The Hon. Nathan Rees, MP Premier and Minister for the Arts Sir, In accordance with the provisions of the Annual Reports (Statutory Bodies) Act 1984 and the Public Finance and Audit Act 1983 we have pleasure in submitting this report of the activities of the Australian Museum Trust for the financial year ended 30 June 2009 for presentation to Parliament. On behalf of the Australian Museum Trust, Brian Sherman, AM President of the Trust Frank Howarth Secretary of the Trust Australian Museum Annual Report 2008–2009 iii MINISTER AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM The Hon. Nathan Rees, MP 6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010 Premier and Minister for the Arts Open daily 9.30 am – 5.00 pm (except 25 December) GOVERNANCE t 02 9320 6000 f 02 9320 6050 The Museum is governed by a Trust [email protected] established under the Australian Museum www.australianmuseum.net.au Trust Act 1975. The Trust currently has eleven members, one of whom must have ADMISSION CHARGES knowledge of, or experience in, science, one of whom must have knowledge of, or General Museum entry experience in, education and one of whom Adult $12 must have knowledge of, or experience Child (5 –15 years) $6 in, Australian Indigenous culture. Trustees are appointed by the Governor on the Concession $8 recommendation of the Minister for a Family (one adult, two children) $18 term of up to three years. Trustees may Family (two adults, two children) $30 hold no more than three terms. Vacancies Each additional child $3 may be filled by the Governor on the recommendation of the Minister. The Children under five years, Australian President of the Trust is appointed by the Government DVA Gold Cardholders, Governor on the recommendation of the Australian Government ‘Blue’ Pensioner Minister. The Director of the Australian Concession Cardholders and Australian Museum (see Appendix A, Organisation Museum Members FREE. Additional Chart) is Secretary to the Trust and is charges may apply to special exhibitions responsible for the common seal. Trustees and activities. do not receive remuneration but may be reimbursed for expenses. (See Appendix B for Trustee profiles and activities.) This annual report is published in four parts: Our year in review, Performance reports, Financial statements and Appendices. All of the Museum’s annual reports since 1998–99 are available at www.australianmuseum.net.au/Annual- Reports. Further information on the research and education programs and services of the Australian Museum can be found at www.australianmuseum.net.au. © Australian Museum Trust 2009 6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010 ISSN 1039-4141. Project management: Wendy Rapee Editing: Ainsley Morrissey Proofreading: Brendan Atkins Design and production: Australian Museum Design Studio Printed by SOS Print + Media Group This annual report has been designed for accessible online use and distribution. A limited number of copies have been printed for statutory purposes. 2008–09 Annual Report cost: $915 Australian Museum 6 College Street Sydney NSW 2010 Open daily 9.30 am – 5.00 pm t 02 9320 6000 f 02 9320 6050 [email protected] www.australianmuseum.net.au Availability This report is available at www.australianmuseum.net.au/Annual-Reports. Further information on the research and education programs and services of the Australian Museum can be found at www.australianmuseum.net.au. Images Front cover and page 5 The Collections & Research Building opened in November 2008. The design incorporates elements inspired by the scale pattern and iridescence of a butterfly’s wing. Photo Carl Bento. page 2 Visitor events coordinator David Bock prepares geological specimens for use in the Search & Discover interactive area. Photo Stuart Humphreys. page 16 Exhibition production staff Albino Gimenez and Colin Johnston assemble an exhibit for the Dinosaurs exhibition. Photo Stuart Humphreys. page 36 Conservation manager Colin Macgregor uses a laser scanner to produce a digital 3D image of an artefact. Photo Carl Bento. page 72 Conservator Kate Brotherston assesses an artefact from the Pacific collection store. Photo Stuart Humphreys. Contents PART 1 – Our year in review 2 PART 4 – Appendices 72 Where the past meets the future 3 Appendix A – Organisation chart 73 Our Vision 4 Appendix B – Trustee profiles and activities 74 2008–09 highlights and snapshots 5 Appendix C – Executive profiles and 76 management activities President’s report 11 Appendix D – Guarantee of service 81 Director’s report 12 Appendix E – Staff, EEO and OHS statistics 81 Performance snapshot 13 Appendix F – Australian Museum Volunteers 85 Revenue generation 13 Appendix G – Key acquisitions and 86 Delivering to the community 14 donations to research and collections Authoritative research 15 Appendix H – Recognising