Australian Psychedelic History Project - Share Your Story
Aquarius Festival, Nimbin, 1973. Photograph by Peter Derrett OAM, used with permission.
Share Your Story
Help us preserve the stories, memories and experiences that shaped Australia’s psychedelic history.
Were you part of Australia’s psychedelic history up to the end of 1979, or do you remember someone who was?
We are looking for first-hand accounts and family memories of psychedelic experiences, research, therapy and culture in Australia. You might remember a doctor or patient, an artist or musician, a community or gathering, a particular place, conversation, treatment or personal experience.
Stories about Australians overseas are also welcome where there is a meaningful connection to Australian history.
Whether your memory is large or small, we would love to hear what you remember, what you experienced and how you were part of this history.
Want to know more before sharing your story? Learn about the Australian Psychedelic History Project, or visit How to Record Your Story for some simple prompts and ideas to help you get started.
Before You Start
Allow microphone access when your browser asks.
Find somewhere reasonably quiet and comfortable.
You can pause and resume your recording whenever you like.
When you're finished, you can listen back before submitting it.
You can also download a copy for yourself.
Keep this page open while recording and submitting your story.
Nothing is sent to us until you choose “Submit My Story”.
A Note About What You Share
Please take care when sharing sensitive information about yourself or other people, particularly people who are still living.
You do not need to identify other people if you would prefer not to. Please avoid including unnecessary details about serious illegal activity, particularly where it involved the manufacture, trafficking or large-scale supply of prohibited drugs. You do not need to name people or describe methods, quantities, sources, customers or other identifying details. The history and your experience are what matter to us.
Drug laws and controls changed considerably during the period covered by this project, and some substances or activities discussed in historical accounts may not have been prohibited at the time they occurred. If you are concerned that something you want to share could have legal consequences, consider seeking independent legal advice before including it.
You will also be able to choose whether you are identified by your first name and surname initial, a pseudonym, or anonymously.
Recordings represent individual memories and perspectives. They should not necessarily be understood as verified historical fact or as representing the views of EGA.
Why we don’t ask for your full name
We have received legal advice recommending that we do not collect full names alongside these historical accounts, particularly because some stories may involve activities that were illegal at the time. Instead, you can choose to be identified by your first name and surname initial, a pseudonym, or anonymously.
If you would like your full name to be associated with your contribution, you are welcome to contact us at history@entheogenesis.org. Where appropriate, and after discussing the nature and historical context of your contribution with you, we may be able to use your full name if that is your preference, particularly where your identity is historically relevant or already a matter of public record.
Aquarius Festival, Nimbin, 1973. Photograph by Peter Derrett OAM, used with permission.
Protecting Privacy and Cultural Knowledge
When recording your story, please avoid using other people’s full names where they are not necessary, particularly when discussing sensitive experiences. You are welcome to use first names or pseudonyms instead. Please also avoid details that could unnecessarily identify someone even if you do not use their name.
Where appropriate, we may change, withhold or remove identifying or sensitive details to protect the privacy of contributors and other people mentioned in their accounts.
First Nations cultural knowledge: If your story involves First Nations cultural knowledge, please do not share restricted information or knowledge that you do not have cultural authority to disclose. You are welcome to speak generally, leave out culturally sensitive details, or contact us before sharing this material.
How We Store and Preserve Contributions
The Australian Psychedelic History Project is a long-term historical archive. Contributions accepted into the archive are intended to be preserved for the future.
Access to unpublished contributions and private contributor information is limited to authorised Entheogenesis Australis personnel, except where you have given permission for relevant material to be shared with an identified project partner for research purposes. We take reasonable steps to store and manage this material securely.
Some historical material contributed to the project may already be publicly available, while other material may later be published through the project in accordance with the permissions you have given us. We will manage material you provide in accordance with the preferences and permissions you have selected.
If you would like to contact us, update your preferences about how your contribution is identified, preserved or used, or request withdrawal of your contribution, contact us at history@entheogenesis.org
Privacy and Legal Access
Where you have given permission, information or material from your contribution may be used for historical research, publications and other project work.
Information you have chosen to keep private, along with personal information collected as part of your submission, will be treated as private and managed by authorised Entheogenesis Australis personnel. We will not share information you have asked us to keep private with project partners unless you have given permission for that information to be used in this way.
