VPRS 6352 General Correspondence Files (Mental Retardation / Intellectual Disability)

This series contains general correspondence files pertaining to the administration of mental retardation/intellectual disability services. The files were created for the:- period 1981-1985 by the Mental Retardation Division of the Health Division (VA 652), and- period 1985-1990 by the Office of Intellectual Disability Services (OIDS) of the Department of Community Services (VA 2633).The subject of individual files range from policy matters to housekeeping. Some files also relate to staffing, accommodation and transport with respect to specific institutions.It is believed that this series does not include correspondence handled by the relevant responsible Minster which were handled separately by a different administrative unit. This particular matter is subject to further research.The series dates from the formation of the Mental Retardation Division in 1981. It is evident that at this time that the contents of some files were top numbered into this series from the general correspondence filing system previously maintained by the Mental Health Division of the Health Department from 1952 to 1983 (VPRS 6344) which prior to 1981 was responsible for the provision of these services.Papers on some files date from approximately 1940. Judging from markings on these papers, it can be inferred that these originated from filing systems operated by the following agencies which were previous responsible for the mental retardation function:- Department of Health I, including Central Administration and Mental Hygiene Branch (VA 695)- Mental Hygiene Authority (VA 2823), and- Department of Mental Hygiene (VA 2865).During 1990 the Department of Community Services decided to significantly broaden the scope of its central general correspondence filing system through the incorporation of files pertaining to a number of functions (including intellectual disability) which it had inherited in the course of approximately the previous five years. Accordingly this series was combined with the files created pertaining to these functions and the central general correspondence series (VPRS 14838) to form a new series arranged according to an annual single number sequence.