An educative intervention: assisting in the self-assessment of archival practice in 12 community service organisations

Abstract

There is a need for systemic improvement in the management of care records in Australia. This has been highlighted by government inquiries, media coverage and research literature relating to the significance of records for those who experience out-of-home care. The Who Am I? project - an interdisciplinary collaboration between historians, social workers and archivists - sought to address this concern and support positive change in 12 participating community service organisations (CSOs) in Victoria. To provide a framework for practice improvement, research archivists on the Who Am I? team designed the Self-Assessment Tool for Archives. Based on an action research methodology and influenced by the Records Continuum, this was an 'educative intervention' for the CSOs, as well as the participating archivists. © 2013 Copyright Australian Society of Archivists Inc.