The Oral History Unit has existed since 1985 with a commitment to preserving the stories of our Elders and community in Victoria. We record oral histories from across Victoria to ensure our culture is maintained for future generations.

We provide a family history service to members of the Stolen Generations including researching and recording Koorie genealogies from across Victoria and the border areas. We have created digital projects to make Koorie culture more accessible to our community for pride in culture and to the wider community to create greater understanding of and respect for Koorie history.

Overview

Stories or oral history have always been an important part of Koorie cultures. Before Europeans came to Australia, stories were the foundation and means to continuation of every element of culture including knowledge of law, spirituality, agriculture and harvest, movement and migration of animals and seasons, tribal boundaries. These stories were passed on through the generations – which is a long time considering we are the oldest living culture in the world – and these stories continue to be passed on today.

Kinship and connection between Koorie families is essential for understanding place and relationships within the Koorie community. Our Koorie Family History Service assists people who do not have the knowledge of who they are and where they come from to develop connections with their family and history.