other + 8 ASP publications = 28

Number of ASP authors—Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander/total

5 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors or contributors/6 books

Majority Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander authors or contributors/6 books, 1 journal and 1 research report

Outcome: 28 publications across all types far exceeded the target of 8. Eight titles were published by ASP. Other publications include 7 Newsletters, 6 Research Reports and 7 Community Reports. The number and proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people publishing through ASP continues to grow (29% in 2020-21).