Annual Report 2001-2002 - Western Australian Museum - The ...

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Corporate and Commercial Development
The Corporate and Commercial Development group provides the services and systems that
allow the Museum to achieve its core objectives.
ACTIVITIES
Activities of Corporate and Commercial Development include:
• financial management
• human resource management
• risk management
• property and security services
• information technology
• imaging and new media services
• records management
• Perth site bookshop
• the Documentary Unit.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Budgeting and financial reporting are provided to the Museum by the Department of Culture
and the Arts. Financial reports to both management and the Board of Trustees were improved
during the year. A range of procedures were reviewed, including stocktakes and the asset register.
Senior staff and the Chair of Trustees met with the Auditor General to discuss the issue of
valuation of the Museum’s collection. Valuation of the collection presents considerable
methodological issues, and an approach will be considered in the forthcoming financial year.
HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Human resource policies and procedures are under a process of continuous review. The project
was started with the secondment of an officer from the Human Resource group of the Department
of Culture and the Arts. To date the review has included classification and reclassification
procedures, recruitment, grievance procedures and criteria progression.
RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk management continued to be a major focus in 2001–02. The Board of Trustees endorsed
a comprehensive Risk Management Policy and Plan, which gave priority to occupational health
and safety and public safety matters.
The asbestos problem in the Francis Street Building cannot be resolved without major capital
expenditure. However, the risks have been minimised by the Asbestos Management Plan, which
was also endorsed by the Trustees.
Major improvements were made to the storage areas in the Francis Street Building and a
significant quantity of hazardous chemicals were disposed of. Recommendations from the Fire
Safety Audit for the Perth site have been progressively implemented. Improvements have also
been implemented at the Finnerty Street workshop, although the site still presents a number of
constraints to an ideal working environment.
Staff training in first aid, chemical handling, fire safety and evacuation procedures continued.
PROPERTY AND SECURITY
Additional funding in the area of building maintenance enabled a range of minor capital works
projects to be undertaken. Many of the projects were aimed at improving occupational health
and safety and bringing basic infrastructure such as lifts up to modern standards.
WESTERN AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM ANNUAL REPORT 2001–2002