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,[2] but did not become fully operative until 1941.[3]
Scope
Information about the department's functions and 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:[1]
Allowances for wives and children of invalid pensioners
Child endowment
Compassionate allowances to persons ineligible for invalid, old-age and widows' pensions and maternity allowances
Compensation or pensions to, or in respect of, ex-members of the Civil Constructional Corps, ex-civil defence workers, and civilians who suffered war injury
Reception and aftercare of evacuees and ex-internees
Funeral benefit for invalid and old-age pensioners