FAQ - Employment Records

My grandfather worked for Victorian Railways - do you have his employment records?

PROV holds some Railway Employment records and a good place to start your research is with PROVguide 62 Transport - Public Transport - Railways

You can also search the Victorian Government Gazettes for lists of permanent employees.

Some information on personnel can be found in:-

• VPRS 12597, Employment History Cards, Transport Operations Branch / Transportation Branchwhich is a series of cards arranged alphabetically by employee surname. Information given in this series includes name, date of birth, date of appointment, position and salary. P0001 consignment consists of 2 units for the years 1890 - 1925 arranged by date of birth. P0003 consists of 15 units for the years 1951 - 1985 and gives only staff locations. P0004 consists of 1 unit for the years 1948 - 1952 with information about Casual Porters.
• VPRS 13538 / P0001 / 001 Subject Index, Personnel 1925 - 1953. This series (which consists of only one volume) provides access to Correspondence by subject title. It is mainly personnel-related on matters such as accommodation, annual leave, allowances and the seniority list.
• VPRS 13278, Staff Returns, Rolling Stock Branch 1932 - 1983 comprises of volumes recording name, date of birth, postion held, commencement date and  date left. It also contains files containing statements on a number of employees employed in workshops including tradesmen such as painters, welders and toolsmiths.
• VPRS 12592 / P0002 / 001 Employment History Sheets, Stores Branch, 1886 - 1954 contains one unit only which has a name index at the front. It contains information such as name, date and place of birth, date of appointment and qualifications.
• VPRS 13532, Accident Register, Employees, Rolling Stock Branch 1939 - 1947 was created to record all reported accidents involving Rolling Stock Branch employees. It consists of one volume only and contains details including name, date, place, cause and result of the accident. 
• VPRS 12807 / P0003 / 001, Sponsored Migrants Records 1951 - 1954 consists of only one unit relating to the recruitment and employment of European Migrants as a result of the labour shortage after WW2. They were contracted to work for the Victorian Railways for two years as a condition of employment. The series contains a wealth of information about the (mainly German in this series) migrants including their interviews, their classification, pay rates, allowances, board payable, where employed and even English classes.

Can I have a copy of my Apprenticeship papers?

For information on apprenticeship certificates please contact the Apprenticeship Help Line (Office of Training and Tertiary Education): 1300 722 603.

Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) holds a portion of records relating to apprenticeships in Victoria, but not certificates. For example, VPRS 11758 Apprenticeship and Employer Data Reports (1973 -1994) contains a listing of apprentices by registration number, alphabetically by surname and a listing of employers by registration number. For detailed information please consult PROV's online catalogue at www.access.prov.vic.gov.au

I need a copy of my Hairdresser's Certificate.

PROV holds very little in relation to hairdressing. The responsible agency is the Hairdressers Registration Board (VA 1229) 1937 - 1985. You may wish to explore the records that are held by PROV by clicking on the link.

For information on apprenticeship certificates please contact the Apprenticeship Help Line (Office of Training and Tertiary Education):
1300 722 603.

I think my great-grandfather jumped ship to go to the goldfields - do you have records of deserters from ships?

Yes, we do and PROVguide 49 Transport - Ships Crew is a great place to discover information about any ancestors who may have worked on a ship.

For a more modern slant on deserters, you might also be interested in a file in VPRS 1095 / P0000 / 14 Deserters from the Royal Navy Flying Squadron

My mother was a teacher - do you have teacher records?

PROVguide 56 Education, Health and Welfare - Education Records is a great place to start when you are looking for records about teachers.

