Education for archivists in Australia
Education is critical to the role Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) as a professional association. The ASA is involved in a range of activities that support its commitment to education for archivists. The ASA's five educational priorities are:
- Course accreditation
- Continuing professional development
- Our mentor scheme
- Maintaining educational standards
- Introductory and community education
Frequently Asked Questions (information current as at January 2010)
Note: Inclusion of information from or links to external sites does not imply endorsement by the ASA of the services or products by other organisations.
Q. What does an archivists do and where can I get more information on the role of an archivist?
A. For a detailed description on the role of an archivist, please see the Job Guide 2010, produced by Australian Government's Department of Education, Employment & Workplace Relations.
Q. What are the career prospects in the archival profession?
A. It's true that archivists will never be the most in-demand profession in the world, however, there are reasonable job opportunities within Australia, especially in the capital cities where the major government collecting organisations are based e.g state records offices, state libraries, national institutions, etc.
In addition, there are one or two employment agencies (eg One Umbrella) that specialise in the information management sector, and which usually have online listings of current vacancies. Outside the major cities, the opportunities to do purely archival work are more limited. Although there will be some positions with employers such as universities, councils, schools, etc, these will often involve working across records management as well as archives, so a combination of archives and records management courses with the other programs provides a wider diversity to the job prospects.
Q. Does a person need to complete a Postgraduate qulification to obtain archival employment?
A. Having a postgraduate qualification will make it easier to obtain a position in the archives / records management field. This is not only because of the specialist knowledge and skills gained during study, but also the practicum (work experience) units which are undertaken as part of most postgrad courses. These practical placements offer the opportunity to apply specific skills in the workplace, as well as excellent networking opportunities, and the chance to have your name and professional expertise become known within the profession. However, you would need to consider these advantages against your own circumstances, including your current skills, experience and networks, as undertaking further study involves a significant investment of both time and money.
It should be added that whilst it is possible to find employment in the information management area without a postgraduate qualification, it is usually at a relatively low level, with limited opportunities for progression without further study at some stage.
Q: Where can I study archives at university in Australia?
A: Courses are offered by the universities listed below. All these universities offer their courses in distance mode. For further information, visit our course Accreditation page
Q: Which course/s does the ASA recommend?
A: The ASA does not recommend any particular course. If you are interested in taking up archives as a career, you are advised to contact the universities via their websites (above) to help determine which course would suit you best.
The courses listed on the Society's Accreditated Course page have been assessed against a number of criteria relating to archival qualifications and professional training. Those criteria are:
- The ASA / Records Management Association of Australasia Statement of Knowledge for Recordkeeping Professionals;
- The records continuum model (a model which describes the processes for managing records from the point of creation); and
- Standards Australia AS ISO 15489-2002 Records Management.
Q: Can I study archives without going to university?
A: You can undertake study in recordkeeping through competency-based programs offered by TAFE and some private providers in the vocational educational system. There is a suite of nationally-recognised qualifications in recordkeeping within the Business Services Training Package. For further information, visit the Information and Business Skills Australia website at www.ibsa.org.au/content/careers/record_keeper
Q: Can I get an overview of training in both archives and recordkeeping?
A: You can find relevant information via the State Records NSW website at www.records.nsw.gov.au/recordkeeping/rib_1_education_475.asp
Q: Does the ASA offer any short courses in archives?
A: The ASA does not offer short courses but it does offer occasional workshops and seminars. The best way to find out when and where these are held is to subscribe to the aus-archivists listserv
Q: Does the ASA have programs for new archives professionals?
A: The ASA has a Mentor Scheme where experienced professionals provide support to newer members of the profession.
Q: What qualifications do I need to become a professional member of the ASA?
A: See here
Q: How do I apply to become a professional member of the ASA?
A: See here