Society of Australian Genealogists upcoming events

Unlocking Your DNA Results: Tools, Analysis & Hypothesis Testing (30 October 2026)

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 23:00:00 GMT

Unlocking Your DNA Results: Tools, Analysis & Hypothesis Testing is a series of 2 x 2-hour online workshops, designed to build on your foundational skills by exploring powerful DNA analysis tools. This hands-on workshop introduces DNA Painter, including WATO, and BanyanDNA, showing how to test hypotheses, evaluate evidence, and refine your conclusions. Learn how to move from possible connections to supported interpretations using structured, practical approaches.

What Participants Will Learn:

How to use DNA Painter, including WATO, for analysis
How BanyanDNA supports relationship evaluation
Methods for testing and refining DNA hypotheses
How to interpret results and assess likely relationships

Who Should Attend

Participants should already be familiar with interpreting DNA matches and basic clustering methods.

What to Bring

Participants will need access to a computer for this workshop.

About the Presenter

Fiona Brooker’s family history journey started over 40 years ago with two 19th century marriage certificates taking her research into New Zealand, Australia, North America and the United Kingdom. While living in England, Fiona studied with the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies and obtained a Higher Certificate in Genealogy.

She’s a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists and the Professional Historians of Aotearoa New Zealand (PHANZA). She has served as both President and Treasurer of the New Zealand Society of Genealogists (NZSG) and organised multiple conferences and family history expos.

Memories in Time (www.memoriesintime.co.nz) grew from her desire to help others trace their family history. She is a speaker at international and national conferences and enjoys teaching practical workshops on family history, DNA and AI, in person and virtually. Fiona works with clients to take their research from folders and their computer, into the hands of their family.

GROUP: GDAT Chromosome Analysis Group (21 November 2026)

Sat, 21 Nov 2026 00:00:00 GMT

If you already have DNA chromosome analysis skills and are planning to use the GDAT database tool to manage your DNA information, you might wish to join our GDAT chromosome analysis user group. SAG user groups are aimed at ‘members helping members’ so this is a collaborative working group aimed at sharing information and knowledge. You must be a SAG member to join this group.

Sessions will include a short presentation on a specified topic identified by the group, followed by discussion between group members, then round table Q&A regarding the product. We will meet 3-4 times a year on Saturday mornings using the Zoom platform. We won’t be recording the sessions, so you must attend live.

Important things to note:

Discussion will be focussed on utilising the GDAT software for DNA analysis, incorporating new chromosome analysis techniques and tools.
Members must have an understanding of the principles of chromosome analysis before joining the group;
Basic chromosome analysis questions WILL NOT be discussed, except in the context of using the GDAT product.

Pre-requisite Knowledge for using GDAT:

Be computer literate;
Have the ability to work with spreadsheets and large data sets;
Have been working with DNA results at chromosome sites such as GEDmatch, FamilyTree DNA and My Heritage ideally for over 12 months;
Understand the concepts of chromosome analysis and can apply them in practice, in particular:
1. Be able to differentiate between shared matches and shared segments;
2. Be able to interpret when matches are ICW on a segment;
3. Understand triangulation concepts and how to identify Triangulated Groups at each DNA site.

Before joining our user group, it is best if you have already:

* Watched the video and undertaken all the tasks in the Quick Start Guide - Setting up;

* Read how the developer (Becky) approaches her DNA analysis, recognising the tool allows for multiple variations - Becky's Process;

* Set up at least one profile, including having added a pedigree for that profile and have uploaded segment data from at least one DNA company, such as GEDmatch, FTDNA, 23&Me or My Heritage. GEDmatch is probably the easiest to start with, utilising Tier 1 tools is recommended for the triangulation report (but not essential).

Any issues arising consult the user guide. If it's not covered in the user guide, submit the question for discussion at the next meeting by posting in the SAG GDAT User Group on Facebook. If the enquiry is more urgent, utilise the ‘Official’ GDAT Facebook User Group.

