A Big Year for Our Communities of Practice
As we wrap up an incredible year of connection and collaboration across our Communities of Practice, you’ll find our end-of-year CoP highlights below. Each update reflects the strength of our community and the value of sharing knowledge across the profession. And watch this space - in 2026 we will be launching a brand-new AI Online Community of Practice, designed to support members navigating the fast-changing world of artificial intelligence and information management.
- Victorian Local Government Community of Practice (Vic LG CoP)
- NSW Local Government Community of Practice (NSW LG CoP)
- South Australia IM Community of Practice (SA IM CoP)
- TropiCoP - North Queensland
Victorian Local Government Community of Practice (Vic LG CoP)
CoP Lead: Bethany Sinclair-Giardini, CXRIM FRIM | RIMPA Global Ambassador
2025 was a great year for our Victorian Local Government Community of Practice. Whilst this has been running for a couple of years now, as it was borne out of the former Victorian Local Government Chapter, I feel this year it has really cemented itself as a group.
We also have a Community space on the RIMPA Community Forum as well, so if you've not added yourself and you work in the Vic Local Government space, definitely do so. I'd like there to be much more discussion in that group for 2026. I would like to thank the Public Records Office Victoria (PROV) for coming to all of our meetings and sharing PROV updates regularly with our members. PROV's involvement is very much appreciated.
We held three meetings in 2025, two online meetings in January and July, with the final one, face to face, part of the RIMPA Live week held in Melbourne in October. We had over 60 attendees for our face-to-face meeting, and it was a cracking event, with so much information shared and questions asked. One of the highlights for me was the paper presented by David Robinson of City of Greater Geelong and the late Stephen Clarke, on job crafting and how to raise your profile, which is a must for IM staff everywhere. We also had a panel presentation (see photo) with David (aforementioned), David Nowland from City of Boroondara, Peter Toby from Brimbank City Council and also Di Nicholls who travelled over from South Australia. Vendor sponsorship was also secured for this event, and Sarah Shaw from Micro Image presented on their family business and offered a number of solutions for digitisation and processing. All in all, it was a fabulous turn out and it was a pleasure to be MC.
For 2026, we are also aiming for three meetings, two online "lunch n learn" style meetings in February and October, plus a face-to-face meeting that will rub shoulders with the RIMPA Roadshow, for which the dates have not yet been released. I am actively searching for content and speakers for our 2026 program and so if you have a fab case study to share, or have a conundrum that you'd like to table, or you would like a workshop on a particular topic, then please reach out to be at [email protected] and I can peruse submissions and hopefully release the program for the CoP early in 2026 (ideally)! I am also hoping to do a tailored digital disposal workshop for local government agencies in the first half of next year, as I've had a few requests to do this, following my paper at RIMPA Live.
All in all, 2026 should be a bumper year for the Vic CoP and I look forward to more meaty discussions about all things IM.
Thank you everyone for your engagement.
Bethany 🙂
NSW Local Government Community of Practice (NSW LG CoP)
CoP Co-Leads: Jade Reed ARIM | RIMPA Global Ambassador & Tim Robinson
We’re pleased to share a wrap-up from the NSW LG CoP, which recently delivered two highly engaging online meetings, both expertly facilitated by Jade Reed and Tim Robinson.
August NSW CoP Meeting Highlights
The August session focused on important state-wide initiatives and practical tools, including:
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State Records Update on the Records Management Assessment Tool – presented by Catherine Robinson
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Updates on the Information Asset Register – presented by James Price
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A valuable round table discussion, allowing members to share insights, challenges and approaches across local government
April NSW CoP Meeting Highlights
Our April session featured presentations from key NSW agencies, including:
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Laura Baldwin, Manager Policy & Advice, State Records NSW – providing insights into current policy priorities
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Kristy Tiberi, Senior Advisor Agency Services, Museums of History NSW – presenting on Transfer Plans
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An informal round table discussion
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A RIMPA Live discussion, highlighting opportunities for members to connect at our flagship event
We extend our thanks to all presenters, State Records NSW, and of course Jade and Tim for their leadership and facilitation across both sessions.
👉 Don’t forget to add yourself to the NSW Local Government Community forum to continue the conversation, share resources and stay connected with your peers between meetings.
We look forward to bringing NSW members more opportunities to connect, collaborate and learn together.
South Australia IM Community of Practice (SA IM CoP)
CoP Lead: Di Colls | RIMPA Global Ambassador
Thank you for supporting the SA IM CoP in 2025.
With 4 meetings held and more than 100 participants involved, it has been a very successful year.
Meetings in 2025 were:
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February – City of West Torrens, hosted by Di Colls, sponsored by RIMPA
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May – City of Marion, hosted by Karlheins Sohl, sponsored by BING
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August – SA Water, hosted by Dana SlessorCobb, sponsored by Exedee
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November – City of West Torrens, hosted by Di Colls, sponsored by Objective
Inperson attendance has been strong at every meeting, with additional engagement from participants joining via Microsoft Teams. Each meeting has generated valuable discussion about all aspects of information management and, more recently, the role of artificial intelligence (AI).
Of particular note is the breadth of participation, with members working across a wide range of areas, including (but not limited to) local, state and federal government, education, utilities and the private sector.
We plan to continue with meetings of around 3–4 hours and to rotate venues. Please let me know if you would like to host a meeting in 2026. We will also look at varying the time of meetings to support broader participation.
The first meeting in 2026 will be held in February at the City of Burnside, hosted by Antionetta Spiniello. The exact date will be confirmed in the new year.
We aim to have a sponsor for each meeting who will also provide a presentation. Please get in touch if you have suggestions for potential sponsors and also topics for discussion.
RIMPA will continue to disseminate meeting information and make meeting recordings available but feel free to reach if you have any questions, suggestions or feedback.
Looking for an even bigger year in 2026.
Di Colls
TropiCoP - North Queensland
CoP Lead: Nicole Thorne-Vicatos CERIM MRIM | RIMPA Global Ambassador
The North Queensland Community of Practice members have sadly been too busy to meet much this year but we are planning a return to 2-3 monthly events for 2026. TropiCoP membership has increased during 2025 and conversations have still occurred even without the presence of many formal meetings.
The first Teams meeting of the year was held to introduce new members, share information on projects and determine topics for meetings. Shelley Caverzan from Arcana Consulting presented “Navigating Privacy in the Information Age: A Strategic Framework for Information Management Professionals” which was relevant and well-received by attendees. Regardless of role, employer or level, the topic of privacy should be front and centre of our strategies and daily tasks. Shelley informed, reinforced and challenged us to use the Australian term of Personal Information (PI) instead of Personally Identifiable Information (PII).
Six members were able to attend RIMPA Live held in Melbourne which was a new record. It was wonderful to replace a computer screen image with a living person and form bonds with people that we have so much in common with. The usual Townsville suspects attended and were joined by Mercy Cherwon from Innisfail and Kayte Gladman from Rockhampton. Naturally, they have been enlisted for a panel discussion on the key takeaways from the conference at the first 2026 meeting!
We will be celebrating the end of year festivities on Friday 12/12 at the Mercure Townsville with a breakfast at 7.00AM. If you would like to attend, reach out to [email protected] to let us know.
Nicole Thorne-Vicatos