VPRS 17941 General Correspondence Files, Annual Single Number

Full description

This series consists of general correspondence files created by the Department of Community Services (VA 2633), Department of Health and Community Services [ VA 3092] and the Department of Human Services [VA 3970]. The subject of individual files range from policy matters to housekeeping.

The records document litigation matters relating to State Wards. They include correspondence between the Department and solicitors, the Department and Legal Aid Offices, notes, memoranda, writs, client assessments, Court documents including summons, affidavits and judgments, correspondence between the Department and carers, legal opinions and advice, correspondence and other documents relating to the adoption of individuals, and correspondence between the Department and the Public Advocate.

Some top numbering from a previous annual single number system is evident in file 91/4508 part 2. The file reference is to a file registered in 1984. The relevant agency during that period was the Department of Community Welfare Services.

During 1990 the Department of Community Services decided to significantly broaden the scope of its general correspondence files through the incorporation of files pertaining to a number of functions, including those from VPRS 14838 and the general correspondence files of the Office of Intellectual Disability Services which it had inherited in the course of approximately the previous five years. The Department also decided to introduce a computerised records management system, utilising the `RMS' software package to control these files.

In the new recordkeeping system, the annual single number system of arrangement was maintained. All of the files from [VPRS 14838) which were created during 1990 were brought into this new system retaining their file numbers. Files created prior to 1990 were also brought into the new system, however, these were allocated completely new file numbers.