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Update on the records of the United Aborigines Mission, March 2023
The Find & Connect web resource contains descriptions of records known to have been held by the United Aborigines Mission. These descriptions have been compiled from publicly available sources, such as the publications Finding your own way (2005) and Connecting Kin (1998). The UAM provided access to the records to researchers during the Mullighan Inquiry in South Australia (2004-2008), who recorded details about the contents of UAM's collection.
Former residents of institutions run by UAM have advised the Find & Connect web resource that since the end of 2018, it has not been possible to get access to UAM records, or to get in contact with representatives of UAM.
In October 2019, Sharrock Pitman Legal Pty Ltd, a legal firm based in Melbourne, advised the Find & Connect web resource that the United Aborigines Mission and UAM Ministries were in the process of being wound up.
As of December 2021, UAM Ministries's registration status with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission is "voluntarily revoked", "no longer operating".
In late 2022, a collection of UAM records was deposited with the State Library of South Australia. This collection comprises some records from the United Aborigines Mission archives, relating to Colebrook, Tanderra and Oodnadatta Homes in South Australia, and the Bomaderry Aboriginal Children's Home in New South Wales.
As at March 2023, research and consultation by the Find & Connect web resource team and other stakeholders has been unable to establish the current whereabouts of other records previously held by United Aborigines Mission Archives, last known to be located in Williamstown, Victoria.
This is a distressing situation for former residents of UAM institutions and for their family members. Support is available from organisations such as Link Up and the Find & Connect support services.
If you can provide any further information please contact the Find & Connect web resource. We will update this website should any new information come to light.
