The following has been taken from the 'Public Record Office Victoria' (www.prov.vic.gov.au/finding-your-mob)
When starting your family history research, it is important that you first bring together all the pieces of information that you already know. This can include the following:
- Full names of family members and any known alternative spellings or nicknames
- Dates of important events such as birthdays, marriages or deaths
- Names of parents, siblings or other relatives
- Cities, towns and locations (such as Aboriginal mission stations or reserves) where your family may have lived
- Places of work or service with the Australian Defence Force
- Schools that your family members may have attended.
Contacting Public Record Office Victoria can allow their staff to help you access copies of any records listed in the indexes that relate to your search. A dedicated Koorie Reference Officer can provide assistance and support for Aboriginal researchers, including members and descendants of the Stolen Generations, wishing to do family history research.
The Koorie Reference Officer can provide you with index search results, photocopies of original records found relating to your family, and provide you with advice on programs and organisations that may be able to assist you further in your research.
For more information, contact the Koorie Reference Officer at: [email protected]
Due to the complexities involved in finding family records, there are other agencies and organisations that can help you in your search:
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Connecting Home Ltd
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Connecting Home provides a broad range of services to members of the Stolen Generations.
Connecting Home offers a case management program, and can provide support to access public records, seeking confirmation of Aboriginality, support to organise reunions and to find out about your family and community. Referral pathways to other practical services that can assist are also part of the program.
Address: 110 Childs Road, Epping VIC 3076
Phone: (03) 8679 0777
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.connectinghome.org.au -
Koorie Heritage Trust
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The Koorie Heritage Trust, through its Koorie Family History Service, can help you trace your family and reconnect you with your history, heritage and culture. The service provides confidential client-based genealogy research to members of the Stolen Generations and the Victorian Koorie community.
Address: Yarra Building, Federation Square, Cnr Swanston & Flinders Streets, Melbourne VIC 3000
Phone: 03 8662 6329
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.koorieheritagetrust.com -
Link-Up Victoria
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Link-Up provides a service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 18, who have been adopted, placed in foster care, institutionalised or forcibly removed, to trace and be reunited with their families.
Address: 340 Bell Street, Preston VIC 3072
Phone: 1800 687 662
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.linkupvictoria.org.au
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Family Finding FAQ
Family Finding Frequently Asked QuestionsDownload
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Family Finding Model
The Family Finding model, developed by Kevin A. Campbell, National Institute for Permanent Family Connectedness, USA (www.familyfinding.org), offers methods and strategies to locate and engage relatives and other family connections (kith, kin and community) for children who are involved at any point in the child protection system, including those living in out-of-home care.Download