Aboriginal History Research Unit (AHRU)

There is an increasing need for Aboriginal people to have to access to public records that have been created by State Government agencies. These records contain personal information about Aboriginal people or members of their family.

In the 1992 Mabo decision, the High Court of Australia recognised that the Meriam people of Torres Strait held native title over part of their traditional lands. This decision paved the way for Aboriginal people to seek to have their native title recognised under Australian law. If they wish to do so, they need to demonstrate their family history and connection to their land, heritage and culture.

The ‘Bringing Them Home’ report following the Human Rights Equal Opportunity Commission Inquiry in 1996 into the effects of separation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families under past government policies and practices, recommended that a service needed to be provided for Aboriginal people to access genealogical, archival and other sources of information, which assists them to identify their Aboriginal family links and cultural connections to land.

The former Aboriginal Affairs Department established the Aboriginal Family History Unit to provide this research service. This service is now part of the Aboriginal History Research Unit (AHRU) and has two primary work programs:

• The Archive program, administering the agency’s responsibility of the States Archives held by the State Record Office and providing research assistance to Aboriginal people searching for their family history
• The Aboriginal Family History service, providing key historical information to major stakeholders in the native title process

In addition, the AHRU provides information to the Public Trustee to assist in the identification of family members of Aboriginal persons who have died without a will and who fall within the intestacy provisions of the Aboriginal Affairs Planning Authority Act.