Early administrative period The first body of the NSW Government specifically dealing with Aboriginal affairs was the
Board for the Protection of Aborigines (BPA; also known as the Aboriginal Protection Board), which followed practice of "protection" taken by the
Australian colonies when it was established by an
Executive Council minute of 2 June 1883. The board had six members appointed by the
Governor of New South Wales, with the
Inspector-General of Police serving
ex officio as chairman. The board was reconstituted by the
Aborigines Protection Act 1909, which took effect on 1 June 1910, and was placed under the supervision of the
Colonial Secretary and his Department (from 1959 the Chief Secretary), with its stated purpose being "to exercise a general supervision and care over all matters affecting the interest and welfare of Aborigines, and to protect them against injustice, imposition and fraud".) was constituted under the
Aborigines Protection (Amendment) Act 1940, which commenced on 14 June 1940. This board, like its predecessor, had power over the administration and placement of Aboriginal communities, the education of Aborigines and their general welfare. The AWB was dissolved on 2 June 1969 by the
Aborigines Act 1969, to be replaced by the
Aborigines Welfare Directorate, within the
Department of Child Welfare and Social Welfare (Department of Youth and Community Services from 1 February 1974). The Directorate was abolished on 1 July 1975, with most of its functions being transferred to the Commonwealth
Department of Aboriginal Affairs. The remaining state responsibilities were then transferred to the new
Aboriginal Services Branch which operated within the Department of Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs (renamed Department of Youth and Community Services from 14 May 1976).
Ministerial period The first Minister for Aboriginal Affairs,
Frank Walker, was appointed by the Labor Government of
Neville Wran on 2 October 1981 and a
Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs was established on 1 January 1982. The ministry had responsibilities for advising the Government on "how and where land rights for Aboriginal people might be granted" and for the provision of services to Aboriginal communities. On 15 April 1988, the Ministry was abolished and its responsibilities were transferred to the new
Bureau of Aboriginal Affairs within the
Premier's Department. The Bureau was renamed to the
Office of Aboriginal Affairs by June 1988 and was charged with the administration of the Aboriginal Land Rights Act, 1983 (NSW) and the administration of Aboriginal Land Councils. On 1 July 1993, the Office of Aboriginal Affairs was established as an administrative office independent of the Premier's Department responsible to the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs. On 6 April 1995 the Office was abolished and was transferred to the
Department of Aboriginal Affairs. On 1 July 2009 the Department was abolished as an independent body and was subordinated to the new
Department of Human Services. On 4 April 2011, the Department was renamed
Aboriginal Affairs NSW and was transferred to the
Department of Education and Communities within the Office of Communities. In July 2015 the Office of Communities was abolished but Aboriginal Affairs remained within the parent Department of Education. In 2019 Aboriginal Affairs was moved into the
Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Agency executives •
Secretary, Board for the Protection of Aborigines • A. C. Pettitt, 1909–1939 •
Superintendent of Aborigines Welfare • A. W. G. Lipscombe, 1939–1953 • M. H. Saxby, 1953–1958 • H. J. Green, 1959–1969 •
Director of Aboriginal Welfare • Ian Mitchell, 1969–1975 •
Secretary of the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs •
Pat O'Shane, 1981–1986 •
Neville Perkins, 1987–1988 •
Director, Bureau/Office of Aboriginal Affairs • Keith Kocken, 1988–1993 •
Director General, Office of Aboriginal Affairs • Mike Stewart, 1993–1995 •
Director General, Department of Aboriginal Affairs • Mike Stewart, 1995 • Geoff Scott, 1995–2000 •
Linda Burney, 2000–2003 • Jody Broun, 2003–2010 • James Christian, 2010–2011 •
General Manager, Aboriginal Affairs NSW • James Christian, 2011–2012 •
Head of Aboriginal Affairs • Jason Ardler, 5 June 2012 – December 2019 • Lillian Gordon, January 2020 – July 2022 •
Deputy Secretary, Aboriginal Affairs NSW • Shane Hamilton, July 2022 – present ==Agency responsibilities==