Services for academics and researchers

The National Film and Sound Archive supports academic research, teaching and scholarly inquiry using Australia’s national audiovisual collection. Researchers and educators can access film, television, radio, sound recordings, documents and contextual materials for non-commercial study, teaching and research.

This page outlines the main ways academics, researchers and educators can work with the collection, including research assistance, access options and classroom use.

Research support

The NFSA collection spans more than a century of Australian screen and sound culture, across a wide range of formats and technologies. Finding the most relevant material can involve navigating multiple collections, formats and rights conditions. The NFSA team can assist researchers to:

• identify relevant works, recordings and documentation
• understand available formats and access conditions
• locate contextual materials such as scripts, production files and ephemera
• clarify rights status where it affects research or teaching use

Research support is available for both institutional and independent researchers.

Access to collection material

Researchers and educators can access a wide range of collection material, including:

• moving image and sound recordings
• still images and photographs
• scripts, documents and production files
• selected artefacts and contextual objects

Access arrangements vary depending on format, preservation requirements and location.

Some material can be accessed online by eligible users. Other material is accessed in person at NFSA facilities or partner institutions.

Teaching and classroom use

The collection can be used in teaching and learning contexts, including:

• in-class screenings and listening
• lecture and tutorial use
• course-related research and analysis

Use of material for teaching is generally non-commercial and subject to specific access and copyright conditions. The NFSA can advise on appropriate use in educational settings.

Download-to-own titles

There are hundreds of collection titles available for download-to-own purchase, supporting teaching, study and research use. These titles are suitable for:

• repeated classroom use
• individual study and analysis
• institutional libraries and learning environments

Availability varies by title.

Please visit our online shop for details.

Access to original materials

Access to original documents, artefacts and collection items is available at the NFSA headquarters in Canberra and requires prior approval.

Requests are assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account preservation, handling and research requirements.

Getting started

Access arrangements depend on how you plan to use the material and the formats required. For complex research projects or ongoing access needs, eligible users may be invited to use NFSA Pro.