Project Assistant

**Project Assistant**

**First Nations Community Access to Archives (Identified)**

Are you passionate about the return of First Nations language and cultural material into communities across NSW? Do you want to support Aboriginal communities in their language and cultural revitalisation and education journeys? Come work on an exciting new project with a strengths focused team improving First Nations Community Access to the archives. In a highly supportive environment gain a deep understanding of the archival collection, what’s involved in archival research and analysis, and grow your leadership potential within a First Nations archival workforce.

**What the opportunity is**:

- Employment with Museums of History NSW
- Clerk Grade 5/6. Remuneration package includes salary ($99,938 - $110,271), employer's contribution to superannuation and annual leave loading.
- Full-time temporary employment for a period of 12 months with a possibility of an extension.
- The role will work across Sydney.

**What we do**
Museums of History NSW brings together a portfolio of iconic museums, rich collections and heritage sites, the nation’s oldest archive collection, vital recordkeeping services and expert staff.

We bring history to life by sharing the stories of our places and collections. Through the State Archives Collection, we manage NSW’s official documentary heritage, supporting government transparency and the public’s right to access information.

These two roles do not just sit side by side - they inform and enrich each other. By preserving and making accessible our places, collections and archives, we create opportunities for people to explore the past and better understand their own place in the world. By supporting lifelong learning and inviting people to come together, we promote civic literacy, empathy, wellbeing and belonging.

We believe that history belongs to everyone. This is the promise and the purpose of MHNSW.

Museums of History NSW is a state cultural institution, established under the Museums of History NSW Act 2022. It is an agency of the NSW Department of Creative Industries, Tourism, Hospitality and Sport (DCITHS).

**Project Overview**

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

This project involves searching the State Archives Collection for materials relating to First Nations people and their Languages, 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 professionally trained First Nations archivists in NSW.
The initiative will be led by a First Nations team which will be built over the course of the project, who will be provided with on the job training provided in working with state records and digitisation, and access to various support systems including Cultural mentors.

As this 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.

All role involved with this project will contribute to the reclamation and revitalisation of First Nations Languages in NSW by engaging with First Nations communities to facilitate and support access to materials pertaining to their Languages, Cultures and heritages.

**What you'll do with us**:
In this role you will assist the First Nations Community Access project team to research and surface records in the NSW State Archives Collection relating to First Nations Peoples, their Language and histories and make those records accessible and discoverable via a digitisation project. Support the engagement of multiple stakeholders and lead Community outreach initiatives to connect First Nations Communities to records and hand back ownership.

Click here for the role description including the capabilities required for this role.

**What you need to do to apply**
- A one to two page cover letter outlining how your skills and experiences meet the essential requirements for this role, and
- A current resume listing two referees.

**Essential requirements of the role**:

- Applicants must be of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander descent, identify as being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander and accepted in the community. MHNSW considers that being