About Us

SANTS is the Native Title Service Provider for Greater South Australia. It was recognised as such by the Commonwealth Minister for Aboriginal Affairs on July 1, 2008. SANTS has legal responsibilities and functions under Section 203B of the Native Title Act.

The area covered by SANTS includes those lands and waters within the SA state borders and those waters adjacent to the SA coastline.

SANTS native title operations are largely funded by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) under Section 203FE(1) of the Native Title Act. The SA Government also funds SANTS with respect to ILUA and Consent Determination Negotiations and other activities associated with South Australian Native Title Resolution (SANTR) process.

The SANTR process (see www.iluasa.com) provides for parties to negotiate native title outcomes. Importantly it creates the opportunity for all parties to participate in a cooperative, supportive and progressive environment to resolve issues between them. This collaborative and strategic initiative provides an important avenue for negotiating sustainable outcomes for native title claimants and providing certainty for all parties.

SANTS believes that negotiating Native Title issues instead of litigating claims in a contested court hearing is more likely to bring about long-term, equitable and sustainable outcomes for Aboriginal people. Bringing together native title claimants with others who are interested in land use (e.g., farmers and pastoralists, miners, and government) to talk and about respective interests is the best way to resolve native title.

SANTS will continue to settle native claims with the support of the Federal Court and the State government through the SANTR strategy.  Concurrently we will focus our attention to maximising broader land settlement with the Aboriginal community.

SANTS is committed to a platform of agreement making through the negotiation of ILUAs and Consent Determinations wherever possible and has set a target of 85% of native title claims will be settled by 2020.

SANTS is a legal entity with the Board of Directors strategically focused on the short and long term financial viability of the organisation and meeting its corporate governance and compliance responsibilities within both the Native Title Act and Corporate regulation, including its funding agreements with government agencies and other parties.