Governance

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Governance

Reports, policies & plans

Our reports, policies and plans are in the public domain.

Annual reports

Each annual report provides a financial year review of the operations, research and collection activities of the South Australian Museum.

The reports include financial statements and information on governance and organisational structure. They are tabled in the South Australian Parliament at the end of each financial year.

You can download the annual reports of the South Australian Museum below:

Collection policies

The South Australian Museum has policies regarding access to the collections, to protect the objects and specimens.

You can download the Collections Policies below.

Repatriation of Ancestral Remains and Burial Goods Policy

Collections Policy and Procedure 2018-2023

Secret Sacred Collection Policy

Restitution of Cultural Heritage

Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan

The South Australian Museum has been but is not currently an approved institution under the Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan Scheme. The scheme is operated by the Australian Government's Department of Communications and the Arts. The scheme provides legal protection for cultural objects on loan from overseas lenders for temporary public exhibition in Australia.

It limits the circumstances in which lenders, exhibiting institutions, exhibition facilitators and people working for them can lose ownership, physical possession, custody or control of objects while on loan to an approved Australian institution.

Under the Scheme approved institutions are required to publish provenance information relating to material which will be protected by the scheme's provisions. The South Australian's published information under these requirements can be found in the Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan section of our website

For further information about the Protection of Cultural Objects on Loan Scheme, see the website of Department of Communications and the Arts.

Child Safe Environments

The South Australian Museum is committed to providing a safe, respectful, and empowering environment for all children and young people who visit, learn, volunteer, or work with us. We recognise our responsibility to uphold the highest standards of care, protection and inclusion in every aspect of our operations.

Our Child Safe Environment Policy, Procedure, and Code of Conduct set out the expectations, behaviours, and reporting obligations that ensure the Museum remains a place where children and young people are protected from harm and their voices are valued. These documents reflect our alignment with the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations, the Children and Young People (Safety) Act 2017 (SA), and the Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016 (SA)

All Museum personnel, including staff, volunteers, contractors, and governing bodies, shares responsibility for maintaining a culture of safety and vigilance. Together, we strive to make the Museum a trusted space where curiosity, discovery and learning can flourish safely.

Download the Museum’s Child Safe Environment Policy and Child Safe Procedure, and Code of Conduct.

Statement of Commitment

The South Australian Museum prioritises the safety and wellbeing of children and young people. We are dedicated to creating safe, respectful and inclusive spaces where children and young people are valued, listened to, and protected from harm or any risk of harm.

We acknowledge that safeguarding children and young people is a shared responsibility to our entire community. To uphold this commitment, the Museum will:

Maintain clear policies and procedures that promote the safety of children and young people.
Equip our people with the knowledge, training and accountability to meet their child-safety responsibilities.
Actively identify and reduce risks and respond swiftly and appropriately to concerns or incidents.
Ensure compliance with South Australian Legislation.
Embed the National Principles for Child Safe Organisations into our culture, programs and services.

Through these actions the Museum affirms its responsibility to provide an environment where children and young people can explore, learn and thrive safely.

The following provides an alternative, age-appropriate commitment:

At the South Australian Museum, children and young people matter. When you visit or engage with the Museum, we promise that you will be: