Frequent Questions

Begin with what you know, start with yourself and work backward through your family tree. Gather information from family members, old photos, letters, or documents like birth certificates. Organise your findings using a family tree chart or genealogy software.

Key steps include:

• Collect vital records: Access birth, death, and marriage certificates through state-based Birth, Death, and Marriage (BDM) registries, such as those in New South Wales, Victoria, or Queensland. Many are available online or through transcription agents.
• Use online resources: Explore Trove for digitised newspapers, photos, and diaries, or the National Archives of Australia for records like immigration or military service.
• Visit libraries or societies: The National Library of Australia offers family history guides, and local genealogy societies, like the Society of Australian Genealogists, provide workshops and databases.
• Record systematically: Note names, dates, and places, and verify information with multiple sources to ensure accuracy. Start with recent generations and expand to older ones as you uncover records.

Locating specific records or ancestor details requires targeted searches across reliable sources

• Birth, Death, and Marriage Certificates: Contact the relevant state or territory BDM registry (e.g., NSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages). Many offer online searches or digitised records for a fee. Transcription services like those from genealogy societies can provide affordable alternatives.
• Immigration and Convict Records: Check the National Archives of Australia for immigration records or convict transportation lists, especially for ancestors arriving between 1788 and the early 1900s. Websites like Ancestry or Findmypast also host these records.
• Electoral Rolls and Directories: Access electoral rolls through Ancestry or the National Library for addresses and occupations. Trove’s digitised directories can also help.
• Cemetery and Burial Records: Search state-specific cemetery databases (e.g. BillionGraves or Find a Grave) or contact local councils for burial records.
• Overcoming Brick Walls: If records are missing, try alternative sources like church registers, probate records, or newspapers on Trove. Joining genealogy forums or consulting professional researchers can help resolve dead ends. Always cross-check names, dates, and locations to account for variations in historical records.

Conducting a safe and legal OSINT investigation requires careful planning and adherence to ethical and legal guidelines.

• Define Objectives Clearly: Start by outlining your specific goal (e.g., background check, fraud detection) to focus your research and avoid unnecessary data collection.
• Use Legal Sources: Access publicly available information from sources like government databases (e.g., ASIC for business records in Australia), Trove for historical data, or social media platforms. Avoid accessing private or restricted data without authorisation.
• Ensure Compliance: In Australia, comply with privacy laws like the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Be cautious about collecting personally identifiable information (PII) and ensure it’s necessary and lawful. If in doubt, consult legal advice to avoid breaching regulations.
• Maintain Operational Security (OPSEC): Protect your identity and data by using a VPN, anonymous browsers like Tor, or dedicated sock puppet accounts for social media research (while respecting platform terms of service). Use tools like antivirus software and URL scanners to avoid malware.
• Verify Information: Cross-check data from multiple reputable sources to ensure accuracy and avoid misinformation.
• Ethical Considerations: Respect individual privacy and limit data collection to what’s strictly needed. Avoid actions that could harm others or tip off investigation subjects.
  Resources like the OSINT Framework and training from organisations like Bellingcat can guide safe practices