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About Indigenous services

 

The Indigenous Services team at the Library work to share and celebrate stories of Indigenous Australia and work closely with Indigenous communities.

What we do:

  • We promote services and programs on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture
  • We provide advice on Indigenous matters
  • We expose our rich Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander collections to the wider community

Indigenous Advisory Board

The Library established an Indigenous Advisory Board in 2014, with its inaugural meeting held in June 2015.  

The Indigenous Advisory Board assists the Library Council and the State Library to respond to the needs of the Indigenous population of New South Wales and to build relationships with communities.   

Aboriginal words and names - Lower Clarence River Dialect, compiled by Robert Leycester Dawson', September 1935. Part of the Rediscovering Indigenous Languages project
View collection item detail

Some frequently answered questions that may help:

1. Can you assist with my research?

Yes, we provide assistance for clients researching material related to Indigenous Australia history and culture from the Library’s collections. If we don't have material relating to your enquiry available in our collection, we may be able to advise you on which institution outside NSW you can contact to obtain more information. For more information on the support we can provide, please view the Ask a Librarian policy

2. Do you do Family History research?

No, we don't provide personalised Family History research. We can help with:

  • Up to 1 hour of research on each enquiry. We may spend more time on enquiries which require researching materials unique to our Library.
  • A maximum of 6 enquiries per client per calendar year.

3. Are there any resources to start my family history?

Yes, you can get started reading our NSW First Nations family history research guide. If you need a more specific advice please contact us

4. Do you issue ‘Confirmation/Proof of Aboriginality’ documentation?

We do not issue ‘Confirmation/Proof of Aboriginality’. However, you can find more some helpful advice and information on how to obtain the documentation on the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies website.

5. How can I be updated on your events and activities?

The events organised by the Indigenous Services team can be booked online.

6. How can I be involved in the Rediscovering Indigenous Languages project?

You can find more information on the Rediscovering Indigenous Languages website. If you wish to assist our team in transcribing language material please contact us.

7. How can I become a volunteer?

If you wish to become a volunteer please refer to our Volunteers page.  

8. How can I contact you/book an appointment?

You can book an appointment with any member of the team through emailing