This report describes the performance and operations of the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies (AIATSIS) during 2020–21. It was prepared to meet legislated reporting requirements set out in Resource Management Guide No. 136—Annual reports for Corporate Commonwealth Entities, issued by the Department of Finance. It is the AIATSIS Council’s primary mechanism of accountability to the Parliament of Australia.

The reporting demonstrates our purpose, which is a combination of our mission and of our functions specified in the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies Act (1989) (Cth).

Results are reported in a manner that allows the reader to assess the extent to which AIATSIS’ intended results (as stated in our Corporate Plan 2020–2024) were achieved, and the factors that affected performance. We also describe our governance, management and accountability practices and our workforce and financial performance, and provide our audited financial statements.