Bringing-Them-Home-Report-Web

All of the Catholic organisations which responded to specific request from ACSWC [theAustralian Catholic Social Welfare Commission] regarding access to records by individualsseeking personal information thought to be retained by an organisation have indicated thatthey are prepared either to give open access or restricted access to bona fide inquirers.Understandably, for reasons of confidentiality rather than an attempt to hinder the efforts ofthose who are seeking information, most organisations have indicated that access will be on arestricted basis (submission 479 page 16).The Benedictine Community at New Norcia in WA advised the Inquiry of itscommitment to the policy adopted by the Australian Society of Archivists (submission486 page 10),… to design and implement service environments, systems, routines, finding aids andpromotional material which do not discomfort or embarrass Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander users, but which make appropriate access to records a culturally-sensitive,welcoming and relatively stress-free experience for Aboriginal Australians (ASA BulletinJune 1996 page 77).The Inquiry was advised of a project being conducted jointly by the AustralianCatholic Social Welfare Commission and the National Aboriginal and Torres StraitIslander Catholic Council to compile a listing of all relevant record repositories in the28 dioceses and more than 200 religious orders and congregations (Joint Statement).Where access can be provided, a charge is usually levied. However, while mostchurches expressed to the Inquiry their willingness to provide access, there is no legalrequirement that they do so. Proposed extension of the Commonwealth’s Privacy Act1988 will extend the eleven information privacy principles to non-governmentorganisations which collect and record personal information. A searcher will have aright of access to personal information held about him or her by a non-governmentorganisation (Principle 6). The searcher’s consent will be required in mostcircumstances before the organisation will be permitted to disclose that information toa third party (Principle 11).The Inquiry was told that the churches are already aware of the implications forindividual privacy of permitting free public access, and even access by close familymembers, to their archives.… it is unlikely that personal records as such could be perused because this could involvebreach of confidentiality with respect to others. We ask that all applications for informationbe made in writing, and we will endeavour to give every assistance (Anglican Church,Adelaide Diocese, evidence 259).There is a difficulty about giving access to archival materials at New Norcia to everybodywho asks for it. It is rarely possible to find genealogical information on one family without atthe same time giving information about related families. We find that some Aboriginal (andother) people resent other enquirers discovering information about their own family membersin this way.