The Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme
The Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme (CRTS) was introduced in March 1944 to provide educational and vocational training to those who had served in Australia's armed services during World War II. It was administered by the Central Reconstruction Training Committee (CA 357).
The Scheme provided training for ex-servicemen and women necessary for them to be re-established in suitable civilian occupations. The last date for acceptance of applications was 30 June 1950 and by the middle of 1951 over 300,000 people had been accepted by the Scheme, making it one of the most significant strategies for social change in Australia. In order to be eligible for assistance under the Scheme, servicemen and servicewomen were required to have had a minimum of six months service and to have been honourably discharged. Further information on the eligibility criteria for applicants is included in Fact Sheet 179 – CRTS applicants and trainees.
Training was available in one of three categories – professional, vocational or rural – and could be undertaken either full time or on a part time basis. Individuals embarking on full time training had tuition and other fees paid and received living allowances.
Central and Regional Reconstruction Training Committees
The Central Reconstruction Training Committee was located within the Department of Post-War Reconstruction until 1950 when it was transferred to the Repatriation Department. The Committee was responsible for the planning, policy and direction of the Scheme, while administration lay with Regional Reconstruction Training Committees located in State capital cities.
Administrative records of the CRTS
Administrative records relating to the CRTS are held by a number of offices of the National Archives. These comprise records concerned with the origins of the scheme and its management, and include records relating to the functions of both the Central Reconstruction Training Committee and Regional Reconstruction Training Committees. Details of the administrative records held are listed in the table below.
Records relating to the administration of the CRTS
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series, item number |
|---|---|---|
| Writings, papers and documents on the history of the CRTS compiled by W Maher | 1944–69 | A3512 |
| Defence records collected by Sir Frederick Shedden | 1901–71 | A5954 |
| Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme | 1941–48 | A5954, 542/3 |
| Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme | 1941–48 | A5954, 542/4 |
| Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme | 1941–48 | A5954, 542/5 |
| Central Reconstruction Training Committee – minutes of meetings, submissions, registers, writings and nominal rolls | 1937–54 | AA1974/662 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| CRTS subsidy to employers – employers' files | 1945–53 | SP144/1 |
| CRTS subsidy to employees files | 1946 | SP242/4 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Consolidated decisions of the Central Reconstruction Training Committee – master copy | 1944–56 | B5415 |
| Consolidated decisions of the Central Reconstruction Training Committee – master copy | 1948 | MP1728/7 |
| Title or description of record | Date range | Series number |
|---|---|---|
| Correspondence files | 1944–57 | K1053 |
| Policy, procedure and general administration files of the CRTS | 1944–57 | PP310/1 |
For more information
Fact Sheets
- Fact sheet 179 – Commonwealth Reconstruction Training Scheme applicants and trainees contains records and information about the ex-servicemen and ex-servicewomen who undertook training under the CRTS.
- Fact sheet 244 - Industrial Development in Australia after WWII contains information about records of Australian government initiatives to promote industrial development in Australia in the years following World War II.