The
first Department of Health was established in 1921 and was the precursor to today's Department of Health. It was dissolved in 1987, when it was merged with the Department of Community Services to form the
Department of Community Services and Health. In June 1991, the
Department of Health, Housing and Community Services was formed when housing industry programs were transferred from the
Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce. In March 1993 the
Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs joined with the Department of Health, Housing and Community Services to form the
Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services. Subsequently, in December 1993, the department was abolished and replaced with the
Department of Human Services and Health. Also in 1994, the
Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health was established. The department also had responsibility for the
Supported Accommodation Assistance Program from the former
Department of Housing and Regional Development. Later, the department assumed responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health matters from the
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission. Responsibility for Family and Children's Services, Disability Programs and the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service were transferred to the
Department of Family and Community Services on 22 October 1998. The Australian Federal Department of Health and Ageing was abolished in 2013 and replaced by the Australian Federal Department of Health on 18 September 2013 by way of an
Administrative Arrangements Order issued by the
governor-general on the recommendation of the
Abbott government. On 1 July 2022, the Department of Health became the Department of Health and Aged Care following an Administrative Arrangements Order made by the governor-general. The departmental news release explained this as reflecting the "importance of aged care to the community, and the department's focus on aged care reform" following the
Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. On 13 May 2025, the department was renamed Department of Health, Disability and Ageing following another Administrative Arrangements Order. The
National Disability Insurance Scheme and Foundational Supports were also transferred from the
Department of Social Services to the newly renamed department. Sport and recreation policy and functions were transferred to the
Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. ==Overview==