Currently accepting clients for...

• Family History Research
• Speaking / Presenting
• Writing /Publishing

My name is Bronwyn Paschalidis, and I am a family historian, genealogical researcher, and emerging writer based in south-west Victoria, Australia. My passion lies in uncovering and sharing the real stories behind the names in our family trees — especially of women whose voices are often silent in the records. My approach is methodical and evidence-based; working backwards from the client as Generation 1 and extracting genealogical information from primary sources and original documents. I offer a personalised research service tailored to your needs, including a research plan and an estimate of costs involved.

I hold a Diploma of Family History from the University of Tasmania and a Certificate of Genealogical Research from the Society of Australian Genealogists. I know the value of accurately citing sources so they can be found again. I’m also a qualified primary and secondary music teacher with a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Newcastle.

I’ve helped families trace their roots across Australia, Denmark, England, India, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Scotland, South Africa and Sweden. I’m skilled in working with a wide range of records, including church and civil registers, convict, military, immigration, and land and property documents. I’m also not shy about tackling research in countries I’m unfamiliar with.

As a writer, I’ve published several creative nonfiction stories inspired by my own family history, including The Prettys of Pilcot Farm, Dear Marjory, A Savory Tale, From Dampsagens to Duntroon, Woman is the Weaker Vessel, Three Irish Thieves, and Let Them Open on Sundays!. I’ve also written two “how-to” guides on Scandinavian research, and I regularly present talks and workshops on topics ranging from Scandinavian and Irish ancestry to convict women in colonial Australia.

Early in 2026 I launched Finding Family Stories, a research and writing service dedicated to helping others discover, document, and share their own family histories. Whether I’m researching, writing, or teaching, I’m driven by curiosity, accuracy, and a deep respect for the people whose stories I tell.

Geographic Specialities
Australia, United Kingdom, Northern Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, Italy

Publications/Media

• Three creative non-fiction stories for Family History ACT's "Every Family Has a Story" publication: The Prettys of Pilcot Farm and Dear Marjory (2021) and Woman is the Weaker Vessel (2024).
• Two creative non-fictories stories for the Society of Australian Genealogist's Croker Prize: A Savory Tale (2023) and From Dampsagens to Duntroon (2024).
• Three Irish Thieves for Convict Womens' Press Convict Lives: Motherhood anthology (2025).
• Let Them Open on Sundays! for the Genealogical Society of Victoria's Ancestor Journal (2025).
• Two "How To" guides focusing on Scandinavian records for Family History ACT's The Ancestral Searcher (2022) and the Genealogical Society of Victoria (2025).

Lectures

• Introduction to Scandinavian Records
• Norwegian Emigration
• Researching Your World War I Soldier
• Researching agricultural labourers in Suffolk, England
• The Women Behind the Man: Female Irish Convicts and the Wealthy Landowner who Employed Them
• Researching ancestors in Colonial East Africa
• Papers, Property and Punishment: Discover Your Irish History through Historical Records

Repositories

• All Australian State Archives, Libraries and Registries of Births Deaths & Marriages
• Australian War Memorial
• National Library of Australia
• National Archives of Australia
• Family History ACT Library
• Public Record Office of Victoria
• Female Convicts Research Centre
• National Archives of Ireland
• National Library of Ireland
• Public Record Office of Northern Ireland
• UK National Archives
• Scotland's People
• National Library of Norway
• National Archives of Norway
• Arkivdigital (Sweden)
• Families in British India Society
• Arolsen Archives
• Ancestry
• FindMyPast
• FamilySearch
• The Genealogist

Research Time Periods

• 20th Century
• 19th Century
• 18th Century
• 17th Century
• 16th Century and Earlier

Languages
English

Honorifics/Credentials

• Diploma of Family History, University of Tasmania
• Certificate of Genealogical Studies, Society of Australian Genealogists
• Bachelor of Music Education, University of Newcastle

Certificates

• Certificate of Genealogical Studies, Society of Australian Genealogists

Affiliations

• Australasian Association of Genealogists and Record Agents (AAGRA)
• Association of Professional Genealogists
• Society of Australian Genealogists
• Genealogical Society of Victoria
• Oral History Victoria
• Family History ACT

Degrees

• Diploma of Family History, University of Tasmania
• Bachelor of Music Education, University of Newcastle