The need for up-to-date Australian standards to help people working in museums and galleries understand the nature of good practice and benchmarks for their work has become more evident with the emergence of standards and accreditation programs in several states. A national taskforce drawn from Museums and Galleries NSW, Museum and Gallery Services Queensland, the History Trust of South Australia, Museums Australia – Victoria, the Western Australian Museum and the Collections Council of Australia, has worked collaboratively to develop a set of agreed standards that are rigorous in their scope and requirements, and that will serve as an accessible and useful tool for all museums and galleries, regardless of size and resources, throughout Australia.

The standards relate to the management of museums, the engagement of communities, and the development and conservation of significant collections. Nine high-level principles provide a structure for the standards and benchmarks. Sections on ‘Tips’ and ‘Resources’ are helpful inclusions.