On Tuesday 22nd June 2021, Chinese Australian Family Historians of Victoria Inc.(CAFHOV) officially launched their online searchable index to three registers of applications for Certificates Exempting from Dictation Test (CEDT) from 1904-1959.

What a stunning achievement!

Users of the online index can now view digital photographs of the register online or order and examine the originals from the National Archives of Australia (NAA) and view them at the Victorian Archives Centre Reading Room in North Melbourne.

During the launch event itself, Dr Kate Bagnall, Senior Lecturer in Humanities and coordinator of the Diploma of Family History at the University of Tasmania, launched the index and spoke about the significance of the index to family historians and Australian history.

Patrick Ferry, Assistant Director Public Engagement (Vic) from the National Archives of Australia also spoke.

The project was supported by the Victorian Government and Public Record Office Victoria. 

Watch the full recording below:

Find out more and access the online index here.

Congratulations to all involved!