About

In 2013 the Australian Open Access Support Group (AOASG) was formed with the intention of providing a single body that could support OA initiatives across the HE sector. The initial group was composed of the six universities that already had an OA policy, The group expanded during the decade, changing its name twice: first to the Australasian Open Access Support Group, when the Aotearoa New Zealand Universities joined, and then to the Australasian Open Access Strategy Group, when it turned its attention to advocacy.

In 2021 we became simply Open Access Australasia.

We are a membership supported and driven organisation currently counting 25 Australian and 8 Aotearoa New Zealand universities and 6 other HE sector related organisations as members. We are committed to advocating for and raising awareness of open scholarship in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, building capacity and expertise within our region, collaborating regionally, nationally and internationally.

We support bibliodiversity – the inclusion of a wide spectrum of voices, languages, publishing models, platforms, and formats in scholarly communication. We endorse the principles of the  F.A.I.R. Access Policy Statement  for research outputs to be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable, and the CARE Principles of Collective benefit, Authority, Responsibility and Ethics, designed to ensure Indigenous data governance is driven by Indigenous rights and interest. We support the Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty principles and the Te Mana Raraunga Māori Data Sovereignty Principles 

The Patron of Open Access Australasia is Emeritus Professor Tom Cochrane, Faculty of Law at QUT.

Open Access Australasia Strategy 2026-2028

Open Scholarship

While our origins are in open access, our remit has now broadened to encompass open scholarship, embracing openness across the entire research and educational landscape—including open data, open educational resources, and all other forms of open practices in scholarship. When we speak of open access now we are defining it in the broader sense as the free, immediate, and unrestricted online availability of all forms of scholarly outputs, including not only journal articles but also books, data, software, and other research materials, ensuring that knowledge is accessible and reusable for everyone without financial, legal, or technical barriers.

At the same time, we recognise that not all materials can or should be made fully open, and that different kinds of materials may be subject to legal, ethical or cultural restrictions on access and reuse. Decisions about levels of access rest with those who have the responsibility and authority to make them. We therefore endorse an “as open as possible, as closed as necessary” approach that respects these conditions and explicitly endorses Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous Data Governance, recognising Indigenous peoples’ authority over their data and knowledges (see Maiam Nayri Wingara and Te Mana Raraunga).

Principles

The principles (updated 2026) that underpin the work of Open Access Australasia are:

• Open scholarship is accessible, equitable, and inclusive.
• A diverse and resilient ecosystem is essential to open scholarship.
• Indigenous peoples’ right to maintain, control and protect their knowledges and data must be upheld in open systems.
• Creators have the right to control access to their work and to enable availability and reuse.
• Research integrity and meaningful impact are strengthened by open and responsible research assessment.

Strategic priorities for 2026-2028

• Advance and facilitate shared open scholarship infrastructure initiatives.
• Raise awareness of Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance and amplify Indigenous-led initiatives across the research ecosystem.
• Advocate for rights retention policies and practices at national, funder and institutional levels by providing practical resources and facilitating collaborative opportunities.
• Serve as the authoritative regional hub, providing resources, expertise, and support while driving the connections and collective action needed to advance these priorities.

Activities for 2026-2028

Advance and facilitate shared open scholarship infrastructure initiatives.

Rationale: Facilitating discussions on shared, community-owned infrastructure is essential to building an ecosystem that is equitable and responsive to local needs. 

Specific Activities:

• Convene workshops and run webinars on diverse, shared infrastructure options (e.g., shared repository infrastructure, diamond OA models).
• Respond strategically to government, funder and international consultations with submissions that advocate for diverse, resilient, and shared infrastructures.
• Partner with key national organisations (CAUL, AOSN, NOST, ARDC) to advocate for coordinated, sustainable investments in open infrastructure.

Raise awareness of Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance and amplify Indigenous-led initiatives across the research ecosystem.

Rationale: Foregrounding Indigenous-led initiatives equips the community with practical models that implement Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance.

Specific Activities:

• Amplify and promote Indigenous-led projects and resources through newsletters, webinars and member updates.
• Feature Indigenous experts in webinars, panels, and workshops.
• Hire Indigenous consultant/s to add Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance resources page to the website. 
• Continue building the Indigenous Data Sovereignty & Governance component of online courses under the direction of Indigenous colleagues.

Advocate for institutions to implement rights-retention by providing practical resources and facilitating collaborative opportunities.

Rationale: Researchers and staff need support to navigate the mounting complexity of disparate and restrictive publishing agreements. Institutional advocacy for rights retention needs practical resources and information sharing opportunities.

Specific Activities:

• Develop and disseminate practical toolkits and resources to guide institutions in implementing rights-retention practices.
• Facilitate member-led working groups to share tactics, templates, and successful approaches to rights retention.
• Run targeted webinars and workshops that provide practitioners with the expertise to champion rights retention locally.
• Partner with relevant organisations like CAUL and NOST to advocate for a nationally coordinated approach to rights retention. 

Serve as the authoritative regional hub, providing resources, expertise, and support while driving the connections and collective action needed to advance these priorities.

Rationale: Positioning Open Access Australasia as the authoritative hub fills a critical gap for Australasian-specific resources and practical guidance. By continuing our international partnerships we ensure the region has a distinctive, context-aware voice in global conversations.

Specific Activities:

• Grow the website as the authoritative source for regional open scholarship resources
• Release online course OA201 part 2
• Foster opportunities for community interaction and collaboration, ensuring that knowledge is shared and leveraged for the common good.
• Continue to diversify and grow membership to ensure a broad base for collective action.
• Increase international relationships and collaborations to ensure our regional voice influences global standards.
• Contribute to and lead research that informs regional practice and strategic advocacy