Training, tools and support
State Records offers a wide range of training courses covering most components of the framework that have been discussed as well as other specific records skills. Many consultants also offer training that is relevant to NSW Government agencies. State Records has adopted a proactive approach of providing wide training, and seminars to all levels of agency staff to assist in the development of a recordkeeping framework across Government. As the pyramid model shows, it is the essential foundation upon which the success of the other levels rests
Public offices need a range of other services that are not part of the recordkeeping framework being examined here, but are an essential means of achieving its objectives. State Records, through its Government Records Repository (GRR), provides a range of records management services on a commercial basis, notably a high quality semi-active records storage service and consultancy services. The commercial sector of the records management industry, particularly storage service providers and consultants, also play an important role in meeting New South Wales Government agencies' specific needs and, thereby, in supporting the recordkeeping framework.
Support is found in the development of useful records management 'tools'. The principal tool, in this sense, that we offer is the Keyword AAA thesaurus of general terms. Keyword AAA is a general records management thesaurus widely used within the New South Wales Government. Agencies are not obliged to use it but we strongly recommend that they do so. We also sell Keyword AAA commercially outside the New South Wales Government, nationally both at Commonwealth and State levels, and internationally. One feature which highlights the value of this kind of tool in promoting a continuum-based management framework for government records is its functional basis. This means that Keyword AAA uses a function-based approach to reflect the business context in which the records are created. Functional analysis is the process of analysing functions (or broad areas of business activity) and assessing the need to keep evidence of these functions.
State Records also sells under licence arrangements another keyword thesaurus product, specifically designed for local government; Keyword for Councils. By applying classification schemes based on business functions as shown in Keyword AAA and Keyword for Councils, records can be indexed and titled and we can determine how they should be kept, how they should be stored and how should have access to them. Because it is a very powerful records management tool, the functional approach is embodied in the Australian and International Standards on records management.
For further information about training, services and support please contact State Records at govrec@records.nsw.gov.au.
