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Timeline of government departments

Government departments that have managed health, welfare, and youth justice in Victoria.

Hospital administration

  • Chief Secretary's Department

    (1855–1979)

  • Charities Board of Victoria (included hospitals)

    (1923–1948)

    • Statutory Authority Administered by Treasurer (1923–1944)
    • by Minister of Health (1944–48)
  • Hospitals and Charities Commission

    (1948–1978)

  • Health Commission of Victoria

    (1978–1985)

  • Department of Health II

    (1985–1992)

  • Department of Health and Community Services

    (1992–96)

  • Department of Human Services I

    (1996–2010)

  • Department of Health III

    (2010–14)

  • Department of Health and Human Services

    (2015–2021)

  • Department of Health IV

    (2021– )

Public health

  • Chief Secretary's Department

    (1855–1979)

  • Central Board of Health [Statutory Authority]

    (1855 –1990)

  • Board of Public Health [Statutory Authority]

    (1890–1920)

  • Commission of Public Health [Statutory Authority]

    (1920–1978)

  • Health Commission of Victoria

    (1978–1985)

  • Department of Health II

    (1985–1992)

  • Department of Health and Community Services

    (1992–96)

  • Department of Human Services I

    (1996–2010)

  • Department of Health III

    (2010–14)

  • Department of Health and Human Services

    (2015–2021)

  • Department of Health IV

    (2021– )

Mental health

  • Chief Secretary's Department

    (1855–1979)

  • Hospitals for the Insane Branch

    (1867–1905)

  • Lunacy Department

    (1905–1934)

  • Department of Mental Hygiene

    (1934–1944)

    (sub department) Mental Hygiene branch from (1937–1944)

  • Department of Health I

    (1944–1978)

    Mental Hygiene Branch (1944–1978)

    • Branch in the Department of Health (1944–1952)
    • Part of Mental Hygiene Authority (1952–1962) [Statutory Authority]
    • Part of the Mental health Authority (1962–1978) [Statutory Authority]
  • Health Commission of Victoria

    (1978–1985)

  • Department of Health II

    (1985–1992)

  • Department of Health and Community Services

    (1992–96)

  • Department of Human Services

    (1996–2010)

  • Department of Health III

    (2010–2014)

  • Department of Health and Human Services

    (2015–2021)

  • Department of Health IV

    (2021– )

Disability

  • Chief Secretary's Department

    (1855–1979)

  • Hospitals for the Insane Branch

    (1867–1905)

  • Lunacy Department

    (1905–1934)

  • Department of Mental Hygiene

    (1934–1944)

  • Department of Health I

    (1944–1978)

    Mental Hygiene Branch (1944–1978)

    • Branch in the Department of Health (1944–1952)
    • Part of Mental Hygiene Authority (1952–1962) [Statutory Authority]
    • Part of the Mental health Authority (1962–1978) [Statutory Authority]
  • Health Commission of Victoria

    (1978–1985)

  • Community Services Victoria

    (1985–1992)

  • Department of Health and Community Services

    (1992–96)

  • Department of Human Services

    (1996–2010)

  • Department of Human Services II

    (2010–14)

  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) trial

    (2013)

  • Department of Health and Human Services

    (2015– 2021)

  • NDIS roll out in Victoria

    (2016–2020)

  • NDIS available to all Australians

    (2020– )

  • Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

    (2021– )

Intellectual disability

  • Chief Secretary's Department

    (1855–1979)

  • Hospitals for the Insane Branch

    (1867–1905)

  • Lunacy Department

    (1905–1934)

  • Mental Defectives Branch

    (1937–1944)

    Transferred to Department of Health I

  • Department of Health I

    (1944–1978)

    Mental Hygiene Branch (1944–1978)

    • Branch in the Department of Health (1944–1952)
    • Part of Mental Hygiene Authority (1952–1962) [Statutory Authority]
    • Part of the Mental health Authority (1962–1978) [Statutory Authority]
  • Health Commission of Victoria

    (1978–1985)

  • Community Services Victoria

    (1985–1992)

  • Department of Health and Community Services

    (1992–96)

  • Department of Human Services

    (1996–2010)

  • Department of Human Services II

    (2010–14)

  • National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) trial

    (2013)

  • Department of Health and Human Services

    (2015–2021)

  • NDIS roll out in Victoria

    (2016–2020)

  • NDIS available to all Australians

    (2020–)

  • Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

    (2021– )

Juvenile Justice

  • Chief Secretary's Department

    (1855–1979)

    • (i) Department of Reformatory Schools (1866–1887)

      Administered industrial schools for neglected children and reformatory schools for convicted juveniles.

    • (ii) Department of Reformatory Schools (1887–1954)

      Responsibility for convicted juveniles only.

    • (iii) Children's Welfare Department (1954–1961)

      Responsibility for juvenile offenders and juvenile schools (formerly reformatory schools.

    • (iv) Social Welfare Branch (1961–1971)
  • Social Welfare Department

    (1971–78)

    1. Family Welfare Division (1965–1978)
    2. Youth Welfare Division (1965–1978)
  • Health Commission of Victoria

    (1978–1985)

  • Department of Health II

    (1985–1992)

  • Department of Health and Community Services

    (1992–96)

  • Department of Human Services II

    (2010–14)

  • Department of Health and Human Services

    (2015– 2021)

  • Department of Justice and Community Safety

    (2021– )

Vulnerable children

  • Chief Secretary's Department

    (1855–1979)

    • (i) Department of Reformatory Schools (1866–1887)
      Administered industrial schools for neglected children and reformatory schools for convicted juveniles.
    • (ii) Department for Neglected Children (1887–1924)
      Responsibility for neglected children
    • (iii) Children's Welfare Department (1924–1961)
    • (iv) Social Welfare Branch (1961–1971)
    • (v) Department of Community Welfare Services (1979–1985)
  • Community Services Victoria

    (1986–1992)

  • Department of Health and Community Services

    (1992–96)

  • Department of Human Services

    (1996–2010)

  • Department of Human Services II

    (2010–14)

  • Department of Health and Human Services

    (2015– 2021)

  • Department of Families, Fairness and Housing

    (2021– )

Updated