Repatriation of Aboriginal ancestral remains from the South Australian Museum

Aboriginal repatriation work recognised in the National Industry PhD program

The South Australian Museum’s Aboriginal ancestral remains repatriation program has been recognised by the Australian Government Department of Education’s National Industry PhD initiative. Anna Russo, the Museum’s Manager of Aboriginal Heritage and Repatriation, has been selected to complete an Industry Researcher PhD in partnership with the University of South Australia.

Since joining the Museum in 2018, Anna has played a key role in reorienting the Museum’s relationship with its legacy collection of First Nations ancestral remains and culturally significant objects. Her achievements include introducing a new Repatriation Policy and leading community-driven repatriation and reburial ceremonies, such as the world-first Kaurna Wangayarta project at Smithfield Memorial Park.

Anna’s PhD will analyse how the Museum’s repatriation program can inform culturally appropriate consultation, empowerment, co-design, and elevation of Aboriginal cultural authority. This research will help cultural institutions develop equitable policies and practices that support reconciliation, truth-telling and healing.

Anna Russo said:
“For institutions like the South Australian Museum, coming to terms with past practices we now find abhorrent is an opportunity to be authentic and honest, take responsibility for our history, and build relationships and models that are First Nations-led. These actions are vital to reconciliation. This project is about understanding successful repatriation practice and how it can take us to a place of reconciliation.”

Professor Sandra Orgeig, UniSA Dean of Graduate Studies, said:
“As a university with a proud tradition of partnering with the GLAM sector, it’s fantastic the Federal Government has recognised this project as a strategic national priority. As one of the few non-STEM projects in the National Industry PhD Program, UniSA is proud to collaborate on this important work supporting reconciliation and healing.”

Adam Moriarty, Head of Collections and Research at the South Australian Museum, said:

“To become a truly inclusive, future-focused museum and responsible custodian of the largest Aboriginal cultural collection, we must acknowledge how past policies disrespected and hurt Aboriginal people—harms still felt today. Anna’s project will show how meaningful engagement and elevation of cultural authority contribute to reconciliation and provide a roadmap for other institutions.”

This project will be supervised by Dr. Sean Pickersgill and Dr. Chris Brisbin at #UniSA Creative.