Recordkeeping for chief executives

Understand the key responsibilities of chief executives under the State Records Act 1998 and explore essential resources to ensure compliant and effective records management, and transparency within NSW public offices.

Under section 10 of the State Records Act 1998, as a chief executive you have a legal duty to ensure your organisation's compliance with the requirements of the Act and State Records Regulation 2024. This mandate is also reflected in Minimum Compliance Requirement 1.2 of the Standard on records management issued by State Records NSW.

Specifically, you must:

  • ensure your organisation makes and keeps records of its actions, decisions and communications
  • establish and maintain a records management program
  • ensure the safe custody and proper preservation of your organisation's records
  • protect records from unauthorised access, alteration, transfer, loss or destruction
  •  ensure that your organisation meets its obligations under section 12(4) of the State Records Act to undertake assessments of records management and participate in the biennial Records Monitoring Exercise (RME) conducted by the State Records NSW.

Having good records and good recordkeeping practices helps you and your organisation:

  • meet legislative and regulatory requirements
  • protect the rights and entitlements of your staff, customers and members of the community
  • support better performance of your organisation’s services and activities  
  • mitigate organisational risks, such as legal challenges  
  • demonstrate transparency, accountability and procedural fairness, especially in relation to expenditure of public funds, decision-making processes for policy development or programs impacting the community, and ongoing functions of the NSW Government and public sector. 

State Records NSW recommends that you work closely with your organisation's designated senior responsible officer (SRO) for records management. This ensures that there is an organisational-wide approach to good recordkeeping and that recordkeeping practices are embedded into the organisation's core and strategic functions and activities.  See Good recordkeeping for government for further information.

Resources for chief executives

Regulatory framework

This describes State Records NSW approach to regulating records management in public offices. 

Senior executives fundamentals

This Premier's Department resource provides key information to help senior executives thrive and survive in the NSW public sector.

Recordkeeping compliance

This provides an overview of the key sections of the Act and your records management obligations as a senior executive.

Records management

These are the principles for effective records and information management set out in the Standard on records management issued by the State Records NSW.

Public offices

Public offices are public sector bodies such as NSW Government agencies, local councils, local health districts, state owned corporations and universities.

Introduction to good recordkeeping video

3:34

Introduction to Good Recordkeeping

Read transcript
Video transcript

Introduction to Good Recordkeeping

[Music]

Working to deliver better programs and services is the commitment we make to the people of NSW every day. The NSW Government is increasingly delivering services digitally and therefore requires appropriate organisation and storage of information.

Good Recordkeeping

Behind the scenes, there is an essential element helping us achieve this: good recordkeeping. Having a record of all actions, events, and decisions is crucial for delivering quality services to the people and communities of our State. Good recordkeeping is the backbone of good information governance. It empowers us to make data informed decisions to help manage risk, save money, and protect citizens' rights and entitlements. Above all, good recordkeeping ensures transparency for all government policies and decisions, now and into the future.

Once they leave business use, records identified as having enduring value become part of the State Archives Collection.

What Does Good Recordkeeping Look Like?

For public office employees like Juanita, it means making and saving a record of all her work-related activities. Records can be in any format and from any source. If one isn't automatically made, Juanita does so manually, like after conversations or meetings. To get better at recordkeeping, Juanita can utilise local resources tailored to her organisation or speak to someone from her records management team.

Like Simon, who is a Records and Information Manager. He supports his organisation's record systems to ensure that all information is captured accurately. To learn more, Simon can subscribe to newsletters or attend forums from State Records NSW to network with other experts in their field.

As a Chief Executive, good recordkeeping systems allow Sabrina to deliver better business outcomes for her organisation's customers and stakeholders. Sabrina works closely with Senior Responsible Officer Mark and the records and information management team to ensure all official business is managed appropriately, and that all records are safe. Mark ensures records are only disposed of or destroyed when authorised. He completes a monitoring exercise that assesses the organisation’s recordkeeping performance, which provides insights into where they can improve. Mark also oversees the transfer of records that have enduring value to the State Archives Collection.

To become a better recordkeeper, Mark can access resources and guidance from State Records NSW, and draw on support from his team, while Sabrina can receive briefings from State Records NSW and attend executive forums to collaborate with other chief executives.

No matter what our role is in a public office, we are all recordkeepers who have a role to play. State Records NSW helps public offices develop the capability and expertise to implement and maintain mature recordkeeping systems. To learn more about how to improve your recordkeeping State Records NSW: https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/recordkeeping

 

Recordkeeping responsibilities

Keep your contact details up to date

Help us stay up to date with changes to your NSW public office's chief executive, senior responsible officer or records and information manager so we can keep you informed and support you better.  

Please click the the appropriate link below to share current contact details with State Records NSW.

Submit chief executive details to State Records NSW 

Submit senior responsible officer details to State Records NSW 

Submit records and information manager details to State Records NSW 

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