Unresolved issues: recordkeeping recommendations arising from Australian commissions of inquiry into the welfare of children in out-of-home care, 1997–2012
Since the late 1990s, a significant number of commissions of inquiry have been conducted by the Commonwealth Government of Australia, individual states and territories in Australia, and internationally, into the treatment of children in out-of-home care. This paper traces the most significant of these inquiries and the recommendations arising regarding records, with the purpose of highlighting some of the recurring themes identified by each inquiry. An overview is also given of some of the positive changes to aspects of recordkeeping as a direct consequence of the landmark inquiries. Lastly, this overview hopes to raise some questions surrounding the role of the profession in promoting awareness of recordkeeping issues that have emerged through these inquiries.
Towards interoperable recordkeeping systems: A meta-model for recordkeeping metadata
Purpose 
 
 
 
 
The purpose of this paper is to introduce an infrastructural approach to metadata modelling and a generalised meta-model for recordkeeping metadata. This meta-model is an attempt to support interoperability between disparate systems, and particularly, between sets of ostensibly incommensurate record documentation. 
 
 
 
 
Design/methodology/approach 
 
 
 
 
The investigation used a reflective design-science investigation comprising interviews adaptive literature review, creation of conceptual models and the design and instantiation of a proof-of-concept system. 
 
 
 
 
Findings 
 
 
 
 
The investigation confirms that recordkeeping interoperability between disparate ontologies is achievable through a meta-model approach. In particular, the meta-model carefully defines relationships between entities with specific semantics that enable the development of interoperable domain schemas. 
 
 
 
 
Practical implications 
 
 
 
 
A meta-model for recordkeeping metadata facilitates the development of recordkeeping systems that possess interoperability-by-design. 
 
 
 
 
Social implications 
 
 
 
 
Recordkeeping systems that conform to the meta-model can, therefore, transcend the immediate transactional context and support participatory recordkeeping in terms of a plurality of stakeholder world views and agency in records. 
 
 
 
 
Originality/value 
 
 
 
 
This paper is one of the few reporting design-science approaches to recordkeeping informatics and one that has used a meta-model approach for recordkeeping metadata design. In contrast to most empirically determined metadata schemas, the top-down design approach has produced a schema from a wide variety of ontological sources.
Data Seal of Approval
Data Seal of Approval 1 Guidelines version 1June 1, 2010 1 Introduction 5 Introduction to the DSA Assessment 5 Guidelines 6 Assessment 6 1. The data producer deposits the research data in a data repository with sufficient information for others to assess the scientific and scholarly quality of the research data and compliance with disciplinary and ethical norms. 8 Could this guideline be outsourced? 8 Required statement of compliance: 8 Applicant manual 8 Reviewer manual 8 2. The data producer provides the research data in formats recommended by the data repository. 9 Could this guideline be outsourced? 9 Required statement of compliance: 9 Applicant manual 9 Reviewer manual 9 3. The data producer provides the research data together with the metadata requested by the data repository. 10 Could this guideline be outsourced? 10 Required statement of compliance: 10 Applicant manual 10 Reviewer manual 10 4. The data repository has an explicit mission in the area of digital archiving and promulgates it. 11 Could this guideline be outsourced? 11 Required statement of compliance: 11 Applicant manual 11 Reviewer manual 11 5. The data repository uses due diligence to ensure compliance with legal regulations and contracts including, when applicable, regulations governing the protection of human subjects. 12 Could this guideline be outsourced? 12 Required statement of compliance: 12 Applicant manual 12 Reviewer manual 12 6. The data repository applies documented processes and procedures for managing data storage. 13 Could this guideline be outsourced? 13 Required statement of compliance: 13 Applicant manual 13 Reviewer manual 13 7. The data repository has a plan for long-term preservation of its digital assets. 14 Could this guideline be outsourced? 14 Required statement of compliance: 14 Applicant manual 14 Reviewer manual 14 8. Archiving takes place according to explicit work flows across the data life cycle. 15 Could this guideline be outsourced? 15 Required statement of compliance: 15 Applicant manual 15 Reviewer manual 15 9. The data repository assumes responsibility from the data producers for access and availability of the digital objects. Reviewer manual 16 10. The data repository enables the users to utilize the research data and refer to them. 17 Could this guideline be outsourced? 17 Required statement of compliance: 17 Applicant manual 17 Reviewer manual 17 11. The data repository ensures the integrity of the digital objects and the metadata. 18 Could this guideline be outsourced? 18 Required statement of compliance: 18 Applicant manual …