What's my story? Searching your past

Every year, the Department of Communities’ Community and Personal Histories team receives about 1000 requests for information.

“There are all sorts of reasons. Families or organisations may need information for native title claims, Public Trust offices may be seeking beneficiaries after a person has passed on. Information for eulogies is common. We even get older people wanting proof of their birth, so that they can obtain a passport. But mostly we see individuals wanting to find out their family history — who or where they belong,” says team manager Kathy Frankland.

Community and Personal Histories’ 14 staff members have access to thousands of records relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, a legacy from the years of state government control under various ‘protection’ Acts. Some files run to 1000 pages.

Staff can also access information from other government departments and State Archives.

But, says Kathy, more and more information can be found on the Internet without being an expert genealogist or researcher.

Kathy Frankland shares her tips on getting started with your family history:

1.  Start with yourself. Write down your full name, date of birth, where you were born, where you live and your occupation. Are you married? Write down your partner’s details. Do you have children? Write their details down too.

• Now write down everything you know about others: your mum, dad, grandparents…

2.  Ask relatives for information. Can they fill in some blanks? Can they go back further? Write everything down.

3.  Use the Internet for online searches of births, deaths and marriages.

• Spelling may alter over the years. ‘Smith’, for example, may appear as ‘Smithe’, ‘Smythe’ or ‘Smyth’.
• If a member of the family was legally adopted, you will need to contact Adoption Services Queensland, Department of Communities, who will help you obtain an original birth certificate (Freecall 1800 647 983 Queensland only).
• If a member of the family was fostered, you may need to contact the Department of Communities’ Right to Information unit on Freecall 1800 460 906.

4.  Was your family affected by Queensland protection Acts? If so, the Community and Personal Histories team can probably help you.

5.  Information may also be found in records kept by religious organisations that ran missions, schools, police and the defence forces.

More information
Community and Personal Histories team
Freecall 1800 650 230
www.slq.qld.gov.au/info/ind/footprints