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Access Conditions
Most government records in the Northern Territory are open for research 30 years after the end of the year in which the records were created. Some records, however, are subject to restrictions due to their sensitive or confidential nature. This is the case with many records related to children under the care of the government. These records are restricted for 100 years from the date of their creation.
To apply for access to closed records, you will need to write to the Northern Territory Archives Service. The government agency responsible for the records you wish to access will then consider the granting of access. This is done on a case by case basis. Please contact the Archives for assistance and further information about how to apply for access to closed records. A number of Fact Sheets for researchers are also available on the Archives website.
Finding Aids
The files in this series were indexed during 2011-2014. The kind of information collected in each index includes: client name (including aliases and nicknames), date of birth, birth parent names, names of foster and/or adoptive parents, sibling names, names and locations of other institutions (Northern Territory or interstate - non government or church organisation, and other state welfare institutions or hospitals), other file numbers or references, and whether there are photographs on file.
Records
The series, Correspondence files relating to social development with "SD" prefix , was first created by the Social Development Branch of the Northern Territory Administration while the Territory was under the control of the Commonwealth Government. It was continued after self government by the Department of Community Development.
These are subject files dealing with many different welfare matters. Some include information related to the placement of children in government and non government Homes in the Northern Territory and interstate. The files also provide information about welfare policies and the staffing of Homes. Correspondence includes the names and details of children and staff members.
The previous Series Number given to these records was F1411. It has been changed to NTRS 3758.
