Please contact the State Records Research Centre:
Postal Address: GPO Box 464, Adelaide SA 5001
Phone: 08 7322 7077
Quote this number to access your records: State Records of South Australia Series ID, GRS/6638
These records are part of Records of the South Australia Youth Remand and Assessment Centre (c. 1961 - c. 1999).
These Log Books are archived under SAYRAC, the name for the Vaughan House from 1979, but were also kept prior to that change. They also contain information relating to a large number of government institutions operating between 1961 and 1999. A number of different types of log books make up this series including: movement, programme, routine, observation, detention, Centre Duty Officer [CDO], day book, Matron, medical, visitors, maintenance, incident and separation logs.
A Research Centre Members card, obtainable at the Archives, is required to research records held at State Records.
Although some very early records relating to children in care in South Australia are open for access, most records relating to children are subject to a 100 year restriction, particularly those which contain personal information about individuals. Written permission must be obtained from the government agency which created the record in order to access restricted material. To obtain permission a Freedom of Information (FOI) request form must be submitted to the relevant government department. State Records staff will be able to assist you with this.
The logs in this series cover the following institutions:
Vaughan House, later SAYRAC, 1963 – 1993 (includes Elizabeth Grace Hostel)
Brookway Park, later SAYRAC, 1974 – 1993, (includes Kulkami Unit)
McNally Training Centre, later SAYTC, 1973 – 1995
Lochiel Park Boys’ Training Centre, 1979 – 1989
Kandarik Cottage, 1984 – 1988
Central Region Assessment Unit (Central Region Admission Unit), 1979 – 1989
Clarence Park Assessment Unit, 1989 – 1991
Woodville Assessment Unit, 1989 – 1991
Southern Region Admission Unit [SRAU], 1980 – 1991
Central Western Admission Unit [CWAU] (Western Region Admission Unit), 1981 – 1991
Hay Community Unit, 1980 – 1989
Enfield Community Unit, 1990 – 1999
State Records lists the types of information that can be found in the log books as including:
Behaviour and moods of youth; Disruptions and action taken; Security checks; Physical check of dangerous materials and objects check; Maintenance needed; Youth currently in detention, length and type of order, date of release and type of offence; Detention record; Names of visitors and phone calls; Name, age and date of birth; Date and time of placement; Reasons for placement; Alternatives tried prior to placement; Authority for length of stay; Date and time of release; Signatories – Residential Worker, Senior and Supervisor; Medication details; Medical appointments; Absconding details – how, when, where and action taken; Admittance and discharges.
Some of the logs in this series do not record the names of those in the Centres.