Records Management Policy
1. Purpose
This Records Management Policy provides guidance for ensuring compliance with the (TRA).
2. Scope
2.1 This Records Management Policy applies to all ɬÀï·¬staff whether employees, contractors or any other parties conducting business on behalf of, or acting as representatives of CIT.
2.2 ɬÀï·¬is committed to creating, maintaining and managing timely, accurate, relevant and reliable records to meet its broad and specific business objectives whilst concurrently assuring legislative compliance as relates to the management of records.
2.3 This policy, associated procedures and practice are based on CITs legislative responsibilities as a local government Agency, under the TRA, AS ISO 15489 and other applicable standards, guidelines and advices.
3. Principles
3.1.1. CIT's information as stored in records, is a significant and non-static corporate asset and the management of this information is vital in ensuring the effectiveness of CIT's ongoing business activities. Organisational information and records including any intellectual property need to be recognised as valuable corporate assets.
3.1.2. The TRA requires ɬÀï·¬to have and to comply with a Records Management Program. This policy is supported by the ɬÀï·¬Records Management Program
3.1.3. The Territory Records Office (TRO) has promulgated eight which ɬÀï·¬will use in conjunction with the TRA when making decisions in relation to adopting best practice recordkeeping.
3.1.4. Records containing information that may be of cultural significance, for example information on Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander heritage, should be considered for preservation.
3.1.5. The TRA defines a record as information:
- created and kept, or received and kept, as evidence and information by a person in accordance with a legal obligation or in the course of conducting business; and
- in written, electronic or any other form.
3.1.6. The TRA defines record management to be the creation, keeping, protection, preservation, storage and disposal of, and access to, records of the Agency.
3.1.7. ɬÀï·¬is required to meet the Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) and Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) record keeping requirements, ASQA including those outlined in the Delegation of Scope Agreement.
3.1.8. Records provide an accurate reflection of what was done, when it was communicated or decided, and they must be created at the time or as soon as practicable after the event to which they relate.
3.1.9. While the term 'record' has a specific meaning, in practice it can at times be difficult to distinguish between records and other types of information or data. Although the TRA only applies to records, its principles can be applied to all ɬÀï·¬information and data holdings.
3.1.10. Records within ɬÀï·¬exist and are managed within a hybrid hard copy and digital environment.
3.1.11. Electronic Records are to be captured and maintained by preserving their structure, context and content. In order to maintain their value as evidence, electronic records must be inviolate. That is, they cannot be altered or manipulated for as long as they are retained.
3.1.12. Electronic Document and Records Management Systems (EDRMS) are a type of content management system used to capture, maintain and provide access to records through their life cycle, from creation to destruction. An EDRMS can manage digital information, control paper records and physical objects. It can also deliver automated business processes, such as workflows and approvals.
3.1.13. The Hewlett Packard Content Manager (TRIM) application is the authorised ɬÀï·¬EDRMS and should be considered to be the primary system for records management.
3.1.14. CIT's EDRMS should be utilised as a final default record repository in preference to other available systems. The Single Source of Truth principle should be considered to be a key component in the creation, management and preservation of digital records.
3.1.15. Only endorsed locations can be used to store records and information to ensure their appropriate management. Endorsed locations are outlined in the associated procedure.
3.1.16. With security and accessibility by other ɬÀï·¬staff to be the primary consideration for storing records, the use of non-endorsed locations should not be used and should only be utilised in exceptional circumstances (for example the conveyance or transfer of a record to then be placed on a more visible and accessible storage medium).
3.1.17. Any actual or possible non-compliance matter or incident of concern should be reported to the ɬÀï·¬Records Management Unit.
3.2 Responsibilities
3.2.1. Every ɬÀï·¬employee, contractor and other party has a responsibility to ensure that information generated within and received by ɬÀï·¬is managed in an efficient and uniform manner. Every staff member is expected to be aware of and observe this policy and the associated procedures.
3.2.2. All staff with management or supervision accountabilities are responsible for monitoring staff under their supervision to ensure that they understand and comply with this policy and must actively foster and continuously promote a culture that encourages sound record management practices.
3.2.3. The ɬÀï·¬Records Management Unit is responsible for ensuring that appropriate resources are allocated to the development, implementation, maintenance and improvement of information and records management related processes and practices. This includes responsibilities for assisting staff with record classification, titling and retention. The ɬÀï·¬Records Management Unit is responsible for completing the sentencing and disposal of records that are held within the approved EDRMS or known by this unit.
3.2.4. The TRO is responsible for the production of standards and guidelines and for the provision of recordkeeping assistance and advice to agencies.
3.2.5. ɬÀï·¬is responsible for providing training to staff and users of the records management systems and this policy.
3.3 Endorsed locations
3.3.1. For locations to be endorsed, they must be registered with the Records Management Unit to help ensure appropriate record management processes can be applied.
3.3.2. Locations will be endorsed if they meet the following requirements:
- Physical location either managed by Records Management Unit, or appropriate workplace that permits appropriate storage; or
- System that meets data and record security requirements;
- System that allows ɬÀï·¬to manage storage and disposal requirements; and
- System that allows ɬÀï·¬to manage access.
3.3.3. New location proposals will be considered by the Executive Management Committee, with support from the ɬÀï·¬Records Management Unit.
3.4 Destruction
3.4.1. Official records must be disposed of in accordance with the relevant general disposal schedule.
3.4.2. Transitory or ephemeral records may be destroyed in accordance with normal administrative practice.
3.4.3. Records that are official ɬÀï·¬records and are not ephemeral or transitory may be destroyed only by the Records Management Unit with the approval from the CEO. ɬÀï·¬staff should contact the Records Management Unit for assistance with the destruction of information.
4. Documentation
- ɬÀï·¬Records Management Program
- Standards for RTOs 2015
- ɬÀï·¬Delegation of Scope Agreement
- ACT Government Open Government initiatives
5. Definitions
All terminology used in this policy is consistent with definitions in the ɬÀï·¬Definitions of Terms.
Term | Definition |
---|---|
Documents | Structured units of recorded information, published or unpublished, in hard copy or electronic form, managed as discrete units in information systems. |
Record | A piece of information, in written, electronic or any other form, under the control of the agency or to which it is entitled to control, kept as a record that documents actions, decisions and statements of its business activities, whether it was created or received by the agency. Records, therefore, may be in any form: electronic documents, paper, microfilm, maps, plans, drawings, photographs, data from business systems, spreadsheets, e-mail, digital images, audio or video, or handwritten material. |
6. Policy Contact Officer
ɬÀï·¬Records Management Unit.
Contact ɬÀï·¬Student Services on (02) 6207 3188 or email infoline@cit.edu.au for further information.
7. Procedures
This policy is implemented through the associated ɬÀï·¬Records Management Program and TRIM user guides.
POLICY INFORMATION |
Policy No: CIT2021/1237 Approved: November 2024 Next Review: June 2027 Category: Staff Policies, Corporate Policies Policy Owner: Executive Director, Corporate Services |
PROCEDURES/DOWNLOADS |
ɬÀï·¬Records Management Program (PDF File 366.6 KB) ɬÀï·¬Records Management Procedure (PDF File 258.5 KB) |
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