The Department of Youth and Community Services is one of the names given to the Department which, in 2013, was known as Community Services. It was the second time the Department was known by this name, which was first used in 1973-1975, before it was changed to Youth, Ethnic and Community Affairs (1975-1976). In 1988 the name of the Department was changed again to the Department of Family and Community Services.
From July 1986 until March 1988 the Minister for the Department of Youth and Community Services was John Aquilina. He had a policy of deinstitutionalisation, so closed down a number of children’s institutions and homes.
In March 1988 the New South Wales Government changed from Labor, headed by Neville Wran, to Liberal, headed by Nick Greiner. The new government created the Department of Family and Community Services.
