Department of Community Services

Not to be confused with NSW Department of Community Services.

The Department of Community Services was an Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and July 1987.

Department of Community Services

Department overview
Formed	13 December 1984
Preceding Department	Department of Social Security – for the Office of Aged Care, Child Care and Disabled and the Social Welfare Policy Secretariat Department of Health (I) – for nursing homes, home nursing and assistance for the disabled
Dissolved	24 July 1987
Superseding agency	Department of Community Services and Health – for services for the aged, persons with disabilities, children; community support services Department of Social Security – for some pieces of legislation
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Phillip, Canberra
Ministers responsible	Don Grimes, Minister (1984–1987) Chris Hurford, Minister (1987)
Department executives	Tony Ayers, Acting Secretary (1984–1985) Mike Codd, Secretary (1985–1986) Alan Rose, Secretary (1986–1987)

Scope

Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the Department's annual reports.

At its creation, the Department was responsible for:

• Coordination of income security and community services policies
• Services for the aged, disabled people and children
• Community support services

Structure

The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Community Services, initially Don Grimes (until February 1987) and then Chris Hurford.