Presented by Simon Flagg
The issue of Aboriginal access to records has been a high priority in Victoria since the publication of the Bringing Them Home (BTH) report in 1997. It is widely acknowledged that access to records needs to be improved so that people removed from their families as children can view crucial information that can help them reconnect with family and their community, establish identity and progress along the journey of healing. Hence the creation of the Victorian Koorie records Taskforce in 2001.
This paper explores the important role the Victorian Koorie Record Taskforce (VKRT) plays in relation to the Public Record Office of Victoria and other government recordkeepers, particularly in providing direction and understanding of the pressing needs in relation to accessing records for the Victorian Aboriginal community. I will present examples of past and present initiatives the VKRT have implemented in Victoria.