In this blog post OHNSW Committee member Emma Ramsay writes about attending the recent CMTO course presented by Dr Elaine Rabbitt.
Dr Elaine Rabbitt (left) and Emma Ramsay (right).
Oral History provides invaluable evidence about the past, and it provides invaluable evidence about the significance and meaning of the past in the present life of the narrator and their society.
Taken from the ‘Statement of Value’, care of Oral History Australia
A group of media workers from the community radio and podcasting sector met on Gadigal lands of the Eora people (Sydney), across two days in April 2023 to participate in an accredited course presented by the Community Media Training Organisation (CMTO) and the Community Broadcasting Foundation (CBF).
Participants were fortunate to learn practical skills and theory in ‘Recording and Documenting Community History’ from esteemed social historian Dr. Elaine Rabbitt; a CMTO trainer, and the author of this culturally important nationally accredited training module (AHCILM404).
Day one began with an introduction to best practice, followed by a discussion and review of cultural protocols to implement when conducting oral histories. Day two involved interactive activities with a focus on listening, engagement, recording and administrative essentials in creating oral histories.
To learn from a range of Dr Rabbitt’s rich and complex experiences in the field was fascinating, insightful and encouraging to the learning group, who were able to bring their own professional experiences to the energising discussion. Her facilitation pulled focus to detailed cultural subjects of importance, guiding concepts and fun ways to engage with creating oral histories.
The course expanded our previously held understanding of oral history. It gave us pathways of how to integrate oral history practice, alongside our existing cultural audio practices and was a great way to network with practitioners from different fields, sharing an emerging passion for oral history.
It marks an exciting time in the sector with a range of opportunities across cultural sectors to profile the rich legacy and exciting futures for oral histories in Australia.
Elaine Rabbitt has a PhD in Oral History. She is the Training Manager at Goolarri Media Enterprises and President of the Broome Historical Society & Museum. She has collected oral histories for local, state and national cultural institutions and is a Committee Member of Oral History WA.
Emma Ramsay is a committee member of OHNSW, and broadcast and archive worker with experience in the community media sector and media archives.