There are many other sources of information about teachers and student teachers. They include:-

• VPRS 11460 Record of Teacher Training Details 1878 - 1909 is a record of the examination and payment records of student teachers attending Education Department's Teacher Training College between 1878 and 1909. Details included are name and record number, classification, results of examinations and prizes won. There is an index at the front of the book which lists the student teachers alphabetically.
• VPRS 10536 Central Inwards Teachers Colleges Correspondence 1907 - 1962 contains correspondence received by the Education Department from Melbourne and provincial Teachers Colleges. The correspondence is from students and College Authorities. Subjects dealt with include lists of students, grades, employment, reports including special reports on specific students, accident and injury claims and correspondence relating to breaches of studentship agreements.
• VPRS 11480 Register of Teachers who Completed Certificates of Competency in Swimming and Life Saving 1911-1979 There is an A-Z index at the front of the register to help locate the teacher's name and folio number. The register lists the teacher's name and address and gives results and marks for the different examinations undertaken.
• VPRS 11481 Register of Teachers at Subsidised Schools and Applications for Employment 1914-1952 This is a one volume series with an A-Z Index listing teachers in alphabetical order by surname. Information recorded varies over different time periods but can include, as well as the names, date of birth, addresses, qualifications and the school name and number to which they were appointed. There is also a segment in the book headed "Returned Soldiers Applications for Employment".
• VPRS 11487 Singing Teachers Primary Certificate Register 1927-1973 There are three volumes in this series and they record the teacher's name, record number, school name and number and the results of examinations for which they sat.
• VPRS 11482 Record of Teachers Admitted to Teachers College 1938-1938 consists of only one unit which contains three distinct lists. The first lists teachers admitted prior to 1938, the second teachers admitted in 1938 and the third lists Student Instructors in Technical Schools. All three lists are controlled by an alphabetical index.
• VPRS 3771 Emergency Teachers Salary Cards 1960-1982 (VPRS 3777 - Microfilm version available in the Reading Rooms) To cover the absence of regular teachers, schools were able to employ emergency teachers for periods of time ranging from half-days to longer periods of time. The cards in this series give teacher's name and address, details of employment and schools where employed.
• VPRS 3780 Adult Education Teachers Salary Cards 1971 - 1981 This is a microfilm Version of VPRS 3774 and is available in the Reading Room without ordering. This series contains the salary cards created each year by the Finance Division to control and monitor the payment of salaries to these teachers. Details given include name and address of teachers, their locations and dates of employment.
• VPRS 64 List of Teachers Employed 1849 - 1881 is a one unit series listing teachers employed by the Education Department as of 31st December 1881.
• VPRS 14005 Teachers Requesting Permission to Perform Private Work 1885 - 1935 This series include lists of teachers who, both successfully and unsuccessfully, applied for permission from the Education Department to engage in private work.

Do you have employment records for Policemen in the early 1900's?

• VPRS 4402 Record of Public Servants 1884 - 1925 Under the provisions of Section 25 of the Public Servants Act 1883, and other subsequent Acts, the Public Service Board (VA 886) was required to keep a record of all officers and employees in the public service, their length of service, salaries and other employment details. To use this series, it is necessary to refer to VPRS 4403 Index to Record of Public Servants 1884 - 1924.
• VPRS 1775 Register of Police Salaries and Wages (Paymasters Branch) 1905 - 1925 can be ordered but there is no description of arrangement or details contained in the registers (More details coming soon!)

• VPRS 1776 Pay and Allowance Registers 1925 - 1930 records the fortnightly payment of pay and allowances to police officers and sworn members. This series is interesting because it not only includes police officers but also includes ancillary workers such as hospital attendants, cooks, stewards and trackers.
• VPRS 1785 Salary Cards 1929 - 1962 records the fortnightly payment of pay and allowances to police officers and sworn members. This is a subsequent series to VPRS 1776
• VPRS 55 Police Muster Rolls 1871 - 1973 contains a list of police officers at police stations for each month.
• VPRS 5431 Police Gazettes 1856 - 1970 are available in the Reading Room and do not have to be ordered. They contain a wealth of information about varied subjects including police appointments and warrants for arrests.

Where can I get information about an ancestor who worked as a Public Servant?

• VPRS 4402 Record of Public Servants 1884 - 1925 Under the provisions of Section 25 of the Public Servants Act 1883, and other subsequent Acts, the Public Service Board (VA 886) was required to keep a record of all officers and employees in the public service, their length of service, salaries and other employment details. To use this series, it is necessary to refer to VPRS 4403 Index to Record of Public Servants 1884 - 1924.
• VPRS 9889 Record Cards of Public Servants - only the P0001, P0008 and P0009 series 1925 - 1948 are open for public access. This series consists of record cards which documents employent history and details such as name, Department, Branch, date of birth and address.

