Using the Customer Archive Retrieval (CAR) system and microfiche requests for archived information 111-02020010
Expand allThis document outlines the use of the Customer Archive Retrieval (CAR) system to search for and retrieve archived records.
Retrieve archived records
Information relating to customers that is no longer required online is periodically culled, and certain records are electronically stored in archives. This is generally done anytime from about 2 to 18 months after the records are created.
Often records that are no longer available online are required by Service Officers or other staff, and these must be able to be retrieved from the archives.
The CAR system is a computer system which stores historical data and allows staff to easily retrieve, view and print that data after it has been archived.
The archive retrieval process may take from a few minutes to a few hours, depending on the number of users on the system. It is advisable to submit retrieval requests early in the day where possible, as there are likely to be fewer users logging requests and it allows more time to complete retrieval if the system is busy.
Electronic data remains in the environment in which it was created. Archives may exist in more than one environment for customers who have transferred to different environments. Staff seeking historical information may then need to go to each of the customer's environments to retrieve the archives.
Microfiche records
Records that pre-date CAR, dating back to approximately 1978, may be available on microfiche. These may be retrieved by contacting the relevant State Microfiche Officer.
The Resources page contains links to the contact details for State Microfiche Officers and the Records Management Unit.
Related links
Searching for archived records in other environments
Customer Archive Retrieval (CAR)
Online Document Recording (ODR)
Creating, reviewing and deleting documents (including Fast Notes and DOA DOCs)