VPRS 5976 Group Nomination Files

Background The series has its origin in agreements reached between the Commonwealth and British Governments in March 1946 for free and assisted passage for British residents wishing to migrate to Australia. Under the agreements residents of the Australian states could nominate residents of the United Kingdom for assisted passage to Australia, or in the case of British ex-Service men and women and their families, free passage. Nominations were of two types: personal and group. Personal nominations were made by residents of Victoria who were friends or relatives of the nominee, or an employer seeking a particular worker. Group nominations were usually made by employers seeking to recruit particular categories of workers, though groups such as religious organisations also participated. This series contains papers relating to group nominations. The States agreed at the Premiers Conference of 1946 to take responsibility for verifying nominations and arranging for reception, transit accommodation, travel to final destination and aftercare. The end of the States role in immigration matters came in early 1983, when the Commonwealth (VRG 87) took over its remaining functions relating to administering both assisted and unassisted British sponsorship schemes and associated services. The recording agencies for this series are as follows: Immigration Branch/State Immigration Office, VA 475 Chief Secretarys Department, 1946-1971; Immigration Division, VA 552 Department of State Development and Decentralisation, 1971-1976. From 1976/1977 group nominations were replaced by the employer nomination (personal) and employer nomination (group) system. Group nominations still active at this time were reactivated under the employer nomination system (Refer VPRS 5977). Contents include The Group Nomination Free and Assisted Passage Agreement, containing details of the number of persons required, their gender and age group, and the occupation and nature of the industry in which they were to be employed. Later forms include rates of pay. Details of individuals arent shown. Personal details of individuals selected as part of the group. Correspondence between the State and Commonwealth immigration authorities, between the immigration authorities and nominators, and between the immigration authorities and nominees. Reports on the suitability and/or personal circumstances of nominees. Boarding reports made by immigration officials following their meeting with nominees on arrival in Victoria (prior to dispersal). Copies of the schedules forwarded to the Commonwealth (and then to London) listing those people nominated for passage and their personal details. Once approved by the State and Commonwealth immigration authorities the details were transmitted to the Commonwealth immigration authorities in London. The latter then selected the nominees. Later on in the series, nominators could elect to have their own representative make the selections.