Skill level: Advanced DNA knowledge

Group Leads: Veronica Williams and Gail Bryant

This session will not be recorded. Please only register if you are able to attend at the advertised time.

GROUP: Tuesday Follow Up Group for Analysing your AncestryDNA Course (01 December 2026)

Tue, 01 Dec 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Ongoing forum for SAG members who have attended the Analysing Your AncestryDNA Course.

A series of meetings have been planned for participants of the 2022, 2023 and 2024 programs (and previous programs) who are interested in continuing to work with each other on developing their skill in "starting to solve their DNA dilemmas".

FOCUS OF SESSIONS: Changes to the AncestryDNA platform and participants sharing case studies with and without brick walls!

DURATION: 1.5 hours on Zoom on the first Tuesday of alternative months starting on 3 March 2026 from 7.30pm to 9pm - March, June, September & December.

COST: You need to be a current SAG member to be part of the group. The annual cost (on top of SAG membership) is $30 and this covers the 6 sessions.

PARTICIPANTS: Open to anyone who have attended the “Analysing your AncestryDNA” program and is a current member of the SAG.

Group Leader: Christine Woodlands

GROUP: Thursday Follow Up Group for Analysing your AncestryDNA Course (03 December 2026)

Thu, 03 Dec 2026 08:30:00 GMT

Ongoing forum for SAG members who have attended the Analysing Your AncestryDNA Course.

A series of meetings have been planned for participants of the 2021 program who are interested in continuing to work with each other on developing their skill in "starting to solve their DNA dilemmas".

FOCUS OF SESSIONS: Changes to the AncestryDNA platform and participants sharing case studies with and without brick walls!

DURATION: 1.5 hours on Zoom on the first Thursday of alternative months starting on 5 March 2026 from 7.30pm to 9pm - then June, September & December.

COST: You need to be a current SAG member to be part of the group. The annual cost (on top of SAG membership) is $30 and this covers the 6 sessions.

PARTICIPANTS: Open to anyone who have attended the “Analysing your AncestryDNA” program and is a current member of the SAG.

Group Leader: Christine Woodlands

GROUP: DNA Research Group (AM) - Tools in Practice (05 December 2026)

Fri, 04 Dec 2026 23:30:00 GMT

DNA Research Group - Tools in Practice is a collaborative group designed to assist researchers with the analysis and interpretation of genetic genealogy results. The group is designed to meet the needs of attendees with an intermediate level of knowledge of genetic genealogy.

Tools in Practice sessions help members consolidate what they have learnt from recent DNA events when applying new tools and techniques in their research. Come along and share your experience with others, what you learned and tips for others getting started. Our more experienced members can also provide help if you need it.

If you have a specific topic you would like on the agenda or a DNA Story you would like to share, please contact the group leads at least one week before the session via admin@sag.com.au

Group Leads: Veronica Williams, Danielle Lautrec & Christine Woodlands

GROUP: DNA Research Discussion Group (PM) (05 December 2026)

Sat, 05 Dec 2026 02:30:00 GMT

DNA Research Group - Our Discussion Group is targeted at our more experienced DNA group members. The group is committed to providing leadership on DNA Practice in the society and keen to work with others to increased their shared understanding of the exciting field of genetic genealogy. Attendees are required to undertake pre-work for the discussion, distributed prior to each meeting.

Throughout the year group meetings will include:

Peer Review, via member case studies including analysis of documented evidence;

Brick Wall Analysis, via member case studies - ideas for future research;

Year in Review, plus scoping for future events;

Development of process documents to assist members with their research.

December's Meeting

Our December meeting topic: Brick Wall Case Studies

Please note: The topics and tools discussed at this group are aimed at our more experienced DNA researchers. We do not recommend the Discussion Group for those just beginning their DNA journey.

Facilitator: Sharon Watson

Group Leads: Veronica Williams, Danielle Lautrec & Christine Woodlands