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Timeline government departments

Timeline of Victorian government departments

Timeline of Victorian government departments that have administered health, welfare and youth justice.

Please refer to the Timeline of departments PDF.


Hospital administration

  • Chief Secretary's Department, (1855-1979)

  • Charities Board of Victoria (included hospitals) (1923–48)

    Statutory Authority Administered by Treasurer 1923–44; by Minister of Health 1944–48
  • Hospitals and Charities Commission (1948–78)
    Statutory Authority within the Department of Health I 1944–78

  • Health Commission of Victoria (1978-1985)

  • Department of Health II (1985 - 1992)

  • Department of Health and Community Services (1992-1996)

  • Department of Human Services I (1996-2010)

  • Department of Health III (2010-2014)

  • Department of Health and Human Services (2015 - Current)


Public health

  • Chief Secretary's Department, (1855-1979)
  • (i) Central Board of Health (1855 – 1990) [Statutory Authority]
  • (ii) Board of Public Health (1890-1920) [Statutory Authority]
  • (iii) Commission of Public Health (1920-1978) [Statutory Authority]
  • Health Commission of Victoria (1978-1985)
  • Department of Health II (1985-1992)
  • Department of Health and Community Services (1992-1996)
  • Department of Human Services I (1996-2010)
  • Department of Health (2010-2014)
  • Department of Health and Human Services

Mental health

  • Chief Secretary's Department, (1855-1979)
  • (i) Hospitals for the Insane Branch (1867-1905)
  • (ii) Lunacy Department (1905-1934)
  • (iii) 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)
    (i) Branch in the Department of Health (1944-1952)
    (ii) Part of Mental Hygiene Authority (1952-1962) [Statutory Authority]
    (iii) 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 (1992-1996)
  • Department of Human Services (1996-2010)
  • Department of Health III (2010-2014)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (2015- Current)

Disability

  • Chief Secretary's Department, (1855-1979)
  • (i) Hospitals for the Insane Branch (1867-1905)
  • (ii) Lunacy Department (1905-1934)
  • (iii) Department of Mental Hygiene (1934-1944)
  • Department of Health I (1944-1978)
  • Department of Health I (1944-1978)
    Mental Hygiene Branch (1944-1978)
    (i) Branch in the Department of Health (1944-1952)
    (ii) Part of Mental Hygiene Authority (1952-1962) [Statutory Authority]
    (iii) 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 (1992-1996)
  • Department of Human Services (1996-2010)
  • Department of Human Services II (2010-2014)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (2015- Current)

Intellectual disability

  • Chief Secretary's Department, (1855-1979)
  • (i)Hospitals for the Insane Branch (1867-1905)
  • (ii)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)
    (i) Branch in the Department of Health (1944-1952)
    (ii) Part of Mental Hygiene Authority (1952-1962) [Statutory Authority]
    (iii) 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 (1992-1996)
  • Department of Human Services (1996-2010)
  • Department of Human Services II (2010-2014)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (2015- Current)


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 juveniles offenders and juvenile schools (formerly reformatory schools.)
  • (iv) Social Welfare Branch (1961-1971)
  • Social Welfare Department (1971-1978)
    (i) Family Welfare Division (1965-1978)
    (ii) Youth Welfare Division (1965-1978)
  • Health Commission of Victoria (1978-1985)
  • Department of Health II (1985-1992)
  • Department of Health and Community Services (1992-1996)
  • Department of Human Services (1996-2010)
  • Department of Human Services II (2010-2014)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (2015- Current)


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)Dept of Community Welfare Services (1979-1985)
  • Community Services Victoria (1986-1992)
  • Department of Health and Community Services (1992-1996)
  • Department of Human Services (1996-2010)
  • Department of Human Services II (2010-2014)
  • Department of Health and Human Services (2015- Current)

Reviewed 24 April 2019

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