Morning workshops are 9.30am to 12 noon; and afternoon workshops are 1pm to 3pm. Cost is $8 per session for members or $15 per session for non-members. A discount applies if attending 2 workshops on the same day. Morning Tea is included in the workshop fee, but bring your own lunch if staying for the whole day. Fridge and microwave available.

2026 Workshops & Classes

Regular Workshops are held on the fourth Saturday of the month.

Also look out for our 3 day Beginners' Workshops which are held throughout the year.

We aim to help you make the most of your genealogy software, search for family history records on the many internet sites available and make the best use of our extensive family history library and digitised resources... plus many other topics which will be of interest to the family historian. Our workshops and classes cater for beginners and the more experienced researchers.

Booking is essential! Phone or email today!

Saturday 28 March Roots Magic Workshop

No workshop will be scheduled for April, as Saturday 25th is Anzac Day, so the centre will be closed for the public holiday.

Full day workshops usually follow a 2 part format where the morning session is introductory and for newcomers; and the afternoon session covers hands on practice or more in depth information that will extend your knowledge!

All funds raised from our workshops go towards the costs of operating our GSC Resource Centre

Rescheduled til 2026: How to research your military Ancestors!

with Chris Dyer our Military Research Project co-ordinator

These are some of the topics we shall endeavour to cover:

Where to start; What records look like for the different wars; Different websites available; How to understand a service record on the NAA

The afternoon will be spent helping workshop attendees find and interpret their own family military records

Participants will come away from this workshop with a knowledge of - how to complete military research; abbreviations used in records; websites for military research.

Bring your own lunch, morning tea provided; a few frozen pies and sandwiches are available to buy, microwave and air frier in kitchen.

Coming up later in the Year

Another of our very popular Beginner's Workshops will be run by Nerida sometime in 2026 - the workshop runs one day per week (usually a Wednesday) over 3 consecutive weeks

Cost: $15 per day for members, and $25 per day for non-members. Put your name on the waiting list!

Beginner's Workshop: with Nerida

These workshops are aimed at those who are new to research, as well as those with a little more experience who are looking for ideas and advice for taking their research further. Format is a lecture in the morning and hands on research of your own family, with support from the facilitator of the workshop and GSC volunteers in the afternoon. Participants will come away with the knowledge to question all previous research and confidence to move forward with their research. You will be supplied with notes at the end of the course, but also bring paper and pen.

Nerida will start you off with the basics of family history research.

Topics covered may include:

Week 1: Where to start

How and where to find records relevant to your research.

What can go wrong while researching your family

Referencing your research

Organising your research

Applying your research.

Common sites used to research your genealogy

Understanding family trees and relationships

Week 2: Research blocks (known as “brick walls”)

Week 1 revision

How to address brick walls

What clues to look for in the research already undertaken.

Checking the accuracy of the research already undertaken

Other sources for genealogical information

Roots Magic overview

Week 3: Sources available at GSC and DNA

DNA overview

Gedmatch overview

Moving from Genealogy to Family History

GSC Library Catalogue and finding resources in the Library

GSC Digital Collection and how to access and use this collection

Ph: 5329 2315 Email: info@genealogysunshinecoast.org.au Petrie Park Rd, Nambour

Past GSC Workshops

Below are some of the topics covered to date. If you have a particular interest in a class or would like to suggest a new topic, please email or phone.

Volunteer tutors and helpers welcome

INTERNET SEARCHING - techniques and tips , including the use of various databases - which are the best? You can download the notes for this class " Useful websites for Genealogy". Hands on Classes using our Laptops for Learning computers will let you try out these sites in more detail.
FAMILY TREE BASICS - hands on class using your own laptop computer and family tree software to try out the features of various programs and to learn to make the best use of the features of the program.
GSC RESOURCES - making the best use of our multitude of resources for family research at GSC - a great introduction to our library and different ways to use resources to extend and confirm your research - lots of ideas - and some fantastic new resources. A definite must attend for this workshop - our resource centre adds about 100 new titles each month... update your knowledge of what can be researched and find out to make the best possible use of the resources. A more detailed look at how to search on various databases, including Digger, Flickr, Archive CD Books, AIGS, and many more to retrieve family information.
PLANNING A FAMILY REUNION which will include ideas for successful family reunions of all sizes, including preparing reports and family trees from your genealogy software.
SCANNING all types of photos, negatives, slides plus documents, letters, books and more .... and learn how to scan for yourself: the basics of archival scanning and storage, and organisation of photo collections. Also some tips on repairing damage via digital copies of your original photos.We have easy to use Epson A4 and A3 flat bed scanners, the Plustek Optic book scanner, Epson V700 photo scanner and 2 new Fujitsu Scan Snap SV600 portable scanner.
CREATING A WEB PAGE for your family history.
WRITING memories ... the basic steps needed to get started writing your family's anecdotes, tips and techniques
CREATING BOOKS from your family tree - some ideas on how to tell your family story. Scrapbooking ideas for family history - or presenting your research.
PUBLISHING and displaying family trees— Lots of ideas from our talented group of designers and scrapbookers - be inspired to create your own books and displays with a variety of programs on our system.
ORGANISING your research, storing and backing up files. How to set up a computer filing system—the where and how of storing your files . We stress the importance of backing up your information and give you some tips on how to protect your files and your computer system.
ROOTSMAGIC workshop- A detailed look at this versatile genealogy software and what you can create with it
SOURCES and fact fields and notes - how to manage them in your family history research - why you should be using them in your family tree software. Come along and find out how to source your information logically and some ideas on where to store all that information!
MAKING CARDS and family tree gifts - some novel ideas for Xmas... and for special occasions.
Using GOOGLE PHOTOS to edit your photos for genealogy

Other classes are available by arrangement or can be scheduled - please enquire at the Resource Centre or email us for further information.

ANCESTRY - Tips and tricks

Hands on

We have Ancestry world library edition available on all our computers at GSC

Come along to see what new ways you can find to discover information in Ancestry - how to use it effectively and how what you find can link to the multitude of resources within our own collection and how it will link to Family Search and Roots Magic in December