Ms Kathryn Mary (Kathy) FRANKLAND
For outstanding public service to the development and research of historical family records for Indigenous people of Queensland.
Ms Frankland has worked in the Community and Personal Histories Unit (Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs) since 1995, and has managed the team since 2005. Over these two decades, and under her leadership, the Unit has developed an extensive database and is now considered nationally as the leading family history research centre for Indigenous Australians. Ms Frankland is widely regarded as an expert in Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island histories. Prior to 1945, information on births, marriages, deaths and civil registration was not compulsory for Indigenous Australians. In response to this, the Community and Personal Histories Unit (CPHU) has provided essential support for more than 20 years to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, helping them to find connection to family and traditional country. The CPHU helps to provide Indigenous peoples with access to government records about themselves, their families and communities. Information is often extremely personal and culturally sensitive, and clients are assisted in any way possible to ensure they can comprehend the information in a safe environment. Each year the CPHU receives between 800 and 1,000 requests for information from individuals and families, clients of Link-Up and Stolen Generation counsellors, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities who are reclaiming their history and Native Title claimants. Ms Frankland and staff have received positive public recognition for their work in establishing processes and maximising the amount of information that can be provided without breaching privacy requirements. Ms Frankland's commitment and work on the development of culturally appropriate access protocols and procedures have been central to the continued success of the CPHU. Her expertise and innovative approaches have been acknowledged at state and national levels, and her principles have been mirrored in the establishment of similar services and service documentation across Australia. Her determination and unwavering commitment have had a profound effect on Queensland's approach to the provision of personal history information and the lives of thousands of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have accessed this information.
Comments
This is a wonderful recognition! Congratulations Kathy and to your team of dedicated professionals who spare no effort in their work to help indigenous people know more about themselves, their family, and communities. The work of the CPH Unit brings knowledge, meaning, identity and sense of place to so many indigenous people within our community and makes ours a better society.
Oh congratulations Kathy! and her colleagues. This news will definitely be noted in the forthcoming meeting of the ASA Council and minuted.
I think this post is so great! A fantastic recognition of the hard work and dedication of Kathy and the Community and Personal Histories Unit and of their commitment to changing people's lives through better information management and delivery. They are an inspiration to archivists and records managers everywhere.
Congratulations to Kathy Frankland for her achievement and the outstanding work she and her team do at the Community and Personal Histories Unit, Queensland is extremely fortunate to have such an organisation - their work is greating appreciated.