The QLDGenWeb project NEEDS YOU!  If you have some time to spare, have basic web editing skills and a love of a particular area (or fascination with genealogy in general), then why not consider becoming a local coordinator?  A local coordinator is an unpaid volunteer who administers a regional website in cooperation with the QLDGenWeb Project.  We don't expect web wizards, merely those willing to undertake basic web maintenance.  For detailed position descriptions please review the information below.  Until such time as a new State Coordinator has been appointed, please contact the Australian Coordinator for further details.

Position Descriptions | Volunteer Overview | Website Guidelines | WorldGenWeb FAQ & Policy

Position Descriptions (Regional-Country-State/Provincial-County/Local)

The WorldGenWeb is an independent genealogical project administered by the WorldGenWeb (WGW) Advisory Board.  The WGW Advisory Board is staffed by volunteer Regional Coordinators.  Australia is situated in the region of the Pacific Islands.

A Regional Coordinator (RC) hosts one or more countries within their region. The RC is appointed by the WGW Advisory Board. In that position, the RC serves as a member of the WGW Advisory Board. The primary responsibility of the Regional Coordinator is to recruit and train volunteers to host countries within their area. The RC maintains a regional index of countries and offers assistance to Country and county coordinators in website design, policy, etc. The RC also offers grievance and arbitration should a conflict arise within a project site.

Pacific Regional Coordinator

The Country Coordinator (CC) is responsible for creating and maintaining the country level project website. They recruit and train state/provincial volunteers and usually manage a country-wide mail list for project volunteers. The country website offers general assistance to the researcher and usually has links to a general query message board or mail list that researchers can use. In addition to the above, the country coordinator tries to establish working relationships with other national websites (archives, research, universities, etc.) and often coordinates transcription projects to benefit researchers in that country. The CC may be appointed by the RC responsible for that region or may be elected by the members of the country project.  

Australia Country Coordinator

The State/Provincial Coordinator (SC/PC) is responsible for creating and maintaining the state/provincial level project website. They recruit and train *county/local volunteers and usually manage a state-wide mail list for project volunteers. The state or province website offers general assistance to the researcher and usually has links to a general query message board or mail list that researchers can use. In addition to the above, the state or provincial coordinator tries to establish working relationships with other state or provincial websites (archives, research, universities, etc.) and often coordinates transcription projects to benefit researchers in that state. The SC may be appointed by the RC, CC responsible for that region or may be elected by the members of the country project.

QLD State Coordinator

The County Coordinator* (CC/LC) is the is the local link for the researcher worldwide. The CC/LC main job is to gather information pertinent to their county, parish or shire. They create websites that help researchers gain access to public records, history, data, and other useful items and present it visually online. The CC/LC interfaces with the public and answers email from researchers. They provide links to localised query message boards and often host a county specific mail list. The CC/LC is appointed by the State Coordinator.

Note that in the State of Queensland, County Coordinators and Local Coordinators are differentiated.  A County Coordinator coordinates those GenWebs that fall within their chosen county.  Local Coordinators coordinate either a shire, town or associated parish. 

See A-Z QLD Shires for list of the current QLD GenWeb County and Local Coordinators.

Volunteer Overview

Not sure whether you have what it takes?  Worried you'll be over committed or that you don't have the required skills?  Don't be!  Volunteering as a coordinator is a relatively painless process that is both satisfying and rewarding.  There is no limit to the amount of time or resources you wish to contribute to the QLDGenWeb Project.  You decide how, when, where and why.  Your site is just that - your site!  You decide how it looks, how it operates, what it contains - keeping in mind that there are a few basic rules which are required for consistency (see Website Guidelines for further information).

It goes without saying that there are a few personal prerequisites for volunteers - dedication; diligence; a general interest or expertise in your chosen area; and a genuine desire to assist.   As a local coordinator you will be responsible for administering the associated website for your chosen region.  As such, previous web editing experience is desirable.  If you are a novice web editor you are welcome to make enquiries on the condition that you are 'sincere' in your desire to learn.  Limited on job training is available.

There are numerous local areas available for adoption.  Some come complete with an existing web presence.  The majority however require the creation of a website and associated identity.  Design is at the discretion of the respective coordinator.

The QLDGenWeb Project looks forward to welcoming you on board!

Website Guidelines

The QLDGenWeb Project maintains high standards in page creation, site management, and overall quality of presentation for all associated project pages. The QLDGenWeb Project encourages freedom of expression, national cultural uniqueness and individual creativity by project hosts in the actual design of their pages. However, certain elements are required to help maintain the cohesiveness of the project.

1. Local GenWebs must reference the State GenWeb by placing an official QLD logo and working link () on the index page of their website. 

2. The QLDGenWeb Project is a non-commercial entity, dedicated to the concept of free exchange of public-domain records via the internet.  As such, we do not charge for the resources available through our pages.  We may link to commercial websites however that does not imply that we endorse their services.

3. The QLDGenWeb Project encourages the collection and publication of non-copyrighted materials online by hosts. The QLDGenWeb Project will not pay royalties to any organisation or institution. Therefore, we stipulate that all materials placed online at any project website be free from copyright infringement.

4. The QLDGenWeb Project endeavours to maintain that all materials collected through associated project websites will not be distributed commercially. Country coordinators and project volunteers work on the honour system and we assume that materials placed online are free from any copyright infringement and that they will not be sold or republished in any form.

5. Individuals who submit data to any website are free to include the word 'private' in place of any records or dates. This does dilute the value of the record submitted but we wholeheartedly support the privacy rights of the individual.

6. Each local website within the QLDGenWeb Project will maintain a method for posting queries.

FREE web space is available upon request.

Disclaimer: The QLDGenWeb Project does not guarantee the authenticity or source of any collected material placed online at project websites and is to be held free and indomitable from any and all liabilities based on such materials. The QLDGenWeb will remove any materials found to be in violation of Copy Right Laws and statutes.

WorldGenWeb FAQ & Policy

The following links contains information has been put together to assist new coordinators in creating and maintaining WorldGenWeb Project websites. It covers all facets of the project including the history, organisation and day-to-day operations:

http://www.worldgenweb.org/faq.html

The following policy has been created for use by the WorldGenWeb Project. Questions about any of the following policy items should be addressed in care of the WGW Chairperson or another member of the Advisory Board.

http://www.worldgenweb.org/policy.html