State Government of Queensland
The Community Services Department was established on 31 May 1984, when the Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984 and the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984 were passed. It was previously known as the Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement Department, with the new department the policy was changed to promote equal opportunity in the Queensland Community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The Department ran the Kowanyama Mission from 1984 to 1987. In 1987, the name of the Department was changed by proclamation to the Department of Community Services and Ethnic Affairs.
The Department of Community Services was established on 31 May 1984 when the Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984 and the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984 were passed. The policy of the time promoted "responsible participation and equal opportunity in the Queensland Community" for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. These Acts facilitated the establishment of local-authority type Councils. The democratically elected Community Councils had increased responsibilities, their main function being the making of recommendations to the Minister on matters of progress, development and wellbeing of the people they represented.
The name of the Department of Community Services was changed by proclamation on 14 December 1987, to Department of Community Services and Ethnic Affairs.
1904 - 1939 Chief Protector of Aboriginals Office
1939 - 1966 Director Of Native Affairs Office
1966 - 1975 Aboriginal and Island Affairs Department
1975 - 1984 Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement Department
1984 - 1987 Community Services Department
1987 - 1989 Community Services and Ethnic Affairs Department
1989 - 1996 Family Services and Aboriginal and Islander Affairs Department
1996 - 1998 Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy
1996 Department of Family and Community Services
1996 - 2001 Department of Families, Youth and Community Care
1998 - 2001 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy and Development Department
2001 - 2006 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Department
2001 - 2004 Department of Families
2004 - 2009 Child Safety Department
2004 - 2012 Communities Department
2004 - 2012 Communities Department
2004 - 2012 Communities Department
2012 - 2015 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs Department
2012 - 2017 Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services Department
2015 - 2020 Department of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
2017 - 2020 Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women
2020 - Department of Children, Youth Justice and Multicultural Affairs, State Government of Queensland
2020 - Department of Seniors, Disability Services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
Sources used to compile this entry: 'Community Services Department (Agency ID 139)', in Queensland State Archives website, Queensland Government, 2004 - 2013, http://www.archivessearch.qld.gov.au/Search/AgencyDetails.aspx?AgencyId=139.
Prepared by: Nicola Laurent and Cate O'Neill
Created: 16 September 2014, Last modified: 17 September 2014