National search for Official Historian begins

The Australian War Memorial is calling for expressions of interest from qualified historians for the position of Official Historian to the Australian Operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Peacekeeping operations in East Timor.

This project is the result of Federal Government Budget funding of $12.8 million to produce these Official Histories.  The research, compilation and drafting of the Official Histories are expected to take six years and will be undertaken through the Australian War Memorial.

The Director of the Australian War Memorial, Dr Brendan Nelson, welcomed the commencement of the recruitment process, which will ultimately include a team of authors and researchers to support the Official Historian.

“The Official Historian is the first and vitally important appointment for this major official history series,” Dr Nelson said.

Dr Nelson commended the Government for its support for the project which has enabled the recruitment process to be commenced promptly.

“The Commonwealth Government has demonstrated its keen desire to document and record Australia’s involvement in these operations, which are deeply important that our nation.”

“The story of Australian military involvement in these operations is yet to be told and recorded authoritatively. There is a strong and reasonable public expectation that this process should now begin.”

The Official History team will provide a detailed, authoritative account of Australia’s extensive and complex military and peacekeeping operations in Iraq (2003-2011) and Afghanistan (2001-2014), and peacekeeping operations in East Timor (1999-2012).

“The Official Historian we seek to engage will be responsible for overseeing the production of the Official History to a standard befitting the service of the men and women whose service it records.

It is expected that the Official Historian will commence the project in 2015.

When complete, the Official Histories will provide all Australians – including scholars, ADF personnel and policy makers – with a comprehensive account based on respected Government and defence sources.