Dr Terri Janke and Laura Curtis With the Copyright Amendment Act 2026 now in force, libraries, archives and collecting institutions are beginning to navigate Australia’s new orphan works scheme and what it means in practice for access to cultural materials. The reforms, which commenced on 2 April 2026, allow certain uses of copyright material where the copyright owner cannot be identified or located, provided a “reasonably diligent search” has been undertaken. Importantly, the Explanatory...

Libraries hold some of the most significant collections of Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP) in the country. From manuscripts and artworks to recordings, photographs, and Indigenous data, these collections preserve knowledge that is deeply connected to culture, Country, and community. As libraries digitise more of their holdings and make them accessible online, their responsibilities around cultural safety, lawful access, and Indigenous authority grow more complex. To...

We have been very pleased to host Ava as an intern at Terri Janke and Company. Ava is currently studying a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at UNSW. She carries with her a strong commitment to fairness, equality, and the protection of rights, particularly for First Nations peoples. Her Studies + What Inspires Her Ava chose to study law to better understand how society manages complex interactions involving ethics, conflict, and competing values. She is...