Department of Social Services (1939–72)


The Department of Social Services was an Australian government department that existed between April 1939 and December 1972.
The Department was established by the Menzies Government in 1939, but did not become fully operative until 1941.

Scope

Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation could be found in the Administrative Arrangements Orders, the annual Portfolio Budget Statements and in the Department's annual reports.
According to the Administrative Arrangements Order of 12 March 1947, the department was responsible for:
The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Social Services.