Indigenous Engagement
We help mob to connect with their past and strengthen their future by leading the Library in celebrating and prioritising First Nations voices, memories and collections.
The Indigenous Engagement branch was established in 2013 to promote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services and collections in the Library. The small First Nations-led team works to make the vast collections of Aboriginal historical, political, cultural and language materials available to communities on Country and online.
We work in partnership with communities to develop programs, and to share and enhance collections relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We also provide advice to the Library on policy and on collection development. Requests for research assistance from First Nations people are prioritised.
Collections and resources
NSW First Nations Family History Research Guide
Use this guide to find key family history resources for Aboriginal Australians.
Indigenous Spaces in Libraries
Building a vibrant Public Library Network Inclusive of Indigenous Peoples and Communities
Exhibitions and events
Koori Knockout: 50 years
In 1971, six young First Nations men created what is today the largest gathering of First Nations peoples in NSW — the Koori Knockout.
Dyarubbin
Dyarubbin, the long, winding and ancient river, has been home to the Darug people for millennia and is a vital and sustaining resource.
Eight Days in Kamay
On 29 April 1770, the Gweagal people of Kamay discovered James Cook and his crew as they sailed into the bay and came ashore. The eight days that followed changed the course of Australia’s history.
Sydney Elders
Four Sydney elders — Uncle Chicka, Aunty Esme, Aunty Sandra and Uncle Dennis — tell very personal stories of Aboriginal Sydney.
