Conservator, Cultural Heritage Collections

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies; Canberra; On-site; AUD 100,000 - 112,000; Full time

Job summary

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra seeks a qualified Conservator to care for the AIATSIS Collection. You will work within a small multidisciplinary team, delivering conservation assessments, treatments and preventive care to diverse materials, including exhibition support, storage, and loans.

You will provide specialist advice, collaborate with internal and external partners, and contribute to training and cross‑functional projects while advancing

Qualifications

• Substantial professional experience in conservation within a cultural institution or community organisation.
• Understanding the role of a major specialist collection in meeting the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
• Knowledge of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) and cultural safety considerations.
• Proven ability to apply conservation principles across a broad range of material types.
• Experience with collection care activities including treatment, storage, packing and display.

Responsibilities

• Carry out routine conservation and collection care to the highest professional standards, including condition assessments and treatments.
• Maintain conservation records and documentation on all treatments and advise on acquisitions, exhibition display, inward and outward loans, and scheduling.
• Liaise with Curatorial staff, Registration and other technical staff to support conservation needs of the collection, display, packing and storage.
• Provide expert advice on conservation matters to internal stakeholders, exhibition development, scheduling, and related activities.
• Participate in developing conservation methodologies and materials research relevant to the care of the collections.
• Support conservation and preservation activities including packing and display systems, storage, pest management, environmental control and disaster response.
• Other duties as required.

Skills

Conservation

Stakeholder engagement

Documentation

Preventive conservation

Exhibition support

Education

Professional qualifications in Conservation

Tools

Collection management systems

Job description

Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in Canberra seeks a qualified Conservator to care for the AIATSIS Collection. You will work within a small multidisciplinary team, delivering conservation assessments, treatments and preventive care to diverse materials, including exhibition support, storage, and loans.

You will provide specialist advice, collaborate with internal and external partners, and contribute to training and cross‑functional projects while advancing