Message from the Director-General

The National Archives continues to respond to evolving priorities in the information environment, including guiding Australian Government agencies towards comprehensive information management capability through our new whole-of-government policy Building trust in the public record: managing information and data for government and community.

While solid progress was made in 2019–20, many challenges remain for the National Archives if we are to achieve our vision of being a world leading archive. Building our digital capability and delivering our transformational strategies are critical to the government's objectives of delivering improved digital services and securing public trust in our democracy and its institutions.

We continue to build our capability to secure and preserve Australian Government information (assets, records and data) and make it available for public access. We foster effective relationships with government agencies to secure, retrieve, use and re-use this information.

Data is fundamental in providing access to the national archival collection. Using and re-using data in different ways results in myriad opportunities to explore the collection. Ultimately, the incredible value of our data lies in what we can learn from it. In this context, the National Archives' data strategy builds on our ongoing commitment to the Australian Government's data framework and agenda.

Through our programs and services, we connect Australians with the national archival collection. This helps us as a society to recognise and understand past government laws, practices and policies that have deeply affected the lives of all Australians, including those that have impacted the lives of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

An effective governance framework is essential for oversight of and accountability for the efficient and ethical management of resources. It also ensures compliance with the regulatory and legislative requirements of a public service entity. Refinements to strategies and policies, and the exploitation of new technologies have better positioned the National Archives to respond to, resolve and move beyond emerging issues to protect our people, information and assets.

The Corporate Plan 2020–21 outlines how we will deliver against our strategic priorities over the next four years. The strategies align with our dual role as the Australian Government leader in information governance, and in securing, preserving and making publicly available the national archival collection. The performance measures articulated in this plan will be monitored across the year and reported against in our next annual report.

Due to the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our operations and the delay of the 2020–21 Federal Budget and Portfolio Budget Statements (PBS) to 6 October 2020, the publication of this corporate plan was necessarily deferred. However, this provided an opportunity to update our performance measures over the forward years to better reflect our desired outcomes.

It is with pleasure that I, as the accountable authority of the National Archives, present the Corporate Plan 2020–21, which covers the period 2020–21 to 2023–24, as required under paragraph 35(1) (b) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.

David Fricker

Director-General

Message from the Advisory Council Chair

The National Archives Advisory Council’s principal function is to advise the Minister and the Director-General on matters that relate to the functions of the agency. In recent times this has included advice on risks, strategic priorities and policy framework to ensure the National Archives delivers on its legislated mandate and enduring, fundamental and unique role for government.

This Corporate Plan 2020–21 outlines a clear set of strategies to further the National Archives’ transformation agenda, addressing strategic risks such as preserving at-risk collections, implementing corporate governance reforms and technological innovations, investing in digital and cyber security capability, and developing its workforce to ensure it is best positioned to deliver in the digital age.

The National Archives is trusted by the Australian people as a source of authentic government records about past decision-making. Investing in its future will ensure the national archival collection is identified, secured, protected and accessible for generations to come.

Dr Denver Beanland

Chair

National Archives of Australia Advisory Council

Introduction

Our vision

To be a world leading archive in this digital age

Our mission

To connect Australians with their identity and history through our stewardship of Australian Government records

Our values

Service excellence: deliver quality and responsive services that meet the needs and expectations of our clients and partners.

Leadership: strive to be national and international leaders in information management policy, digital transformation, archival collection management and creative public engagement.

Innovation: look for new and better ways to do business and deliver digital services that are user centred and embrace the future.

Responsibility: take responsibility for delivering the goals and priorities comprising a transformational program of work.

Collaboration: work with the public, private and civil society sectors to achieve shared goals and outcomes.

Our purpose

The National Archives provides leadership in best practice management of the official record of the Commonwealth, and ensures that Australian Government information of enduring significance is secured, preserved and available to government agencies, researchers and the community.

Our role and functions

The National Archives was established under the Archives Act 1983 (Archives Act), and is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity (a listed entity) under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (PGPA Act) and an Executive Agency under the Public Service Act 1999.

The National Archives:

• sets information management requirements for Australian Government agencies
• ensures the Australian Government creates and keeps records of its actions and decisions to demonstrate accountability to the community and as evidence of the integrity of the operations of the Australian Public Service (APS)
• authorises destruction of records with no ongoing value to government or the community
• selects and preserves the most significant records of the Australian Government
• makes these records available to government and the community as a national resource to inform how Australians live today and into the future.

