• Established the working group on improving access to records with Aboriginal Reference Group and Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.

Records relating to Aboriginal people will be identified and indexed, and their existence will be made known to relevant people and communities

• Volunteer projects, including the digitisation of records, have focused on records relating to Aboriginal people that have not been indexed. Records include school admission registers for schools with a large Aboriginal community, Advisory Council of Aborigines correspondence files, State Children’s Department correspondence files, and Aboriginal Affairs Department press cuttings books.

We will prioritise volunteer work focused on improving access to records of relevance to Aboriginal people

• Volunteer projects have focused on records relating to Aboriginal people that have not been indexed, records include school admission registers for schools with a large Aboriginal community, Advisory Council of Aborigines correspondence files, State Children’s Department correspondence files, and Aboriginal Affairs Department press cuttings books.

We commit to the aims of the Narungga Buthera Agreement

• We have engaged with the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation and provided results of a survey of records held that are of relevance to the Narungga community.

We will pursue changes to the Information Privacy Principles Instruction, so that records relating to Aboriginal people are not redacted to exclude important third party information

• Redaction and access to third party information has been considered in a review of the Information Privacy Principles Instruction.  Although the review has not concluded,  changes are not proposed  as these issues are more appropriately addressed in  access determinations and policies, as well as Freedom of Information (FOI) training conducted for government staff.

We will pursue legislative change which provides increased access to records about Aboriginal people and communities

• Consultation has begun with Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation and the Aboriginal Reference Group working group by considering change to some access determinations for records of the former Aboriginal Affairs Department.

We will make the Research Centre an open and inclusive space

• Engage a consultant to review the Research Centre space and provide recommendations to make the space welcoming and safe.
• Consult with Aboriginal Reference Group and wider Aboriginal community about appropriate cultural warnings and an Acknowledgement of Country to display.
• Consider commission of Aboriginal artwork for the space, possibly a mural or artwork in the public café.
• Consider moving the replica of the 1836 Letters Patent into the Research Centre, as recommended by the Aboriginal Reference Group. Include contextual information that outlines the history of the South Australian peoples, lands and waters prior to the establishment of a British province. Include the intent of the record but also share an Aboriginal persons perspective that captures the true impact actions and policies had on Aboriginal people post 1836.

The underlying premise is that everything we do is in consultation with Aboriginal people and informed by Aboriginal views

• Ensure consultation with the Aboriginal community is included in all planned consultations where appropriate.
• Create a contacts list as a basis for consultations, to ensure consultation is inclusive and strategic. A contacts list will include organisations that provide support services, health organisations, education providers including TAFE and Aboriginal media.
• Engage translators to record messages in language for local radio and television where appropriate.

We will offer continued support for the Aboriginal Reference Group. Seeking advice on the implementation of this action plan and best ways for community engagement

• Host a minimum of four Aboriginal Reference Group meetings per calendar year.
• Provide executive support to the Aboriginal Reference Group.
• Review the Aboriginal Reference Group Terms of Reference early 2026.
• We will raise awareness within Aboriginal communities of our services and the work we do.
• Investigate regional outreach opportunities and include staff from across State Records at events.
• Investigate joining local events, such as NAIDOC Family Day.
• Consider how information from different organisations can be linked online to provide an easy way for people to find and access the information they need.
• Investigate holding a forum of State and Local Voice representatives and the Aboriginal Reference Group.
• Invite Aboriginal Reference Group members to any events relating to our Aboriginal Access Services.

We will continue to partner with other organisations to deliver services to Aboriginal people

• Continue work to renew Memorandum of Understanding with SA Link-Up.
• Continue working group on improving access to records with Aboriginal Reference Group members and Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation representatives.
• Engage with other government agencies, such as the Department for Child Protection, to ensure support services include information about access to records outside of their own agency (such as other agencies and historical records held at State Records, the State Library and SA Museum).

We will establish a program of engagement with the Aboriginal community which includes participation in Sorry Day and reconciliation events, and investigate ways to bring the archives to the people through digital or physical means

• Investigate joining local events, such as NAIDOC Family Day.
• Publish publications online relating to Aboriginal Access Services.
• Develop the Community Research Scheme to facilitate delivery of digitised copies to communities.

We will describe archives in ways which have meaning for Aboriginal people, including Aboriginal language and terms

• Investigate resources to assist with updating descriptions in our databases.
• Consider establishing a sub-committee of the Aboriginal Reference Group to assist with language and descriptions used in our databases.

We will investigate ways to enable Aboriginal individuals and communities to add their stories to the archive, promoting healing through truth telling

• Investigate proactive collection of works that have been created through the use of the archive collection.

We will investigate ways to establish a right of response to the government record for Aboriginal people

• Research practices in other jurisdictions and organisations, such as the University of Adelaide’s SA Frontier and its Legacies project.
• Seek advice from the Jumbunna Institute for Indigenous Education and Research, the Indigenous Archives and Data Stewardship Hub and the Gary Foley archive.
• Consult the Aboriginal Reference Group on how a right of response can work.
• Build a right of response mechanism into future systems, such as new Archival Management System and Digital Archive.

We will cross reference series in the catalogue, so that links between records relating to individuals and communities are clear

• Commit to a project on our 2025-26 operational plan to investigate links between records and update catalogue descriptions.

• Investigate cross referencing mechanisms in future Archival Management Systems.

We will link our collection of records of Aboriginal people to other institutions collections where there are crossovers

• Collaborate with other organisations, such as State Library of South Australia, National Archives of Australia and the South Australian Museum, to find ways we can link our collections and streamline services to better meet the needs of people looking to find records.
• Investigate the ability to host index data held by other organisations in a future Aboriginal Information Management System (AIMS).

