The Centre for Gippsland Studies is a resource centre on Gippsland and is a section within the School of Humanities and Social Sciences at Monash University Gippsland campus. It was established in 1986 to develop a special Gippsland collection, to produce indexes and bibliographies, to increase knowledge and awareness of the Gippsland region, to support teaching programs and to liaise with the general Gippsland community, State authorities and other relevant institutions.
During its eight years of operation, the CGS has amassed an impressive collection specialising in Gippsland history, literature, Aborigines, environment and social sciences. The centre's database, Gippsdoc, which lists and annotates all items in the collection, has been published and now serves as a comprehensive bibliography on Gippsland. The collection has received state-wide recognition and attracts a diverse group of users.
The CGS has become a focus for research and analysis on Gippsland. It hosts an annual history conference, has an active publishing program and produces a quarterly newsletter, Gippsland Roundup. The director, Meredith Fletcher, is also editor of the Gippsland Heritage Journal, a regional journal for local, academic and family historians which has a wide circulation and promotes the work of the CGS. Meredith liaises regularly with historical societies, schools, public libraries and government departments within the region, and has close contacts with institutions such as the State Library of Victoria, the History Institute and Historic Places Section at the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and the Australian Heritage Commission.
In recent years, the centre has been able to expand further into areas of consultancies and research. The CGS has also been able to facilitate staff research at the Gippsland campus by assisting with resources and applications for grant funding.
The Gippsland Centre for Koorie Studies
The Gippsland Centre for Koorie Studies has been established to provide a focus for the development of a high standard of education and research in Koorie studies. The Centre maintains and will further develop the teaching of Koorie studies to Koorie students in the existing program at this university.
There are currently two subjects available for study by non-Koories via distance education and it is planned to make further subjects accessible as resources become available.
The centre aims to encourage improved participation rates in higher education for Koorie students and seeks to have a significant impact and influence on attitudes in the university and the wider community.
The centre works closely with relevant Koorie groups, organisations and institutions.