Information management capability framework outlines the skills and knowledge that employees and their organisations need to create and manage information assets (records, information and data) effectively to meet business and accountability requirements.

How to build staff capabilities

The Building trust in the public record policy recommends that agencies identify staff capability gaps in information management, in particular for staff with specialist information management roles, and plan to address them (action 6). You can use the capability gap analysis template (XLXS 178 kB) to help you address this policy action. Also refer to Capability, skills and professional development for learning pathways to address capability gaps.

The capabilities are provided for two main roles:

• Capabilities for all staff
• Capabilities for information management professionals

The capabilities are mapped at four skill levels

Within each role their are four levels. This helps identify the appropriate skills for each level:

• Foundation
• Practitioner / skilled operational
• Management / specialist
• Executive / lead

The allocation of responsibilities and capabilities required for certain roles and levels may vary in different organisations, so the capability levels should be adapted to reflect the business needs and size of your organisation. It is assumed that higher level roles have the knowledge and understanding to manage lower level roles.

These capabilities can be used in conjunction with:

• the Office of the National Data Commissioner’s Foundational Four
• the APS Data Capability Framework
• Data Management Association’s Data Management Body of Knowledge (DMBOK)
• Skills Framework for the Information Age

For more information about how the IM capability framework maps to Skills Framework for the Information Age (SFIA) see our mapping of SFIA to IM Capability Framework

The information management and data capabilities align with the 'Information Governance and Knowledge' job function in the Australian Public Service Job Family Framework.

How the capabilities will help

Individual employees can use the capabilities to:

• better understand their information management responsibilities and role
• create learning pathways for career progression and development
• identify skills and knowledge gaps to upgrade expertise to meet current and future challenges to manage information and data
• earn a promotion or transition to other information or data related fields.

Organisations can use the capabilities to establish or inform: 

• workforce plans
• information and data training and awareness programs
• continuing professional development (CPD) programs for information and data employees to help them achieve professional recognition
• position descriptions and selection documentation
• performance management expectations
• succession plans and learning pathways.

Professional bodies can provide relevant CPD opportunities, certification or professional recognition.

Capability gap analysis

You can also explore in detail the information management capability framework using the capability gap analysis template (XLXS 178 kB) that has separate tabs for all staff and information management professionals.