Welcome
News - We have had to completely re-install this site due to it being accessed inappropriately in December 2021, by unknown agents. Last year's User details are kept, but we had to delete previous User details; sorry! If you cannot find or remember your user details, register as a new user, or message the webmaster (Jan Squire) using the contact form and I can help sort it out.
National Family History Month - August 2023
NFHM is an initiative of the Australasian Federation of Family History Organisations (AFFHO). Updated for 2023.
This popular initiative has received broad support from some of Australia’s leading government and non government organisations since its introduction in 2006. Originally only the first week in August, NFHM increased to include the whole month of August in 2013 to allow greater participation across Australia and New Zealand. NFHM is on again in 2023, although probably we will still be affected by Covid-19. Libraries and all history/genealogy groups are encouraged to hold events as their circumstances allow during August, and we expect some will choose be held on-line. The opening and closing ceremonies are detailed below.
Events can now be registered here for August 2023, and organisations are encouraged to think about what they might like to host, either on-line or in person. For 2023, our NFHM co-ordinator is Alex Daw. She will be posting regularly on Facebook and in various blogs, so watch for these. We will have an opening and a closing ceremony with a speaker and prizes, so plan for these - more info here as it is locked in. Our wonderful 2023 sponsors are an essential part of our ability to sponsor NFHM, so check the sponsor page for the latest information. We usually have prize draws during August as well, so watch for these as prizes are confirmed.
This website allows for organisations to post their events here, (see the menu item 'Add New Events'), and we promote August as National Family History Month throughout Australia and New Zealand. Our Facebook page is the place to go for the latest news and information. See https://www.facebook.com/FamilyHistoryMonthAU
Opening and Closing Ceremonies August 2023
The theme for NFHM this year is Secrets and Lies - using AI responsibly and handling sensitive subjects in your family history research.
Opening Ceremony
Held on Tuesday 1 August 2023, at 5pm Eastern Australian time, by Zoom. Professor Hamish Maxwell-Stewart and Andrew Redfern will talk on the topic of 'AI (Artificial Intelligence)'. A video recording is available till the end of September - see the 'Video' menu item.
Closing Ceremony
LATE NEWS - we have had to cancel the closing ceremony. We have advised those who advised me they were attending, and we are trying to post far and wide.
Will be held in person at midday Eastern Australian time, on Thursday 31st August at the Metcalfe Auditorium at the State Library NSW (you may know it as the Mitchell library), at 1 Shakespeare Pl, Sydney NSW. Anita Jacoby and Jenny Brockie will speak on 'Dealing with sensitive material in family history research and publishing'.
Cancelled - Please note that this will be an event in Sydney, and most likely the live event will not be available via Zoom. We may be able to record the talk separately to include on our website, but will update here when resolved. We are taking Email booking requests, as set out below.
< Anita Jacoby AM is one of Australia’s most awarded television producers. She has held senior roles on the nation’s most credible and cutting-edge programs from The Gruen Transfer to Enough Rope with Andrew Denton, 60 Minutes, The Today Show, Elders and Hungry Beast. Her work has received numerous industry awards including four Australian Film Institute/AACTA awards, a Logie and an Asia Broadcasting Union Award. In 2019 she was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia.
Anita currently Chairs the ABC Advisory Council, Co-chairs Women in Media, is a Board member of Chief Executive Women, the UK-based Duke of Edinburgh International Foundation and Documentary Australia, along with being an Associate Member of the Australian Communications and Media Authority.
Her first book, Secrets Beyond the Screen was published in 2022. In what began as a book about her family history written only for her nearest and dearest, Anita uncovered a fascinating and compelling true story filled with unearthed mysteries too important not to share with the rest of the world. Anita will promote her book, and will probably have copies for sale.
< Anita will be joined by Jenny Brockie. Jenny is one of Australia’s most accomplished and experienced television journalists and broadcasters. She is best known for her skilled facilitation and interviewing on the SBS TV forum program ‘Insight’ which she presented for nearly two decades. Before that Jenny worked as a television documentary maker, morning radio presenter, reporter and producer at the ABC.
Jenny has won multiple awards, including the Gold Walkley for Excellence in Journalism and eight United Nations Association Media Peace Awards for her work on Insight. After decades of telling other people’s stories, she recently explored her own family history in an episode of the acclaimed television program “Who Do You Think You Are”. She describes the experience as life changing.
**** Cancelled - We request that you let us know if you want to attend in person. There will be no Zoom available, but we may be able to video it for later inclusion on our website. Please register your attendance via this website's contact form, or Email
AFFHO is the umbrella organisation for family history and genealogy societies in Australia and New Zealand. It was established in 1978 to coordinate and assist the work of Australian and New Zealand groups with interests in family history, genealogy, heraldry and related subjects.
AFFHO is managed by a Volunteer Elected Council, comprising of a voting member from each state and territory in Australia, and from New Zealand. Councillors are elected annually by member societies. The Council also comprises non-voting delegates from those states that have a state association. Currently these are New South Wales/Australian Capital Territory, Queensland and Victoria. Council appoints a volunteer webmaster and a National Family History co-ordinator.