Department of Health (1921–87)

Department of Health
Department overview
Formed 7 March 1921[1]
Dissolved 24 July 1987[1]
Superseding agency Department of Community Services and Health
Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia
Department executives John Cumpston, Director‑General (1921‑45)
Frank McCallum, Director‑General (1945‑46)
Arthur Metcalfe, Director‑General (1946‑60)
William Refshauge, Director‑General (1960‑73)
Gwyn Howells, Director‑General (1973‑82)
Lawrie Willett, Director‑General (1983‑84)
Bernard McKay, Secretary (1984‑87)

The Department of Health was an Australian government department that existed between March 1921 and July 1987.

In 1987, the Department of Health was merged with the Department of Community Services to form the Department of Community Services and Health.[2]

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 1921 Order of Council, reproduced by the National Archives of Australia, the Department was responsible for:[1]

Structure

The Department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Health.[1]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 CA 17: Department of Health, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 15 December 2013
  2. Department of Health, History of the Department, Department of Health, archived from the original on 9 November 2013