The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Development Department was created on 4 September 1998. The Department amalgamated the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and the Community and Personal Histories Section from various Government Departments. The creation of this department reflected a shift in policy at this time away from a welfare model to community capacity building. From February until June 2001, the Department was known as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Partnerships Agency Queensland. In June 2001, the Department was renamed the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Department.