Our contact details and locations
General correspondence should be directed to:
Tel: +61 2 6248 2000
Fax: +61 2 6248 2222
Toll-free: 1800 067 274 (within Australia only)
Email: enquiries@nfsa.gov.au
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia operates from several locations in Australia.
Street address:
McCoy Circuit
ACTON ACT 2601
Postal address:
GPO Box 2002
CANBERRA ACT 2601
Visitor Information (Acton, Canberra)
Monday – Friday: 9.00am – 5.00pm
Weekends and public holidays: closed
Open out-of-hours for advertised events.
Street address:
Level 1, 45 Murray Street
PYRMONT NSW 2009
Postal address:
PO Box 397
PYRMONT NSW 2009
Contact numbers:
Tel: +61 2 8202 0100
Fax: +61 2 8202 0101
Melbourne office
Street address:
Level 4, 2 Kavanagh St
Southbank VIC 3006
Postal address:
GPO Box 4317
MELBOURNE VIC 3001
We acquire new material in accordance with our collection policy and statement of curatorial values. If you would like to speak to a curator about a possible collection donation, contact us via email at collection@nfsa.gov.au.
Advice and assistance from NFSA Collection Reference Officers is available to researchers, students and industry practitioners seeking to access the national collection for new productions, exhibitions and research. If you would like to speak to a member of our collection reference team in relation to collection content access and viewing, contact us via email at access@nfsa.gov.au or via phone on +61 2 6248 2091.
We offer facilities for clients to access items from the NFSA collection in their capital city. Contact details and locations for our access centres are listed below.
NFSA Adelaide Access Centre
State Library of South Australia
North Terrace and Kintore Ave
ADELAIDE SA 5000
Tel: +61 8 8207 7231
Fax: +61 8 8207 7247
NFSA Brisbane Access Centre
State Library of Queensland
Cnr Stanley and Peel St
SOUTH BRISBANE QLD 4101
Tel: + 61 7 3840 7810
NFSA Darwin Access Centre
Northern Territory Library
Parliament House
Cnr Bennett and Mitchell Streets
State Square
DARWIN NT 0801
Tel: + 61 8 8999 7177
NFSA Hobart Access Centre
State Library of Tasmania
Level 2, 91 Murray Street
HOBART TAS 7000
Tel: +61 3 6165 5538
Fax: +61 3 6233 7902
NFSA Perth Access Centre
State Library of Western Australia
25 Francis Street
Perth WA 6000
Tel: +61 8 9427 3111
Fax: +61 8 9427 3256
For information on our client service charter, our values and how to provide feedback to the NFSA, please visit
www.nfsa.gov.au/about/corporate/service-charter/
Our functions and powers
The functions and powers of the NFSA are set out in sections 6 and 7 of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia Act 2008, as follows.
Section 6. Functions
(1) The functions of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia are to:
(a) develop, preserve, maintain, promote and provide access to a national collection of programs and related material; and
(b) support and promote the collection by others of programs and related material in Australia; and
(c) support, promote or engage in:
(i) the preservation and maintenance of programs and related materials that are not in the national collection; and
(ii) the provision of access to programs and related material that are not in the national collection; and
(d) support and promote greater understanding and awareness in Australia of programs; and
(e) undertake any other function conferred on it by any other law of the Commonwealth.
Ways in which support may be provided
(2) The ways in which the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia may provide support as mentioned in subsection (1) include (but are not limited to) doing any of the following:
(a) providing financial assistance (whether by way of loan, grant, investment or otherwise and whether on commercial terms or otherwise);
(b) commissioning or sponsoring programs or other activities;
(c) providing services, facilities, programs or equipment;
but does not include providing guarantees.
Considerations governing the performance of functions
(3) In performing its functions, the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia is, as far as practical, to:
(a) place an emphasis on the historical and cultural significance of programs and related material; and
(b) use every endeavour to make the most advantageous use of the national collection in the national interest; and
(c) apply the highest curatorial standards; and
(d) promote the efficient, effective and ethical use of public resources.
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia may charge fees
(4) The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia may charge fees for things done in performing its functions.
National Film and Sound Archive of Australia may cooperate with others
(5) The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia may perform its functions alone or together with other persons.
Severability
(6) Without limiting its effect apart from this subsection, this Act also has the effect it would have if the powers and functions of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia were confined to powers and functions that were to be exercised and performed:
(a) in so far as it is appropriate for those powers and functions to be exercised and performed by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia on behalf of the Government of the Commonwealth as the national Government of Australia; and
(b) for purposes for which it is appropriate for the Parliament, as the national Parliament of Australia, to authorise the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia to exercise powers and perform functions; and
(c) in relation to expenditure of money that is available for the purposes of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia in accordance with an appropriation made by the Parliament; and
(d) in relation to trade and commerce with other countries, among the States, between Territories or between a Territory and a State; and
(e) in relation to postal, telegraphic, telephonic, and other like services; and
(f) in relation to the collection of statistics; and
(g) in relation to external affairs; and
(h) in relation to a Territory; and
(i) in relation to the executive power of the Commonwealth; and
(j) in relation to matters incidental to the execution of any of the legislative powers of the Parliament or the executive power of the Commonwealth.
Section 7. Powers
(1) The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia has power to do all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connection with the performance of its functions.
