Overview

SANTS receives funding from the State and Commonwealth Governments in order to perform the functions set out under s 203FE of the Native Title Act 1993. Our primary purpose is to help native title claimants and holders in South Australia to ensure that native title rights and interests are recognised and protected.

SANTS thus provide services and assistance to native title claimants, potential claimants and native title holders to support the recognition and protection of native title. The functions and powers of SANTS are set out in Division 3, section 203B of the Native Title Act as follows:

A representative body has the following functions:

a. the facilitation and assistance functions referred to in section 203BB;
b. the certification functions referred to in section 203BE;
c. the dispute resolution functions referred to in section 203BF;
d. the notification functions referred to in section 203BG;
e. the agreement making function referred to in section 203BH;
f. the internal review functions referred to in section 203BI;
g. the functions referred to in section 203BJ and such other functions as are conferred on representative bodies by this Act.
 
The Native Title Act (203 B (4)) also provides for SANTS to set priorities from time to time in relation to performing our functions and allocating resources to perform functions efficiently. In all cases, SANTS must give priority to the protection of the interests of native title holders.

SANTS delivers a ranges of services in relation to our functions and our overall objectives. These are delivered through a Corporate Services Team and a Client Services Team.