My father was a taxi driver - do you have any records for him?

VicRoads hold a series of records documenting the regulation of commercial transport. The microform records contain information regarding:-

• Goods permits
• Drivers certificates
• Authorised Log Book Name Cards and Log Book Application Forms
• Passenger Papers and Files

Please Note:- These records are not held by PROV.

VPRS 4035 Hackney Carriages (Licensed Vehicles) 1859-1938 contains the Minute Books of the Hackney Carriage Committee meetings. This was a standing committee of the Melbourne City Council and was responsible for the administration of Council ByLaws relating to the regulation and licensing of vehicles plying for hire for the transportation of passengers or goods, and to the conduct of the drivers of those vehicles. The committee's major tasks appear to have included the monitoring of the various types of license applications (i.e. Hackney Carriages, Motor Car Drivers, Motor Car Owners, Carters and Motor Omnibus) and the dealing with any complaints or correspondence referred to it by the council. Details regarding action taken on these functions and other minor items of business are included. (A hackney is a carriage or cab for hire).

I need my Nursing Certificate to get back into Nursing

Public Record Office Victoria (PROV) does not hold Nursing Certificates. For information about Nursing Certificates, contact the Australian Health Practioners Regulation Agency However, PROV does hold the following series which may help:-

• VPRS 16408 General Nurse Register 1924-2001 which records registration date, Surname/Title/Given Name, location, school, graduation date and section of Act. The volumes are in registration number up to 119,997 in June 1994 and then in date order to 4 May 2001.
• VPRS 16364 "Early" General Nurse Record Cards, Alphabetical 1924-1957 records the registration details of nurses and associated details such as training, qualifications and certificates held.
• VPRS 16363 "Early Midwifery Registration Cards 1923-1957 records the registration details of nurses and associated details such as training, qualifications and certificates held.
• VPRS 16407 Royal Victorian Trained Nurses Association Nurses' Register The Victorian  Trained Nurses Association (VTNA) was established to register nurses, introduce a uniform curriculum of training and examination and to establish a benefit scheme for nurses. Although the role of registering nurses became the reponsibility of the VA3144 Nurses' Board 1924-1958 from 1924, entries continued to appear in these volumes until 1930.
• VPRS 16410 Nursing Aide and State Enrolled Nurses' Register records the registration details of nurses and associated details such as training, qualifications and certificates held.
• VPRS 16411 Midwives' Register 1916-1994 The Midwives' Board was responsible for the registration of midwives before the responsibility was transferred to VA 3144 Nurses' Board (1924-1958) in 1929. The register was maintained until 1994.
• VPRS 16412 Pyschiatric Nurses' Register 1952-2001 records the registration details of psychiatric nurses and associated details such as training, qualifications and certificates held.
• VPRS 16413 Mental Retardation Nurses' Register 1953-2001 records the registration details of "mental retardation" nurses and associated details such as training, qualifications and certificates held.
• VPRS 16426 Index to Mothercraft Nurses 1951-1959 This volume is an alphabetical index to VPRS 16427 (see next entry) and contains the names and registration numbers for persons registered as Mothercraft Nurses from 1951-1959.
• VPRS 16425 Mothercraft Nurses' Register 1931-1954 and VPRS 16427 Mothercraft Nurses' Register 1951-2001. VPRS 16425 appears to be a record of training undertaken by potential mothercraft nurses, prior to State registration. Entries continue until 1954 - meaning that there is a period of overlap (1951-1954) between this register and VPRS 16427.  VPRS 16425 records the date that training was completed and VPRS 16427 records the date of registration and the registration number in addition to Surname/Title/Given Name, location and school. It is possible to locate entries for indiviuals in both registers with registration details usually following up to several months after the completion of training.
• VPRS 16414 Pre-school Mothercraft Nurses' Register 1942-1976 The Mothercraft Nurses' Act 1949 allowed for the issue of a special certificate of competency for Mothercraft Nurses who had completed the required period of instruction at a recognised pre-school mothercraft nurses' training school and passed an examination approved by the Department of Health.
• VPRS 16428 Infant Welfare Nurses / Maternal and Child Health Nurses' Register 1929-1994 Registration details were recorded for Infant Welfare Nurses between 1928 to 1979 and for Maternal and Child Health Nurses between 1979 t0 1994.
• VPRS 16429 Tuberculosis Nursing Aides Register 1950-1973 This series contains a list of holders of certificates of Competency as Assistant Nurses - Tuberculosis Services and lists of candidates undertaking the Nursing Aide - Tuberculosis examination. 
• VPRS 16430 Special Certificate of Tuberculosis Training / Tuberculosis Disease Nurses' Register 1957-1974 This register contains registration information for persons who were issued with a Special Certifcate of Tuberculosis Training.

