Public Record Office Victoria
 
Series VPRS 17880
Ward Term Expiry Books (also known as Ward Birthday Books)
About this Series Related Series Accessing the records in this Series
Date Range: Series ? 1893 - ? 2004
  Series in Custody ? 1893 - ? 2004
  Contents ? 1893 - ? 2004
Public Access: Part Open
Location: North Melbourne
Format of Records: Physical
 
Agency which created this SeriesAgency which created this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
1960 - 1971 Social Welfare Branch, Chief Secretary's Department VA 2784
1971 - 1979 Social Welfare Department VA 946
1979 - 1985 Department of Community Welfare Services VA 613
1985 - 1992 Department of Community Services (also known as Community Services Victoria) VA 2633
1992 - 1996 Department of Health and Community Services VA 3092
1996 - Circa 2004 Department of Human Services VA 3970
Circa 1893 - 1960 Children's Welfare Department 1924-1961 (previously known as Department for Neglected Children 1887-1924), Chief Secretary's Department VA 1467
Agency currently responsible for this SeriesAgency currently responsible for this Series
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Date Range Agency Title Agency Number
2015 - cont Department of Health and Human Services VA 5037
Description of this SeriesDescription of this Series
  • How to use the Records
    Use the consignment listing to identify the volume for the period of interest.

  • Function / Content
    This series was created to identify children whose terms of wardship were due to expire in each month during the period from January 1911 to 2004.

    The volumes were known as [ward] term expiry books but were often referred to as [ward] birthday books.

    It appears this series was used to project the expiry date for every ward up to the end of June 1961. However, between July 1961 and 1978 it appears these books record the expiry dates only for those wards managed by the Family Welfare Division of the Social Welfare Branch/Department. This Division only handled wards who were aged up to 14 years of age.

    Each page in these volumes records the children whose terms were to expire in a given month and year. It would appear that the form of compilation was simply to group children whose birthdays occurred in the same month and year and to project their term expiry 18 years into the future, irrespective of the actual term of wardship they had received. The original purpose for the creation of these books is subject to further research.

    It is unclear when the practice of creating these records began, but judging from the method of compilation, it has been assumed that the first entries were compiled no earlier than 1893 and the last entry no later than 1985. (These years represent 18 years before 1911 and 2004.)

    The volumes were known as [ward] term expiry books but were often referred to as [ward] birthday books.

    The entry for each child records the their:

    - ward number
    - name
    - religion, and
    - date of birth.

    A remarks column was usually used to indicate what happened to the child. In many instances it records subsequent events (and in some cases, dates) such as the extension of the term, adoption (but only from 1929), death or activity occurring before the expiry of the term including such as a transfer to service. The term "finally" in this column appears to identify children whose terms expired and were released from wardship.

  • Recordkeeping System
    These books are arranged in chronological order. Pages within each volume are genenerally arranged in chronological order by month.

    Separate pages were created each month to distinguish between males and females. Male entries are recorded on the right hand side pages; females on the left hand side.

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List/s of records in this seriesList/s of records in this series
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Consignment Number Contents Date Range Public Access No. of Units
P0001 ? 1893 - ? 2004 Part Open 4
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