Our corporate structure

The National Archives is a Commonwealth statutory agency with a presence in every state and territory. It is structured as follows:

• Access and Public Engagement branch ensures access to the collection through digital platforms, research centres, reference and description services, education and community outreach programs, exhibitions, publishing, marketing, media engagement and corporate events.
• Collection Management branch manages the collection to ensure its authenticity, integrity, preservation, usability and availability.
• Corporate Services branch provides the enabling services of governance, human resources, finance, procurement, property and security management.
• Government Data and Policy branch sets whole-of-government information management standards, develops records authorities and related instruments to govern the disposal and retention arrangements for Australian Government records, and undertakes research and innovation in digital archival management.
• Information and Technology branch works towards the National Archives' transformation to a state-of-the-art digital archive, and supports the achievement of strategic goals through services, technology, infrastructure, software and governance of information assets.

Our planning and reporting

The National Archives has an integrated planning, budgeting and reporting process.

Our strategies

The National Archives has four delivery strategies to achieve its purpose, vision and mission.

Operational Environment Delivering Transformation

The National Archives has identified proposed amendments to the Archives Act that will clarify the functions and powers of the agency. This reform is necessary to enable the digital transformation of the National Archives, to fully deliver on its legislated remit in the digital age, for government and the Australian people.

Additionally, it will further clarify the meaning of a 'Commonwealth record' as defined through the High Court decision in May 2020 regarding correspondence between Sir John Kerr and Her Majesty The Queen. This decision found that the letters deposited with the National Archives and considered 'personal records', are ‘Commonwealth records’ for the purposes of the Archives Act.

The proposed amendments will better position the National Archives to deliver its objectives. Ultimately, this will ensure that the National Archives and Australian Government have a public record that can be trusted for all its uses by government and community.

Deeper connection with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy reflects the National Archives' commitment to broaden and strengthen capability to meet the needs of Indigenous Australians.

To assist in keeping Indigenous languages alive, the National Archives is installing bilingual signage across all of its public areas. The Ngambri-Ngunnawal word murrulangalang – meaning caves or rock shelters located in the Canberra region that hold the cultural knowledge of generations of Ngunnawal and Ngambri – is displayed on the National Office building in Canberra.

The National Archives is a signatory to the Tandanya Declaration 2019, which calls for the jurisdictional archives of the world to:

• embrace Indigenous methods of creating, sharing and preserving valued knowledge
• open the meaning of public archives to Indigenous interpretations
• support fair and healing remembrance of colonial encounters.

The National Archives is developing protocols to address the themes of the Tandanya Declaration; and the agency also contributes to the Council of Australasian Archives and Records Authorities First Nations Working Group, setting and guiding best practice principles for Indigenous-related archives.

The National Archives continues its own reconciliation journey, concluding an initial five-year 'Reflect' Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) and preparing to implement a new 'Innovate' RAP in early 2021.

Reimagining access to the collection

As a national cultural and research institution, the National Archives delivers an innovative range of services and programs that support public engagement with, and understanding of, the national archival collection. It leverages an integrated delivery approach to providing access to the collection: online, onsite and offsite. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Archives is working proactively to ensure a safe environment for public visitors and staff at its National Office and state and territory offices.

The National Archives continues to redevelop its websites and other online resources to support delivery of curated content and education programs for schools and the broader community, including its popular #ArchivesAtHome resources. A new digital access strategy will drive and enhance user-centred, digital-first service delivery to all Australians.

In Canberra, the National Archives has two permanent galleries – Connections/Mura Gadi and Voices/Dhuniai – which provide immersive experiences with the nation’s foundation, constitution and Indigenous records. One of the largest interactive digital walls in Australia can be found in the Connections gallery, enabling unprecedented access to the collection in one location. Innovative public events and school learning programs are regularly held at the National Office in Canberra.

Around Australia, all National Archives offices provide opportunities for cultural participation and public engagement through displays, events and the NAA Members Program.

The National Archives will continue its national touring exhibition program, which reaches hundreds of thousands of people throughout regional and rural Australia. Current touring exhibitions include Spy: espionage in Australia and Out of This World: Australia in the space age.

A workforce embracing change

A vital part of the National Archives' transformation is an aligned development of staff capability. As evidenced by the changed working arrangements during the COVID-19 pandemic, National A chives staff can embrace change while remaining focused. They also possess many transferable skills combined with improved digital literacy skills. A Strategic Workforce Plan 2021–25 will further build on these positive attributes.

The National Archives will continue to develop capability in concert with its transformational business needs. This will require support for and proactive management of core and foundational skills development and mobility. Frameworks for addressing capability and skills will be refined to provide an easy-to-understand pathway to staff capability development across the agency.

