This pilot initiative is designed to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander oral history practice and build pathways to employment in collecting institutions, research organisations and community-led history projects. The program will equip trainees to conduct oral histories with Indigenous and non-Indigenous interviewees in institutional and community settings.

Participants will undertake a summer school combining online learning, field-based training and a practical oral history recording project. The 2026–27 cohort brings together emerging practitioners from diverse professional and community backgrounds, united by a commitment to preserving and sharing First Nations stories.

The program reflects our commitment to supporting First Nations cultural knowledge, oral history practice and the preservation of stories that enrich Australia's documentary heritage. Through practical training, mentoring and hands-on experience, participants will contribute to ensuring these stories are recorded and preserved for future generations.

This program is funded by the Jim Bettison and Helen James Foundation.

Course convenor: Dr Lorina L Barker

Lorina L Barker is a Wangkumara/Muruwari oral historian, filmmaker, storyteller, artist, theatre practitioner, poet and descendant of the Adnyamathanha (Flinders Ranges SA), Kooma and Kunja (southwest QLD), Barkindji (northwest NSW) and Wiradjuri (Bogan River central west NSW). She uses multimedia as part of her community art-based projects to transfer knowledge, history and culture onto the next generation in mediums that they use and are familiar with such as film, short stories and spoken word. 

Lorina is guided by Cultural Knowledge Holders/Elders and works in partnership with community on Aboriginal-led, designed, managed and delivered research and arts projects, and defines best practice for working with Aboriginal communities.

Lorina L Barker, photo by Julie L Collins, 2023 

2026-27 trainees

Janelle Brown

"I am a proud Bundjalung woman, from Grafton, NSW, living on beautiful Minjungbal (Bundjalung) Country at Tweed Heads. I work as a self-employed consultant focusing on Indigenous issues. It is an honour to be given this opportunity to actively support the continued passing down of our stories, knowledge and experiences.” 

Raymond Zada 

Raymond is a Barkandji man with Afghan and Scottish heritage. A broadcaster and Telstra award-winning artist, he is passionate about preserving histories for future generations and ensuring people’s stories are told in their own words. Raymond is a founding member of the newly-formed Queer Archive Collective of South Australia. 

Margaret Grenfell 

“I am South-East Queensland Goori, descendant of three matriarchal apical ancestor lines: Granny Kidgeree, Granny Jungerboi and Granny Junobin. Land & Sea Country includes Moorgumpin/Moreton Island, Nughi clan, Minjerribah/ North Stradbroke Island, Noonuccal clan, inc. Southern Moreton Bay Islands off Brisbane and the Redlands Coast.

My passion is to be involved in recording oral histories of my people; to help to collate our history, stories and culture for those who yearn to know more.” 

Shona Coyne 

Shona Coyne is a Menang Noongar from Kinjarling (Albany), Western Australia, and works at the National Museum of Australia. She co-curated Kalyagul: Connections to Menang Country, bringing together Menang knowledge, cultural belongings and historical records. Her work centres on strengthening connections to ancestral knowledge and supporting community-led approaches to documenting, preserving and sharing Menang stories and knowledge across generations. 

State Library of New South Wales

The State Library of New South Wales has generously supported 2 Indigenous staff members to participate in this training program:

• Cherokee Lord
• Gemma Evans