(2) The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia’s powers include, but are not limited to, the following powers:
(a) to accept gifts, devises, bequests and assignments (whether on trust or otherwise);
(b) to act as trustee of money, programs or other property vested in the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia on trust;
(c) to act on behalf of the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth in the administration of a trust relating to programs or to matters connected with programs;
(d) to do anything incidental to any of its functions.
(3) Despite anything contained in this Act, any money, programs or other property held by the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia on trust must be dealt with in accordance with the obligations of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia as trustee of the trust.
Acquisition highlights for 2016–17
Papers accepted to national and international forums
Forum | Paper presented |
---|---|
Art Association of Australia and New Zealand Annual Conference, December 2016 |
Jennifer Coombes co-presented with Penelope Grist, Curator, National Portrait Gallery: Striking stars – the documentation of cinema as works of art in an archive/gallery exhibition collaboration |
Australian Homosexual Histories Conference, Melbourne, November 2016 |
Chris Arneil presented Preserving Gaywaves at the National Film and Sound Archive |
Community Broadcasting Association Conference, Melbourne, November 2016 | Maryanne Doyle presented Making community radio history – celebrating 40 years: archiving radio |
Museum of Applied Arts & Sciences Symposium, February 2017 |
Chris Arneil presented NFSA making waves: Curating Gaywaves at the National Film and Sound Archive |
Museums Australia National Conference 14–17 May 2017 | Jennifer Coombes co-presented with Penelope Grist, Curator, National Portrait Gallery: Starstruck: the risks and rewards of collaboration |
Tweed Regional Museum exhibition opening, Tweed on Film, July 2017 |
Jennifer Coombes presented a floor talk on Muriel’s Wedding |
The National Film and Sound Archive (NFSA) publishes information, including a plan of the information we make available, in compliance with the Information Publication Scheme (IPS), at nfsa.gov.au/about/corporate-information/governance/information-publication-scheme.
We also publish our Disclosure Log of documents released in response to requests received under the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (the FOI Act), at nfsa.gov.au/corporate-information/FOI/log.
If you cannot find the information you are seeking through our IPS web page, or through the Disclosure Log web page, you may request administrative access using the contact details below.
If you are not granted administrative access to the information or documents you seek, or if you need access through more structured arrangements, you can apply as follows:
Administrative access email: legal@nfsa.gov.au
Privacy Contact Officer email: privacy@nfsa.gov.au
FOI email: foi@foi.gov.au
Alternatively, you may write to:
Senior Manager, Procurement, Contract Management and Legal
National Film and Sound Archive
GPO Box 2002
CANBERRA ACT 2601
If you need help with your request, phone (02) 6248 2145.
Compliance index
Section 41 of the National Film and Sound Archive Act 2008 (the NFSA Act) specifies the annual reporting requirements as below.
Requirements | Reference | Page |
---|---|---|
Particulars of all disposals of items in the national collection during the reporting period | NFSA Act Section 41 | 59 |
The index below shows compliance with information requirements specified in the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013, sections 39, 43 and 46, and prescribed by the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Rule 2014, Subdivision B – Annual report for corporate Commonwealth entities.
Requirement | Reference | Page |
---|---|---|
Audited financial statements | PGPA Act s43(4) | Section 4 |
Approval by accountable authority | PGPA Rule 17BB | Letter of transmittal iii |
Standard of presentation | PGPA Rule 17BC | All |
Plain English and clear design | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (a) | All |
Enabling legislation | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (a) | 6, 52 |
The functions as set by legislation and purposes as included in the Corporate Plan |
PGPA Rule 17BE reference (b) | Appendix 2, 92 |
Responsible minister | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (c) | 52 |
Ministerial directions and other statutory requirements given during the reporting period | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (d) | 59 |
Government policy orders that applied under section 22 | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (e) | 59 |
Non-compliance – directions and orders | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (f) | N/A |
Non-compliance – finance law | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (h) and (i) | 59 |
Members of the accountable authority | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (j) | 52-54 |
Outline of organisational structure | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (k) | 56 |
Location of major activities and facilities | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (l) | Appendix 1, 90 |
Statement on corporate governance practices | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (m) | 57 |
Related entity transactions and decision making process | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (n) and (o) | 59 |
Key activities and changes affecting the operations or structure of the authority | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (p) | N/A |
Compliance management and reporting | PGPA Rule 17BE reference (q) | 59 |
External reports on the entity given during the reporting period |
PGPA Rule 17BE paragraph (r) | 57, 59 |
Information from a subsidiary | PGPA Rule 17BE paragraph (s) | N/A |
Indemnities and insurance premiums for officers during the reporting period |
PGPA Rule 17BE paragraph (t) | 59 |
Index of annual report requirements | PGPA Rule 17BE paragraph (u) | 99-100 |
It is also the responsibility of corporate Commonwealth entities to consider whether the following legislation applies to them in annual reporting.
Other legislation | References | Page |
---|---|---|
Work health and safety | Schedule 2, Part 4 of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011 | 58 |
Environmental performance and environmentally sustainable development | Section 516A of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 | 60 |
Advertising and market research expenditure, including particulars of payments of S10,000 or higher |
Section 311A of the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918 | 60 |
The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia acknowledges Australia’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and live and gives respect to their Elders both past and present.