In addition, the Workforce Capability Framework 2021–25 will include the key capabilities required to build leadership across the agency.

Consistent with trends across the APS, the National Archives will see a proportion of experienced staff retire within the next few years. Capability will be built to reduce skill gaps that may result, with a focus on:

• an engaged, diverse and sustainable workforce
• building capability across all levels, including developing leaders
• working through disruption and embracing change
• an increase in internal capability and capacity through procurement of new equipment.

Building Digital Capability

Building digital capability – the ability to use a variety of technologies and equipment, appropriately and effectively in different spaces, places and situations – will continue to be a key priority for the National Archives. It will remain so over the coming years to facilitate change and transformation.

Digital Archives Innovation and Research

Digital Archives Innovation and Research is a new program designed to assist the National Archives build digital capability. It maintains awareness of emerging developments in digital archival practice, engages with the national and international digital archiving community, develops policies to support long-term preservation of and access to digital material, and supports the implementation of archival management systems. The program’s priorities include:

• internal capacity and capability – through procurement of new equipment, and related policy development, implementation and review
• innovation – identification of and involvement in projects such as Emulation as a Service Infrastructure
• digital archiving capability – support and develop staff digital capability in partnership with professional development programs.

Integrated Archival Management System

One of the National Archives' highest priorities is to embed a digital end-to-end archival management capability across the agency. This requires secure modern digital archiving capabilities that can seamlessly preserve, manage and provide access to the national archival collection.

The National Archives is implementing new digital policies and processes, and acquiring technology to ensure that the collection is identified, secured, protected and accessible for future generations. It will continue to develop and deploy agile and iterative approaches that support an end-to-end Integrated Archival Management System and the engagement of staff with the system.

As part of the Integrated Archival Management System, Preservica – a specialist digital preservation system – has been implemented to provide secure access to digital records and update files to future friendly formats. This will:

• enable the establishment of best-practice digital transfer and preservation processes
• secure and preserve the national archival collection
• make digital information accessible for current and future generations
• ensure that information is authentic, reliable and available for re-use.

Artificial intelligence

Under the Archives Act, the National Archives is responsible for deciding what Australian Government information should be kept or destroyed. These decisions are enacted through legal documents called records authorities. Currently developed manually – and placing a resource and financial burden on agencies to accountably manage information and data – records authorities describe what information is created and determine how long the information needs to be kept before disposal or transfer to the National Archives.

Through an Australian Government Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources program, the National Archives is working with industry to develop an accurate, automated artificial intelligence solution to making complex decisions about the value of government information.

It is anticipated that the application(s) will be able to interrogate mass storage systems to determine records that are of archival value. A digital portal would then be used to automatically transfer these records to the National Archives for long-term preservation and access.

Saving the collection

The National Archives has a mandate to preserve the national archival collection. While paper records can be reliably stored in a stable condition for many decades, magnetic tape and photographic records are far less stable, and will deteriorate beyond use with the passage of time. Digitising these records is key to their preservation.

Deadline 2025 is an international call to action to save content on magnetic media at risk due to technological obsolescence and/or degradation. There are nearly 188,000 audiovisual items on magnetic media in the national archival collection that are at critical risk of being lost forever. To protect this vital cultural heritage from permanent loss, the National Archives has:

• digitised more than 24,600 hours (47,000 items) of at-risk magnetic tape content
• implemented a Service Panel for Outsourced Digitisation of Audiovisual Materials
• increased internal capacity and capability through procurement of new equipment and implementation of new ways to archive bulk digital records returned from vendors.

Importantly, the National Archives has commenced a project to digitise the most significant, critically at-risk magnetic tape items over the next year. This will add a further 32,000 items to the digitised collection at a cost of $3 million.

The National Archives holds the records of those who have served in the Australian defence forces since Federation. This includes more than 1 million records of service personnel from World War II. While a small proportion of these records have been digitised, there is a grave risk of degradation for the remaining records. The National Archives has commenced a $10 million project over four years to digitise the remaining 850,000 World War II service records and make them available online.

Infrastructure, technology and cyber security

The National Archives continues to manage its national building infrastructure around the country. This includes exploring options to consolidate storage capacity in its repositories and addressing the growth in whole-of-government storage requirements. It also includes harnessing the benefits of an enhanced capability to digitise government records, importantly, at-risk collections.

The national archival collection contains information critical to Australia and Australians. Development and implementation of an end-to-end 5th Generation Digital Archive for Australian Government information is a key priority for the National Archives. This significant investment will ensure secure preservation of and access to government information, and will strengthen digital and cyber-resilience capability. It will also necessarily build technological capability and processes, and develop staff skills.