What dental records do you hold?

PROV holds several series of records for the Dental profession. They include:-

VPRS 16499 Advanced Dental Technicians Register 1975-1999 The Advanced Dental Technicians' Qualifications Board (VA 1339) was responsible for creating and maintaining a register of licensed advanced dental technicians containing their full names, residential addresses and the addresses of their place of work.

VPRS 16515 Diplomates' Licentiate of Dental Surgery Register 1902-1947 Diplomates are holders of a diploma who have also been certified as a specialist by an Association or Board. The Diplomates have signed the register to acknowledge their receipt of their diplomas.

VPRS 16516 Ernest Joske Memorial Prize Register and Orations 1940-2000 This series consists of two volumes. The first volume contains the names of the winners of the Ernest Joske Memorial Prize awarded annually to the Dux of the Dentistry College. The second volume holds copies of the Ernest Joske Memorial Oration which is a lecture given to honour the first Registrar of the Dental Board.

VPRS 16517 Examination Results 1926-1938 These volumes contain the results of annual examinations of dental students of the Faculty of Dental Science at the University of Melbourne.

VPRS 16523 Signature Books 1910-1938 Section 13 of the Dentists' Act 1910 (No. 2257) required a signature to be recorded for each registered dentist.

VPRS 16526 Temporary Registrations Register 1972-1993 Section 22 of the Dentists' Act 1973 (No. 8287) stated that, upon application, the Board could issue a temporary certificate of registration as a dentist and that the Board should keep a record of those registrations. The register records the names of applicants, date of birth, addresses, qualifications and registration numbers.

VPRS 16527 Dentists' Register 1888-2000 These registers contain the names, addresses, qualifications and registration numbers of dentists registered with the Dental Board of Victoria (VA 1343). Between 1888 and 1920, the registers also contained a periodical called "Dentists' Register" printed and published under direction of the Board. From 1920, the registration details became part of the Government Gazette.

VPRS 16520 Permit Records 1928-1963 Permit Certificates are records of permits issued to employers allowing them to employ suitably qualified under their supervision, under Section 68, sub-section 3(a) of the Medical Act 1928 Part II.

I'm a Psychiatric Nurse - can I access my records?

VPRS 16412 Psychiatric Nurses' Register 1952-2001 and VPRS 16413 Mental Retardation Nurses' Register 1953-2001 contain registration numbers and associated details for Pyschiatric Nurses and Mental Retardation Nurses.

How do I access Doctor Registration details?

VPRS 16388 Application Register 1994-1996 contains the names, dates and type of application (eg. medical, specific, extension) of medical practioners who were granted registration. 

VPRS 16392 Foreign Register 1957-1981 contains a list of medical practioners who were granted foreign registration. Details listed include name, date, qualification, examination details and decision. The decision column appears to indicate the duration of the registration granted and gives an end date.

 VPRS 16391 Specialist Medical Register 1971-1979 lists medical practioners who have been granted specialist medical registration. A new specialist registration number was generated and recorded in this register.

VPRS 16394 Medical Registers 1852-1998 The format of these registers has changed a little over time but essentially they all record names, dates and qualifications.

VPRS 16395 Temporary Medical Registers 1852-1999 record details such as name, date, qualifications, institutions, period and extensions.