Recordkeeping for senior responsible officers

Learn the key responsibilities of the senior responsible officer (SRO) under the State Records Act 1998 and explore essential resources for ensuring compliance, effective records management, and collaboration across NSW public sector organisations.

Your organisation's size, resources and function will influence how the SRO role is allocated and implemented. 

The SRO is a senior role designated to have corporate responsibility or oversight of records and information management within your public office.  

Public offices

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

The role of the senior responsible officer

The role of the SROs is to:

  • work with the chief executive and/or senior management to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Act
  • oversee the organisation's records management program, including, developing and implementing:
    • governance frameworks
    • strategies
    • policies
    • procedures
  • champion the value and importance of their effective management for:
    • records
    • information and data
  • lead records, information and data management initiatives
  • collaborate and build partnerships with relevant business stakeholders to ensure that good recordkeeping practices are embedded across the organisation
  • ensure all public sector employees are aware of mandated recordkeeping practices and always consider them when carrying out their official duties
  • stay informed of compliance requirements as issued by State Records NSW
  • advise State Records NSW of changes or incidents impacting records and information management within the organisation, including changes to personnel undertaking the SRO role.  

The State Records Act 1998 sets out the mandatory requirements or key obligations for the creation, management and protection of the records of NSW public offices.

An overview has been developed to help you understand the key sections of the Act.

State Records Act 1998 

 

Resources for senior recordkeeping managers

Image

2 people looking at framework on board

Regulatory framework

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

Image

Policy and procedure

Creating a records and information management policy

This policy checklist outlines the governance framework for managing records, information and data in your organisation.

Image

Information management skill

High-value and high-risk records, information and data

This provides information on how to identify and prioritise records of high-value and high-risk.

Standards and policy resources

Download checklist

Download senior responsible officer checklist for records and information management PDF 264.01KB File last updated on: 12 September 2024.
Download Records and information management policy checklist 2025 PDF 220.01KB File last updated on: 13 October 2025.

Recordkeeping responsibilities

Image

smiling character wearing an orange shirt

Public office employees

Image

Smiling human character wearing a dark teal shirt

Chief executives

Image

smiling human character with a ginger beard wearing a white shirt

Records and information managers

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 

Top of page