Please contact the Freedom of Information Team at the Department for Child Protection:
Phone: (08) 8226 4399
Postal address: GPO Box 1072, Adelaide SA 5001
Email: DCP.FOI@sa.gov.au
Website, Out-of-Home Care information: https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/research-and-publications/freedom-information/provision-information-care-leavers
Website, Adoptions information: https://www.childprotection.sa.gov.au/support-and-guidance/adoption-processes/applying-for-adoption-information
Quote this number to access your records: State Records of South Australia Agency ID, GRG27 & GRG29
These records are held by State Records of South Australia (1919 - current).
State Records of South Australia holds many records that contain information about children in the child welfare system. The records were kept by the State departments responsible for child and social welfare. The records contain details about children placed under state care, including when their wardship commenced, the child’s placements in institutions and in foster care/boarding out/apprenticeships, details about children who died while in state care, details of children born out of wedlock, details of a child’s release from state care, details about payments made to private carers, and reports on children.
Access to these records is restricted for 100 years in order to protect personal privacy. Many of these records are still restricted, while others are open and can be viewed by any member of the public. People mentioned in these records have a right to access information about themselves. To request access to restricted records please contact the Department for Child Protection Freedom of Information team. To arrange access to open records please contact State Records of South Australia. Some open access records have been digitised and are available online via the links below.
Ledgers of children boarded out – Destitute Board, later State Children’s Department, 1862-1908 (GRG27/5)
An index to this ledger has been published by State Records of South Australia here: Index to Ledgers of Children Boarded Out 1862-1913. The full digitised ledger is available via Family Search (users must sign up for a free account with Family Search to view the register).
Alphabetical lists of children, Social Welfare Department and Predecessors, 1869-1969 (GRG29/162)
Only a 5% sample of files dated between 1940 and 1970 were kept. There is a full set of mandates from 1880-1940. An index to these files has been published by State Records of South Australia here: Index to Mandates committing children to the custody of the Department 1875-1924.
Register of children placed with licensed foster mothers – State Children’s Department, 1902-1910 (GRG27/18)
An index to this register has been published by State Records of South Australia here: Index to Register of children placed with licensed foster mothers 1902-1910. The full digitised register is available via Family Search (users must sign up for a free account with Family Search to view the register).
Record of doctors appointed to attend to State Children, and children allocated, 1909-1927 (GRG27/20)
Ledger of children placed out on probation – State Children’s Department, 1913-1926 (GRS/18812)
An index to these files has been published by State Records of South Australia here: Index to Applications for the release to State Children, 1914-1920.
Rough register of children in the care of the Department, State Children’s Department, 1920-1921 (GRG27/8)
Notification of illegitimate births under the Maintenance Act, 1952-1956 (GRG29/79)
Forms noting changes of address or situation of children in the care of the Department, 1956-1959 (GRG29/74)
Correspondence and probation officers’ reports relating to children in the care of the Department, 1962-1963 (GRG29/130)
Records of various residential care facilities, 1964-1990 (GRS/11541)
Bond Files, 1970-1970 (GRG29/177)
Refers to children under ‘bond and supervision’.
Children’s Aid Panel files, 1972-1979 (GRG29/178)
Records of persons deceased whilst in care, 1988-2000 (GRS/11086)
These records relate to the deaths of any individuals (children or adults) who were in any form of Departmental care.