Indigenous Knowledge Centres

Indigenous Knowledge Centres (IKCs) are a Queensland public information hub and library owned and operated by Indigenous Shire Councils, with assistance provided by the Library Board of Queensland (Library Board).

Councils are responsible for the physical infrastructure, staffing and day to day operations of their IKC. State Library of Queensland (SLQ) contributes financial support to IKCs, operated by 12 Indigenous Shire Councils, to assist with the operational costs including staffing, library collections and professional development. SLQ also collaborates closely with Indigenous Councils to provide guidance and assistance on programs, activities and events that could be delivered through IKCs, to sustain ongoing knowledge transfer.

Artwork by Sharon Phineasa

The IKCs work in their communities to document and record the local histories, stories and language as part of their local collections. IKCs coordinate a range of programs and activities that support the documentation, maintenance and preservation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages. Such activities may include recording language, conducting language workshops or culture love programs in their communities.

Other services provided by IKCs to their communities are delivered at the discretion of Council and vary between IKCs, but may include:

Loan of items
Public access to Information Technology
Public programs
Family history research
Preservation of materials

Indigenous Knowledge Centres Child Painting

IKCs are operated by 12 Indigenous Shire Councils located across Queensland from the Torres Straits and Cape York regions in the north to Cherbourg in the south. The first council operated Indigenous Knowledge Centre was established in 2002, with SLQ assisting Councils to open, refurbish and relocate IKCs since that time. SLQ operates the kuril dhagun Indigenous space, located in the Cultural Precinct, on Brisbane’s South Bank.