Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

What was very disturbing … was the way Aboriginality was identified was not by a mark on thefile or by trying to slot kids into Aboriginal programs. It was sometimes just because racist termsappeared in the file [that I could tell the subject was Aboriginal] (Linda Briskman evidence 134).Many people will need assistance to obtain the information kept by the governmentabout them. Many will need assistance just to be aware there might be a relevant andaccessible file.Firstly, people have to know about the service and their rights of access, and many do not yethave this information. People who live in remote communities may be a long way from a DistrictCentre [of the department]; and language and cultural differences can inhibit communication andaccess. Aboriginal people who are mistrustful or apprehensive of Family and CommunityServices may not feel confident about requesting access and negotiating the specific informationthey want to receive (SA Government interim submission page 23).Beginning a searchResearching government records is complicated and time-consuming. Few peoplewho have not worked in a bureaucracy can understand the record-keeping systems, codesand procedures.… a very complex maze. It’s hellishly complex. There’s terrible numbering systems; the systemshave changed over time. There was a whole maze of ways of looking at the [records] system(Linda Briskman evidence 134).Research based on archival sources is an analytical and labour intensive process. Archivalresearch involves the study of unique, original documents. The storage areas of archives, unlikethose of most libraries, may not be browsed by researchers wishing to identify records that mightbe relevant. This means that researchers are entirely reliant on indexes or finding aids to locatematerial of relevance to their research. Archives see their role as assisting researchers tounderstand and use the indexes and other tools. By and large Archives are not able to assistresearchers in identifying or selecting relevant records or interpreting the records (AustralianArchives submission 602 page 19).… archives are pretty daunting places for anybody … all archives have different systems …They’re complicated places to use (Kathryn Frankland, Queensland Archives, evidence).In reality this kind of search is not possible either for Link-up with hundreds of clients, or forpeople trying to do their own research. The sheer size of the job is not the only problem althoughit is a significant one. There are difficulties in identifying possible sources in the first place.Inventories and other finding aids are not always available and access provisions prevent trawlingwidely through possible sources (Rosie Baird presentation included with Karu submission 540,page 7).A number of record agencies have established specialist units to undertake thecomplex search process on behalf of Indigenous searchers. We found such units to be