Family History

The Family Records Unit has been set up to help Aboriginal people in NSW access records about themselves and their families, particularly members of the Stolen Generations who lost connection with their families as a result of past government policies and practices.

The Unit is run by a small team at the Department of Aboriginal Affairs (DAA) who provide practical assistance to people seeking access to records and oversee an ongoing program of indexing records.

DAA is the custodian of the records of the Aborigines Welfare Board (formerly the Aborigines Protection Board). Many of these records are closed to public access and can only be viewed with DAA's permission.

By contacting the Family Records Unit, individuals can request to access records, such as photographs and correspondence, which were created and held by the Board. The Unit is also a useful resource for academic researchers and individuals who have an interest in Aboriginal history.