AGY-1821 | Aboriginal Services Branch [Department of Community Services]

Full description

The Aboriginal Services Branch of the Department of Community Services was established on 1 July, 1975 to provide services to Aboriginal people other than those transferred to the Commonwealth Government (1)

"The functions of the agency included:
(i) arranging for the transfer of Aboriginal reserves to the Aboriginal Lands Trust
(ii) servicing of the Aborigines Advisory Council
(iii) Co-ordination of funds supplied by the Commonwealth to the Department of Aboriginal Advancement
(iv) Servicing residual and furniture and home loans
(v) management of tenancy and other matters relating to Aboriginal Reserves awaiting transfer to the Aboriginal Lands Trust.
Responsibility for the Administration of the Aboriginal Dental Scheme and the Aboriginal Ambulance Scheme was transferred to the Health Commission of New South Wales." (2)

On 2 October 1981 (3) a Minister for Aboriginal Affairs was appointed and a Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs was created by 1982. (4)

Endnotes
1. Annual Report of the Department of Youth and Community Services, year ended 30 June 1976, p.13 Parliamentary Papers 1976-77-78, Vol.12, p.1267.
2. Annual Report of the Department of Youth and Community Services, year ended 30 June 1976, p.32 Parliamentary Papers 1976-77-78, Vol.12, p.1286.
3. New South Wales Government Gazette No.146, 2 October 1981, Vol.4, p.5233.
4. New South Wales Government Directory, Third edition 1982, p.39.