Family History Officer

About Collection Services Group
The Collections Services Group is responsible for the development, management, preservation and provision of access to the AIATSIS Collection at both Maraga (Canberra) and Mparntwe (Central Australia) sites. The Group manages, describes, preserves digitises and provides access to the AIATSIS Collection.

About AIATSIS Central Australia
The Central Australia facility in Alice Springs is the first regional facility for AIATSIS outside of Ngunnawal Country (ACT). It provides culturally appropriate digitisation and storage capacity along with local training opportunities. The facility supports the preservation of community-held collection materials and repatriation of Indigenous collections and cultural information. It also delivers services to improve searching and accessing the AIATSIS Collection, training opportunities and learning opportunities through exploration of our exhibition space as well as cultural research including family history.

About the Role
This position plays a key role in the Collection Access and Family History team, supporting the Assistant Director, Community Engagement and Access to provide culturally safe and ethical family history research services to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, particularly those affected by past government removal policies. As part of the Family History Unit, this role involves conducting family history research using the AIATSIS Collection and external collections, including archives, mission and church records, oral histories, and public data sources to compile research reports. This is a customer-focused role primarily responsible for conducting family history research requests and providing access to information to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people undertaking their own research. It supports clients through guided self-help, providing clear advice and practical tools to empower their research journey. The role also contributes to the development and delivery of presentations, training, and outreach sessions, both at AIATSIS and in community settings. 
The work is grounded in respect for privacy, confidentiality, and cultural protocols, ensuring meaningful and ethical engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Key responsibilities of the role include:

• conduct basic family history research using the AIATSIS Collection and external collections, including archives, mission and church records, oral histories, and public data sources to complete research reports.
• support clients through guided self-help, providing clear advice and practical tools to empower their research journey.
• contribute to the development and delivery of presentations, training, and outreach sessions, both at AIATSIS and in community settings.
• maintain databases, assist with monitoring and reporting to family history unit business plans.
• other administrative tasks as required.

Our Ideal Candidate
To be successful in the role, you will bring a balance of empathy, cultural understanding, and practical research skills. You will enjoy working closely with community members and families and take pride in helping people reconnect with their history through respectful, accurate, and timely research support.
You will come with the following skills, experience and attributes:

• demonstrated ability to locate, interpret and summarise information from archival and public sources with a high attention to detail and commitment to accuracy when recording or sharing family information.
• demonstrated ability to undertake research and clarify copyright and Indigenous Cultural Intellectual Property rights of collection materials to support research reports.
• demonstrated ability to explain research findings in plain language that supports clients to understand and make decisions about their own records, paired with strong listening and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and support clients in a calm, respectful and supportive manner.
• demonstrated ability to manage multiple client requests concurrently and work to deadlines efficiently and effectively.
• demonstrated ability to share information and assist colleagues to achieve team goals, while maintaining a flexible and cooperative approach, contributing to a positive and inclusive workplace culture.
• ability to work independently and as part of a team to achieve desired outcomes and goals.
• demonstrated ability to adapt to changing priorities and use of initiative to solve day-to-day problems within established guidelines. As well as a proactive mindset that contributes ideas for improving client service, systems or research processes.

Cultural Capability
Roles at AIATSIS require candidates to have an understanding of the issues affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and demonstrate culturally appropriate engagement and communications skills. The nature of this role requires the candidate to consistently demonstrate the following specific cultural capabilities:

• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander business within the agency and the outcomes the agency is responsible for delivering.
• understand Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander stakeholders and the dynamics of engaging with them respectfully.
• understand the heritage, cultural and intellectual property rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and communities as they apply to research.
• understands the sources of knowledge resting with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander employees, stakeholders, and networks.
• understands the impact of attitudes, beliefs, and past experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in the engagement and consultation process.
• an authentic and respectful interest in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, policy, and implementation matters.

AIATSIS embodies Yindyamarra in everything we do.

Contact
If you have any questions about the role, you can contact Jennifer Nixon on 08 •••• •580 or at ••••@aiatsis.gov.au

This is an Affirmative Measures opportunity
This position will be filled using the Affirmative Measure provision, which allows for the targeted recruitment of Indigenous Australians into the Australian Public Service. The vacancy is only open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people. The filling of this employment opportunity is intended to constitute an Affirmative Measure under section 8(1) of the Racial Discrimination Act 1975.