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The ARES Forum was organised by the Australian Society of Archivists (ASA) and the Records Management Association of Australasia (RMAA). It was generously supported by the Council of Federal State and Territory Archives and the Public Record Office Victoria. Local branches of the ASA and the RMAA also contributed.

The Forum was intended to focus on education within the broadest range of recordkeeping areas including archives, records and records management.  Its intention was to focus on the need to sustain specialist education within those fields.  The two associations were concerned to ensure that such education is sustained in the current climate of considerable change in the local educational landscape.  

The aims of the Forum were:

1. to ensure that all stakeholders understand the current environment for professional education;
2. to ensure that stakeholders understand each others' views on education;
3. to develop a shared agenda for professional education which will benefit all stakeholders; and
4. to develop a list of actions for implementation which will sustain professional education which is valued by all stakeholders.

The Forum was organised by the ARES Committee which included representatives from the ASA and the RMAA. The Committee provided a Background Paper to provide a context for the Forum.

Speakers also provided their papers in advance. They were asked, where possible, to consult with the stakeholders whom they represented. Participants were invited to ensure the best possible representation of stakeholders and were also asked to discuss the Forum with colleagues and to report back to the stakeholders whom they represented. 

The Forum was divided into sessions devoted to the perspectives of the five main stakeholder groups identified as having an interest in archives and records education:

Two or three papers were prepared relating to the issues seen from the perspective of each of the stakeholder groups and circulated in advance of the Forum.    In each of the sessions at the Forum the authors of the papers gave a brief presentation of their main themes and arguments.  This was followed by a general discussion on the issues raised.  This covered and successfully fulfilled Forum aims 1 and 2.

The last afternoon was devoted to an attempt to address Forum aims 3 and 4.  There was some difficulty in developing a practical work agenda but a set of statements of intent  reflected the unanimous views of the Forum regarding the principal issues that must be addressed in order to sustain effective and meaningful specialist education for recordkeeping.  Specific actions to progress two major issues raised during the Forum were also agreed to.  It was also agreed that the ASA and RMAA would discuss with the Recordkeeping, Educators and Trainers Forum the possibility of having further meetings of stakeholders.

Following the Forum a Facilitator’s Summary  was prepared as the major report on the Forum. A more Detailed Report which gives a sense of the discussion and debate which occurred is also available. 

As at 23 August 2003, the ASA and the RMAA are discussing ways to take the work of the Forum forward by establishing a suitable joint committee. 

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