Document Destruction for Schools and Universities

Education Sector: Special Responsibilities

Schools, universities, and training organisations hold extensive personal information about students, staff, and families. This data requires protection that meets both privacy legislation and community expectations.

Information Held by Education Providers

Student Records:

• Enrolment and registration details
• Academic results and transcripts
• Attendance records
• Disciplinary information
• Health and medical details
• Special needs documentation
• Counselling records

Staff Information:

• Employment records
• Performance reviews
• Qualification verification
• Working with children checks
• Payroll and taxation details

Operational Documents:

• Financial records
• Procurement documentation
• Strategic planning materials
• Research data and findings

Regulatory Requirements

Privacy Act 1988:

Applies to government schools, universities, and private institutions above the revenue threshold.

State Education Acts:

Additional requirements for government schools regarding student records.

National Quality Framework:

Early childhood education record requirements.

Professional Standards:

Teaching registration and accreditation documentation.

Retention Periods

Student Academic Records:

• Primary school: Until student turns 25
• Secondary school: 30 years or until 25
• University: Permanent for some records

Administrative Records:

• Enrolment documentation: 7 years
• Financial records: 7 years
• Correspondence: 7 years

Research Data:

• Varies by funding body requirements
• Often 5-15 years post-publication

Best Practices for Education

Centralised Management:

• Single responsibility for records management
• Consistent policies across departments
• Regular destruction schedules

Secure Collection Points:

• Staff offices and work areas
• Administrative centres
• Research areas
• Student services

Annual Destruction Programs:

• End of year archive review
• Systematic identification of eligible records
• Documented destruction process

WEST SHRED Education Services

We provide tailored services for education:

• School holiday scheduling
• University semester-aligned collections
• Research material handling
• Archive box collection and destruction
• Examination material destruction