In the extremely unlikely event that Entheogenesis Australis is legally required to provide this information, for example, under a valid court order or subpoena, we may be required to do so. Otherwise, we will not provide your private contribution or personal information to authorities without your permission.
Changing Your Preferences
You can contact us at history@entheogenesis.org if you would like to update your preferences about how your contribution is identified, preserved or used, or if you would like to withdraw your contribution.
We will make reasonable efforts to honour changes to your preferences. Please be aware that it may not always be possible to completely retrieve or remove material already published or shared with your permission.
1. Record Your Story → 2. Add Details or Materials → 3. Choose Your Permissions → 4. Submit Your Story
🎙 Record Your Psychedelic Story
When you’re ready, press Start Recording. Take your time and tell your story in your own way. You can pause whenever you need to.
Recording time: 00:00
Help Us Understand Your Story
Optional. A little context can help us organise your contribution and make the archive more useful for future research.
In one or two sentences, tell us what your recording is about.
Add a few words that describe the people, places, substances, events or themes in your story. Where relevant and appropriate, you can also include the Nation, People or Country connected with this history. Separate them with commas.
Have Something Visual to Add to Your Story?
Old photographs, letters, creative writing, drawings, flyers, documents and other memorabilia can sometimes provide important clues and context.
If you have something connected to your memories, you’re welcome to share it with us to help paint a richer picture of your psychedelic history.
Optional. Upload up to 10 JPG, PNG or PDF files. Maximum 20 MB per file.
How May We Use the Files You Upload?
If you have uploaded photographs, letters, artwork, documents or other material, please choose how we may use them.
Please only give permission for public reproduction where you have the right or authority to do so. If you’re unsure, choose Archive and research only.
First Nations material: Owning a photograph, document or other item does not necessarily mean you have cultural authority to publish First Nations cultural knowledge it contains. Please only authorise publication where you have appropriate authority to do so.
If your contribution contains First Nations cultural knowledge, you can ask us to contact you before any publication or wider research use of that material. To request this, contact history@entheogenesis.org.
Your Year of Birth
Optional. This helps us understand the historical timeline and your approximate age at the time of the events you describe.
Your Story, Your Choices
You remain in control of how your contribution is used.
The main purpose of the Australian Psychedelic History Project is to collect and preserve oral histories and other material connected to Australia’s psychedelic history.
Your contribution may help us better understand this history and inform articles, publications, research and educational work by Entheogenesis Australis and, where you give permission, other historical research.
How Would You Like to Be Identified?
If we quote you, refer to information from your story, or use material you have shared:
Names, locations and other identifying details may be changed or withheld where appropriate to protect the privacy of contributors and other people mentioned in these accounts.
What About Your Actual Voice Recording?
Your recording will remain unpublished unless you specifically give permission for it to be shared. Choose what you’re comfortable with.
Research Partner Permission
The Australian Psychedelic History Project may work with identified research partners, such as historians, researchers, archives or other organisations. Any project partners will be clearly identified on the project website.
May we share relevant parts of your contribution with identified project partners for research purposes?
Can We Keep in Touch?
Sometimes a story leads to another question or an important piece of history. If you’re happy for us to contact you about your contribution or a possible follow-up interview, you can leave an email address.
You can still remain completely anonymous publicly.
Have a question about the project or sharing your story? We’d be happy to hear from you. Email us at history@entheogenesis.org. We’re a volunteer-run project, so please be patient. We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.
Ready to Share Your Story?
Thank you for taking the time to contribute. We look forward to receiving your story.
Before submitting, please take a moment to check that you have completed all the required choices above.
When you’re happy with your recording and the choices you’ve made, send your contribution to the archive.
Having trouble submitting your story?
If the uploader isn’t working, first download a copy of your
recording using Download My Copy above.
Try submitting again, or try using a different browser or device.
As a last resort, you can email us your recording, any photographs or other files you’d like to contribute, and your answers to the questions on this page at history@entheogenesis.org. We’ll then manually add your contribution to the Australian Psychedelic History Project archive.
The Australian Psychedelic History Project is a community-led project dedicated to documenting and preserving this important part of Australia’s cultural history.
Your support helps us continue the research, record oral histories, preserve historical material and make this history accessible for future generations.
Every contribution, large or small, helps keep the project moving forward.