Voluntary Children's Homes Files is an archival series with contents dating from 1921 to 1989. It has the Public Record Office Victoria series number of VPRS 18069/P0001. The records in this series were created by the interactions between the Victorian government and Homes in Victoria run by charitable and religious organisations. The Voluntary Children's Homes Files contain information about institutions and their administration, as well as about the children who lived in these Homes.
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The records in Voluntary Children's Homes Files document interactions between many Homes run by charitable and religious organisations in Victoria, with the government departments responsible for child welfare for the period 1921 to 1989.
Separate files were registered for separate children's Homes, or care provider organisations.
The information about institutions found in Voluntary Children's Homes Files includes: annual reports, newspaper clippings, inspector's reports, applications for grants, applications to be declared an Approved Children's Home, staff records and correspondence with the Department.
The information about children found in Voluntary Children's Homes Files includes: details of placements, holiday placements for State Wards, allegations of abuse against children, lists of children's names, medical records and correspondence with the Department.
The Finding Records website has detailed information about the contents of Voluntary Children's Homes Files - the pages on Finding Records about particular Homes provide listings of any files within the Voluntary Children's Homes Files series relating to that Home.
Sources used to compile this entry: Department of Health and Human Services, Finding Records, State of Victoria, 2016, https://www.findingrecords.dhhs.vic.gov.au/.
Prepared by: Cate O'Neill
Created: 15 December 2017, Last modified: 10 August 2021