About the Awards

The Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards were established in 1998 as an initiative of the Public Records Advisory Council, to recognise excellence and innovation in records management within the Victorian Public Sector.

The Awards Ceremony is a prestigious event showcasing projects completed by Victorian Government agencies that truly reflect innovation and dedication to best practice recordkeeping and the preservation of records of permanent value.

 

2018 Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards

On Thursday 3 May, Public Record Office Victoria and the Public Records Advisory Council presented the 2018 Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards in a special evening ceremony at Queens Hall, Parliament House. Congratulations to all the winners! Case studies on the winning projects will be added shortly. See our Flickr album for more photographs from the night and read Sven Bluemmel, Victorian Information Commissioner's keynote speech here.

 

Hamer Awards 2018 Winners
The Hon. Gavin Jennings MLC, Special Minister of State, Justine Heazlewood, Keeper of Public Records at Public Record Office Victoria, judges and award winners.
 

 

Keynote speaker, Sven Bluemmel, Victorian Information Commissioner
Keynote speaker, Sven Bluemmel, Victorian Information Commissioner.

 

 

2017-2018 Winners

Cardinia Shire Council investigated and then successfully implemented an automated mail processing system, utilising artificial intelligence to reduce costs and improve service, while still remaining compliant with PROV standards.

Cardinia Shire at the Hamer Awards
Ruth Edge, Roger Buhlert, Derek Madden and Katy Friend from Cardinia Shire Council with Tim Newbegin, Justine Heazlewood and the Hon. Gavin Jennings at the Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards, 3 May 2018

 

The Victorian Auditor-General’s Office (VAGO) initiated a project to transform into a ‘digital by default’ office, proving that auditors can audit and transact successfully and compliantly using electronic means. By replacing ‘wet’ signatures with digital versions they eliminated significant costs, reduced likelihood of error and saved 70kms of paper being used!

Victorian Auditor-General’s Office receiving Hamer Award 2018
Jenny McCallum and Molly Ap-Thomas, Victorian Auditor-General’s Office with Justine Heazlewood and the Hon. Gavin Jennings.

 

Demonstrating an innovative approach to improving user engagement and service standards, this project focused on enhancing and making better use of existing technology rather than deploying new tools. This approach achieved significant improvements within a narrow budget.

Manningham City Council at the 2018 Hamer Awards
Philip Lee, Mark Skilton, Fiona Park, Rebecca Burns and Benjamin Cox from Manningham City Council with Justine Heazlewood and the Hon. Gavin Jennings at the Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards, 3 May 2018

 

An early adoption of the revised “VERS 3” Standard, this project involved combining existing permanent born digital records with previously digitised records and a collaboration with PROV to test and develop processes, tools and guidance material, which would in turn assist all agencies with future transfers.

Victorian Auditor-General’s Office receiving Hamer Award 2018
Jenny McCallum and Molly Ap-Thomas, Victorian Auditor-General’s Office with Justine Heazlewood and the Hon. Gavin Jennings.

 

Victoria Police, MFB, Ambulance Victoria, Country Fire Authority, DELWP and SES shared resources, knowledge and responsibility between agencies to deliver a common records management goal.

ESSSIG at the 2018 Hamer Awards
Ross Elford and team with Justine Heazlewood and the Hon. Gavin Jennings at the Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards, 3 May 2018

 

The Royal Commission into Family Violence records transfer included the key records documenting the work of the Commission. The transfer is almost entirely digital, and involved:

  • analysis of complex systems and work processes;
  • mapping of those systems;
  • transformation of the digital records from various systems into PROV VERS Encapsulated Objects; and
  • first conversion of 180,000 emails into VEOs.
Mark Sells, DPC at the Hamer Awards 2018
Mark Sells from the Department of Premier and Cabinet with Justine Heazlewood and the Hon. Gavin Jennings at the Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Awards, 3 May 2018

 

Past Sir Rupert Hamer Award winners

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Sir Rupert Hamer Records Management Award recipients