how can a complete novice find ore? I live near Sydney, Australia and I really like the idea of sourcing my own ore from the wilderness. I want to give my kids a really hands on education into how primitive industries actually kicked off.

Is there some source of public information explaining exactly where you would find surface deposits of ore? Is this going to be achievable for a lay person?

Edit:
I'm thinking of copper ore, for example, which can be smelted into pea sized droplets relatively easily using a makeshift clay furnace with bellows. I didn't specify exactly which ore because I realise that ore is regional. I realise that it is unlawful to steal materials out of the environment, but I'm assuming that the likelihood of being prosecuted for conducting a small scale science experiment for your kids is relatively low. taking a couple buckets of gravel is not going to cause an environmental disaster. If the land is privately owned then it may be a matter of simply asking the landowner for permission.
how can a complete novice find ore?


You don't.

In addition to Fred's excellent answer regarding the legalities of the matter, I would add the following:


All of the easy stuff has already been found, and finding any more ore requires efforts beyond what you can do on your own.
Stuff that is easy to find now is commonly in old mines or old mine tailings. These are dangerous places to be in. There is risk of collapse, acid mine drainage, and a bunch of other nasty things.
Learning how to find "ore" regardless of the first two points requires proper education in geological sciences.
Smelting copper ore, as per your idea, is a bad bad bad idea. Copper ore is usually in the form of copper sulfides. You really don't want to breath sulfur-bearing gases while you're smelting the ore.




If you are interested in looking for minerals and such, as a resident of New South Wales I recommend you talk a look at this website:

https://www.resourcesandgeoscience.nsw.gov.au/miners-and-explorers/fossicking-in-nsw

It contains information and resources that might be useful to you.