We will reach a common understanding of what de-colonising the archive means, and use this as a platform for change

• Continue discussions with the Aboriginal Reference Group about how we can work towards de-colonising the archive, linked with actions to add stories to the archive and establish a right of response.

We will improve access to data and information that supports Aboriginal people and communities in making informed and shared decisions

• Investigate resources that assist in developing understanding of  Indigenous data sovereignty and outline practical ways for implementation.
• Consult the Aboriginal Reference Group and other experts to integrate and identify ways of improving the collection, access, management and use of data across South Australia in line with Indigenous data sovereignty principles.
• Integrate Closing the Gap reforms into policy and standard development.
• Publish guidance for the South Australian government relating to official records and Indigenous data sovereignty.

We will work to repatriate Aboriginal records to community where appropriate

• Where the community or State Records identifies items appropriate for repatriation we will investigate and work towards this.

We will commit to succession planning for Aboriginal staff, increase the number of Aboriginal staff within the organisation, and ensure that Aboriginal people work with Aboriginal records

• Continue to progress opportunities to increase Aboriginal staff as they arise.

We will advise government agencies to consider the voices of Aboriginal people in record creation and management

• Discuss possible approach and coverage with the Aboriginal Reference Group relating to record creation across government.

We will educate government agencies about the long term value of records to Aboriginal people, and about access considerations unique to Aboriginal people

• Continue to build relationships across government to educate agencies, through policy development and information sessions, and ensure access considerations are appropriate and responsive to community needs.
• Refer to the Bringing Them Home Report and other key reports when developing guidance for government agencies.
• Plan information session for agency staff during Reconciliation Week or NAIDOC and include Aboriginal Reference Group members.

We will work towards improving access to records relating to Aboriginal people and communities

• Community Research Scheme will improve how Aboriginal communities can access the archive and receive digitised copies of records.
• Hold regional meetings to promote how to access archives and provide in person advice from State Records staff.
• Promote the Aboriginal Reference Group and its work during NAIDOC.

We will encourage agencies not to force Aboriginal people to use bureaucratic processes for access

• Review of Access Policy to official records will include guidance and advice to agencies relating to appropriate access processes for Aboriginal people. Consultation on this policy will take place with the Aboriginal Reference Group and the wider community. Communications to agencies will include education on this aspect of the policy.

We will ensure our staff are culturally aware and have undertaken trauma informed training

• Engage new AGD Cultural Awareness training provider to provide staff training in 2025 (previous training occurred 2017-18).
• Continue to encourage staff to attend available training and community activities.

We will investigate the removal of fees for access, for members of the Stolen Generation

• Waive fees for copies provided as part of all Aboriginal Access enquiries.

We will prioritise access on a case by case basis, including for Elders and people with medical issues

• Formalise updates to the Aboriginal Access process, in conjunction with Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation.

We will include Aboriginal people in decision making about access to records

• Consult the Aboriginal Reference Group and wider community on future policy development relating to access to records.

Records relating to Aboriginal people will be identified and indexed, and their existence will be made known to relevant people and communities

• Investigate outreach and community events that can promote records in the archive and Aboriginal Access services, including future Community Researcher Scheme. Include events at local councils, libraries and historical societies.
• With consultation publish indexes created by volunteers online to allow for greater access.

We will continue to work to reconnect families and help Aboriginal people discover their history, and make provision for supported access where appropriate

• The working group on improving access to records with the Aboriginal Reference Group and Aboriginal Affairs and Reconcilation will include process improvements, including how we can make provisions for supported access.

We will improve finding aids for records of relevance to Aboriginal people, and ensure aids are accessible over time

• Investigate online publication of Aboriginal Access resources.
• Investigate volunteer indexing projects that will improve finding aids and accessibility of records, such as additional school admission registers, Police records and hospital records.

We will seek ways to overcome the remote physical location of the Research Centre for Aboriginal communities

• Investigate regional outreach opportunities.
• Investigate publication of Aboriginal Access resources online.

We will digitise and publish records of interest to Aboriginal people, while respecting cultural and personal sensitivities

• Investigate publication of online access resources for Aboriginal people.
• Continue digitisation of GRG52/1 Aboriginal Affairs correspondence files.
• Investigate opportunities to increase the rate of digitisation of GRG52/1 Aboriginal Affairs correspondence files.
• Progress work towards an online platform to publish images of records and include records relating to Aboriginal people and communities, in consultation with the Aboriginal Reference Group and wider community.

We will continue to prioritise volunteer work focused on improving access to records of relevance to Aboriginal people

We commit to the aims of the Narungga Buthera Agreement

• Continue to engage with the Narungga Nation Aboriginal Corporation to fulfil actions under the Narungga Buthera Agreement, including further research and providing digital copies of records of relevance.

We will provide guidance to agencies on the alternatives to redaction of important third party information.

• Address redactions of third party information through the Aboriginal Reference Group and Aboriginal Affairs and Reconciliation Working Group. Determine ways to improve access to records, access policies and guidance materials.
• Review and update the State Records’ Access Determination Guideline.
• Incorporate in Freedom of Information training the types of information relating to Aboriginal people and third parties that can be released.

We will pursue legislative change which provides increased access to records about Aboriginal people and communities

• We will continue to actively pursue changes to access determinations that will increase access where appropriate, in consultation with the Aboriginal Reference Group and agencies responsible for records.

We will propose a whole of government access agreement with SA Link-Up

• We will continue to liaise with SA Link-Up and government agencies to work towards a whole of government access agreement.