Research and 89 Collections Division staff achievements PART 2 – Performance reports 16 Appendix I – Honorary appointments 2008–09 92 Objectives and actions 17 Appendix J – Overseas travel 93 Results and Services Plan 19 Appendix K – Publications, conference papers, 97 Key result area 1 – Delivering services 20 chaired sessions and presentations Key result area 2 – Developing relationships 30 Appendix L – Grants 110 Key result area 3 – Building capabilities 32 Appendix M – Disability Action Plan 114 Key result area 4 – Increasing resources 33 Appendix N – Ethnic Affairs Priority Statement 114 PART 3 – Financial statements 36 Appendix O – Use of consultants 115 Financial commentary 38 Appendix P – Energy Management 115 Appendix Q – Heritage management 115 Appendix R – Waste reduction and recycling 116 Appendix S – Privacy and personal information 116 Appendix T – Freedom of information 116 Appendix U – Code of conduct 118 Appendix V – Credit card certification 118 Appendix W – Benefactors and Sponsors 119 INDEX 120 Our year in review 1 Australian Museum Annual Report 2008–2009 3 WHERE THE paST MEETS THE FUTURE CHARTER CUSTOMERS AND STAKEHOLDERS The Australian Museum is a leading cultural attraction and scientific research The Australian Museum is a statutory body The Australian Museum’s main institution located in Sydney’s CBD. established under the Australian Museum customers are: Trust Act 1975. The Museum is principally We are on a mission to inspire the the community of NSW, which benefits funded by the NSW Government operating exploration of nature and culture. from our public programs and research, within the Department of the Arts, Sport and seeks knowledge and understanding Within our sandstone walls and online, and Recreation (2008–09). The objectives of our cultural and natural worlds people discover the stories of indigenous of the Act are to propagate knowledge cultures and life on Earth, told through about the natural environment of NSW Government agencies that rely exhibitions, displays and websites that Australia and to increase that knowledge, on our knowledge of our cultural and provide the latest in digital interactivity. particularly in the natural sciences of natural worlds. biology, anthropology and geology. In collaboration with other museums, At the heart of the Museum is an the Australian Museum reaches audiences irreplaceable collection of more than across Australia and New Zealand with 16 million objects – specimens of creatures SERVICES touring exhibitions. In collaboration with large and small, samples from the mineral other scientific research institutions in kingdom, and cultural artefacts from The Museum delivers services to clients Australia and internationally, the Museum Indigenous Australia and the Pacific. and stakeholders in three main fields: contributes to our knowledge of our The collection represents a physical timeline collection management – the Museum natural and cultural worlds. In addition, of environmental and cultural history. It maintains and develops the largest the Museum’s website reaches an is accessed daily by research staff at the natural history and cultural collection international audience. Museum, scientists in other institutions in Australia with over 16 million Our key stakeholders are the NSW worldwide, students, and local community registered items or lots Government and organisations engaged in groups reconnecting with their material scientific research – the Museum natural resources management or working cultural heritage. undertakes scientific research on its with indigenous cultures. collection of objects and in the field to All are linked in the search for answers expand our understanding of the biota Our other important stakeholders include: to pressing environmental and social and indigenous cultures of Australia challenges – the loss of biodiversity, a visitors from Australia and overseas and the Pacific region changing climate and the search for donors, sponsors and partners, and cultural identity. public programs – the Museum Australian Museum Members presents a wide array of exhibitions, our volunteers and our staff. To continue our critical mission, we rely programs and events to raise on funding not just from the NSW State community awareness of the biota Government but increasingly from and indigenous cultures of Australia Museum supporters. and the Pacific region. In fact, more than a third of our annual The outcomes of the Museum’s service budget is now raised through admission delivery are detailed within Part 2 charges, commercial operations such as Performance reports. venue hire, and hard-won research grants. The Museum’s guarantee of service As Australia’s first museum, we have is shown in Appendix D. inspired many generations. But in one sense our work is only just