Australian Genealogical Education Centre

Incorporating the Kiama Family History Centre

Australian federal government (Steel Cities Assistance Program) and local government funding created the Kiama Family History Centre (FHC) in 1988. Kiama Council is the owner and operator of the centre. In the time since its inception, this innovative and unique centre has achieved international recognition and an acclaimed reputation.

Easy to find, the FHC is located in the same building as the Kiama Library on Railway Parade, Kiama. It is very close to both the railway station and the bus stop of Kiama Coach routes. A taxi rank is one block away.

The FHC is a non-profit-making organisation and is involved in the following work:

• general research and advice in family and social history. We offer advice on how to research our records, providing basic training in using microfiche readers, using microfilm readers and interpreting indexes. Charges apply for research work at the centre
  
  
• creation and presentation of schools' educational programs that slot perfectly into the modern day Australian history curriculum. At present six programs are operating which include immigration, convicts, WW1, site studies and family history per se
  
  
• practical research with the Molecular Genetics Laboratory of the University of Sydney in the very important field of identifying, investigating and, hopefully, eliminating certain hereditary disorders
  
  
• sales from a selection of current microfiche. These are part of a comprehensive range of research tools used at the centre
  
  
• recommendations for internet sites to assist the researcher in finding their genealogical information
  
  
• playing a supportive and research role for people affected by adoption and recognising the need these people have in identity and genetic background for future generations
  
  
• indexing programs for research material that is significant, but has hitherto remained unindexed. To date many indexes have been produced and published on microfiche and CD including Tasmanian assisted passengers and convicts to the colony. These indexes may be found in places as diverse as Downpatrick and Wicklow in Ireland and university libraries in Germany
  
  
• conducting regular courses unlocking mysteries of researching the many records available to the family historian. Topics include discovering what genealogy is and the interesting aspects of researching family history. The resources available, such as passenger records, convict and land records, naturalisation, birth, death and marriage records, probate, divorce and military service records are fully explained. Overseas resources and how to access them is also canvassed. New records and indexes are becoming available all the time. The latest are included in the course as is the internet
  
  
• hosting group excursions for clubs, societies and like organisations with talks and a tour of the centre.

The Kiama Family History Centre has an air-conditioned auditorium that seats 60 comfortably. This is for hire. The centre is fortunate to have volunteers who freely provide their labour to assist others in the pursuit of their interests in research. If you have an interest in learning, developing or honing your research skills, and working with a fun bunch of dedicated researchers, please contact the centre to fulfill those aspirations.