RIMPA Advocates for Profession in ABS Review of ANZSCO

RIMPA recently took a significant step in advocating for our profession by providing detailed comments on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) review of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). During this fourth and final round of public consultation, RIMPA championed the need for the 'Records Manager' entry to more accurately reflect the diverse and complex roles that our practitioners fulfill.

Central to our advocacy was the proposed change in title to 'Information and Records Manager', a designation we believe better encapsulates the extensive responsibilities of our members. The work of our professionals extends far beyond the traditional boundaries of managing physical records; it encompasses a broad range of duties that are critical in today’s information-driven landscape.

In addition to the title change, we put forward several key recommendations to further define the role. These include the need for our profession to be recognised for capturing and analysing AI algorithms and their outputs, ensuring the integrity of digital records and maintaining electronic records of long-term value. We also emphasized the importance of developing metadata, classification systems, and taxonomies that align with standards and governance requirements, ensuring the continued usability, viability, and accessibility of both analogue and digital formats.

Our comprehensive recommendations are a testament to the evolving nature of our profession and underscore the necessity of a title that fully encompasses the multifaceted roles our members play. RIMPA remains committed to advocating for the recognition and advancement of our profession, and we will continue to keep our members informed of any developments.

Peta Sweeney FRIM
Information and Content Specialist