Link-Up (NSW) Aboriginal Corporation was founded around 1980 as a voluntary organisation. It started out of the fortunate coincidence that Coral Edwards and Peter Read were both working in Canberra and trying in different ways to trace the recent history of NSW Aboriginals.

In 1981 or 1982, Coral and Peter were invited to address the National Aboriginal Conference. This proved to be another major turning point. By the end of the conference, the Department of Social Security had agreed to provide a $5,000 grant for Link-Up. However, it wasn’t until 1983, that the Commonwealth Department of Aboriginal Affairs recognised the need to provide $66,000 and the Link-Up office could be established and the first two workers employed. In 1985, Link-Up was formally incorporated under the Aboriginal Associations Act.

The funding was essential to the development of Link-Up (NSW) but so were individuals such as Jean Carter. She was invaluable in sensitising Aboriginal people to the issue of child separation and worked tirelessly to inform communities and organisations about Link-Up.

Since the beginning of our work, Link-Up has developed extensive knowledge of the boundaries of NSW Aboriginal family and tribal groups. We have learned which families came from which areas, and when they might have been forced to move to some other area by government dispersal policies.

For many separated people, going home involves returning to their belonging place – and Link-Up serves as a bridge enabling them to get there. We also provide advice on how to use government archives to trace or research family history and discover where home is.

Over the years we have received and are very grateful for the valuable assistance we have been given by our Elders. They may be the only ones who know our histories.