The University of Melbourne and the Digital Preservation Coalition (DPC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding today which will see the continuation of the DPC’s Melbourne Office and the provision of operational support for the digital preservation community across Australasia and Asia Pacific for the foreseeable future.
The partnership between the University of Melbourne and the DPC will enable access to digital preservation support for the benefit of the global community.
Originally begun as a pilot project in 2020 with Jaye Weatherburn as the DPC’s officer for the region, the success of the Melbourne Office means that the University of Melbourne and the DPC will expand their remit to build on original objectives.
“This partnership was designed to provide DPC membership benefits and support to members in the Australasian time zone,” explains Donna McRostie. “Thanks to Jaye’s hard work and enthusiasm, we now have a sustainable business model for DPC Australasia and a sustained membership that is becoming ever-more effective representative of the Australasian community.”
The continued partnership will see a greater focus on the provision of global access to good practice and excellence within the dynamic digital preservation community in Australia, New Zealand and surrounding areas for the benefit of all.
William Kilbride, Executive Director of the DPC, was delighted with the success and the opportunity to continuing working with the University Melbourne, saying:
“We have been bowled over with the success of this initiative and all of the positive feedback we have received. We are so excited to embark on this next chapter together, and I am certain that all of groundwork from the last two years will help us to expand access to existing solutions and current research in the field, for the benefit of the entire global digital preservation community.”
To manage and deliver on the expanded remit, the DPC is currently advertising to expand its DPC Australasia team.
The DPC is an international charitable foundation which supports digital preservation, helping its members around the world to deliver resilient long-term access to digital content and services through community engagement, targeted advocacy work, training and workforce development, capacity building, good practice and standards, and through good management and governance. Its vision is a secure digital legacy.