Australian Government Antarctic Division
The Australian Government Antarctic Division leads Australia's Antarctic Program. As an agency of the Department of the Environment and Heritage, our charter is to ensure Australia's Antarctic interests are advanced.
The Australian Antarctic Program has four goals:
- Maintain the Antarctic Treaty System and enhancing Australia's influence in it;
- Protect the Antarctic environment;
- Understand the role of Antarctica in the global climate system; and
- Undertake scientific work of practical, economic and national significance.
Under its charter, the Australian Antarctic Division:
- administers the Australian Antarctic Territory and the Territory of Heard Island and McDonald Islands;
- conducts research in high priority areas of Antarctic science;
- coordinates and manages Australia's logistic program in Antarctica;
- promotes Antarctic research in universities through grants and the provision of logistic support;
- develops policy proposals and provides advice on Australia's Antarctic interests;
- promotes Australia's Antarctic interests within the Antarctic Treaty System;
- maintains a continuing presence in the region through permanent stations, the establishment of field bases and the provision of transport, communication and medical services;
- acts as the primary source of Australian Antarctic information.
Staff and Facilities
Over 300 permanent staff are employed, including administration, policy, science and operations personnel based at Kingston in Tasmania; the summer and wintering expeditioners serving in the Antarctic and subantarctic; and key program scientists located at the University of Tasmania.
The Kingston buildings house laboratories for science, electronics and electron microscopy, mechanical and instrument workshops, a krill research aquarium, a herbarium, equipment stores, communications and other operational and support facilities.
