VPRS 9603 General Correspondence Files (RMS System)

This series consists of correspondence files created by the central registry of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs 1985-1995 (VA 2649) and the Department of Agriculture, Energy and Minerals 1995-1996 (VA3744).The series commenced in 1985 when a computerised (RMS) records management system using a sequential file numbering system was introduced. This series ended in 1996 with the commencement of an alphnumeric filing system using RecFind.Previous SeriesUntil 1985, the central files were created under an annual single number (manual) system. (The files are located in VPRS 8089 Central Administration Annual Single Number Correspondence).P1 and P2 consignments:The P1 and the P2 consignments of the series comprise the correspondence files created for the Plants Standards Branch (known as the Quarantine and Inspection Services Branch during the period 1991 to1995).Until April 1991, the operational staff of the Branch was located at the World Trade Centre (WTC) and the Branch Management at Wellington Parade. Following the move of the Branch Management Group from Wellington Parade to the WTC, the files created at the WTC location were top numbered into the Head Office filing (RMS) system, (ie this series).Following the transfer of responsibility for quarantine function to the Commonwealth Government, the Plant Standards Branch moved from the WTC to Knoxfield in 1996.In 1996, when the Department adopted the RecFind system, the files created for the Plant Standards Branch were not incorporated into the central system. The Plant Standards Branch is creating its own files under the old sequential file numbering system using Excel Spreadsheet (as at 1998).