The National Archives is commitment to addressing the ICT and cyber-resilience capability as per the Australian National Audit Office’s Cyber Resilience Report 53 (2018).

Governance

Governance committees and fora

Risk Management

Risk	Current risk control strategies
Information and data policy The authority of the National Archives is not recognised sufficiently for government entities to prioritise, resource and implement the information management standards and requirements of the Archives Act.	Roll out and implement new information management policy and tools for agencies Develop and nurture partnerships, consultation and engagement with government agencies Develop archival learning modules and guidelines Progress legislative reforms of the Archives Act Implement annual Check-up survey and analysis Monitor progress towards performance measure targets (see page 27) Engage with government agencies through effective communications Action Tune Review recommendations
Secure and preserve Archival material is lost through failure to identify, secure and preserve, or due to obsolescence, neglect or hostile action.	Implement Integrated Archival Management System, including Preservica and future phases Implement digital formats standards for government agencies Test technical solutions Implement Digital Capability Strategy Implement Digital Archives Innovation and Research Business Service Plan Archival Control Model Committee participation and support Implement National Transfers Plan Implement National Digitisation Strategy and Plan Implement National Preservation Strategy and Plan Implement Mitchell 2 (75 km project) and three-year program Chester Hill Work with agencies to identify and authorise categories of information to be retained, destroyed or transferred to the National Archives Digitise the collection with particular emphasis on at-risk and high demand information and in accordance with the National Digitisation Strategy and Plan Automate complex determinations for Australian Government information
Breach of trust The trust in the National Archives is diminished through breach of confidence, failure of governance or poor administration of resources provided to protect information, assets and people.	Oversight from Security Committee Implement regular compliance and review activities Develop security information and event management capability to detect possible incidents Commence research for governance software solutions Implement Cyber Security Improvement Roadmap Implement Cyber Resilience Framework Engage closely with the Australian Signals Directorate Implement IT plans and requirements Develop Corporate Reporting Framework Implement Business Continuity and Emergency Plans Implement Corporate Governance Framework Implement Performance Reporting Framework Implement Fraud and Corruption Control Framework Implement Risk Management Framework Implement Program and Project Management Framework Implement Document Management and Control Framework
Connecting with audiences Australians lose connection with authentic and reliable evidence, and memory of the decisions and activities of government and their sense of identity, knowledge and history.	Continuous review to ensure delivery of content and services that meet user expectations/requirements Use skilled communicators to ensure effective engagement Communicate with internal stakeholders with regard to budget and planning to ensure capacity to support programs Senior management engages with front-of-house staff to support high quality visitor experiences Provide relevant and engaging services, programs and amenity, onsite and offsite (including reference services, exhibitions, lifelong learning and school learning) Provide relevant and engaging content, services and programs online Implement relevant and holistic communications and engagement strategies for all services and programs Consolidate public feedback (including complaints handling) Develop partnerships to generate financial and in-kind support
Innovation Failure to harness the resources, technology and partnerships required to be a world leading archive and change leader in this digital age.	Implement Tune Review recommendations Develop New Policy Proposals for funding Procure and implement Integrated Archival Management System Advisory Council advocacy Maintain international professional networks and collaborations in archival community (ICA, PERSIST, PARBICA) Secure Enterprise Grade storage Oversight from Security Committee Implement regular compliance and review activities I&T Strategy 2019–2022
Workforce capability Failure to build and maintain a culture and resources to attract, retain and develop skilled staff in this digital age.	Audit staff digital skills and gaps Provide opportunities for staff mobility Provide internal and external training opportunities Regular and transparent communications and updates for staff Increase investment in learning and development Implement capability, expertise and digital development frameworks Implement Strategic Workforce Plan Reprioritise available resources to digital Deliver archival learning modules to embed digital archiving capability, accelerate the development of digital skills and processes, and upgrade preservation technologies

Cooperation

The agency also works closely with regional, national and international archival communities to evolve the role and capability of archives, and enhance agency digital information management and preservation.

As a member of the Council for Australasian Archives and Records Authorities – the peak body of government archives and records authorities in Australia and New Zealand – the National Archives promotes understanding and consistency in the management of information.

As an active member of the International Council on Archives, the National Archives supports and participates in conferences, information sharing, skills development and collaborative projects.

The National Archives' contributes to the development of good information management practices across the Pacific through the Pacific Regional Branch of the International Council on Archives. Technical support and expertise are provided to advance archival practice across the region.

Performance Measures

2020-2021 Performance measures