Manager, First Nations Community Access to Archives (Identified)

Museums of History NSW is seeking a Manager, First Nations Community Access to Archives (FNCAA) to lead the FNCAA project, which supports First Nations Communities in accessing and reconnecting with archival records relating to their Languages and Cultures. This role offers a unique opportunity to lead a First Nations team, drive meaningful Community engagement, and oversee a significant program of archival discovery, digitisation and information repatriation. You will work collaboratively with Communities, stakeholders and partner organisations to create culturally safe pathways to archival access and contribute to the revitalisation of First Nations Languages across NSW.

What the opportunity is:
Employment with Museums of History NSW
Clerk Grade 11/12. Remuneration package includes salary ($154,231 – $178,369), employer’s contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading
Full-time employment on a temporary basis until 30 June 2029
The role is predominantly based at the Western Sydney Records Centre but will work across Greater Sydney

Project Overview
MHNSW, in partnership with the Aboriginal Languages Trust (ALT), have developed the First Nations Community Access to Archives project, to enhance First Nations access to important archival documents that could unlock information about their Languages and Cultures. Under this initiative MHNSW and the ALT aim to provide a Culturally-safe avenue for Aboriginal people to access materials from the State Archives Collection and to engage with Communities about repatriation of their information.

The initial ‘Search and Discovery’ phase of the project involves searching the State Archives Collection for materials relating to First Nations people and their Languages. Other phases involve preserving and providing access to materials, engaging with Aboriginal Communities and ensuring the long-term sustainability of the materials as well as developing a workforce strategy for First Nations archives workers in NSW.

The initiative is led by a First Nations team who are provided with on the job training in working with State archives and digitisation, and access to various support systems including Cultural mentors.

As the State Archives Collection is from the early period of colonisation in Australia, materials may contain wording and images that are culturally insensitive and distressing to First Nations people. The collection is likely to contain information about historical events including Frontier Wars, Stolen Generations, land dispossession and laws and policies affecting First Nations Communities.

What you’ll do with us:
Lead the FNCAA project thereby contributing to the revitalisation of First Nations Languages in NSW by engaging with First Nations communities to facilitate and support access to materials pertaining to their Languages and Cultures. Maintain, lead and manage a First Nations project team to research and surface records in the NSW State Archives Collection relating to First Nations Peoples, their Language and Cultures and make those records accessible and discoverable via a digitisation project. Engage with multiple stakeholders and lead Community outreach initiatives to connect First Nations Communities to records.