The Public Health Department was established by the Public Health Act 1903 following an outbreak of smallpox in Launceston. It was located in the Chief Secretary's Office until 1934 when it acquired its own government Minister and expanded rapidly.
The Mental Deficiency Board and State Psychological Clinic, established by the Mental Deficiency Act of 1920, were associated with the Department.
In 1945, the Public Health Administration Act, also of 1945, created four Divisions of the Department. These were Public Health, Hospital and Medical Services, Mental Hygiene, and Tuberculosis.
In 1949, the Public Health Department took over the management of the Mothercraft Home from the Child Welfare Association.
The Department also ran St John's Park, and the Mental Diseases Hospital at New Norfolk, along with its successor, Lachlan Park Hospital.
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Last updated:
23 October 2018
Cite this: http://www.findandconnect.gov.au/guide/tas/TE00580
First published by the Find & Connect Web Resource Project for the Commonwealth of Australia, 2011
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