The Community Services Department was established on 31 May 1984, when the Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984 and the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984 were passed. It was previously known as the Aboriginal and Islanders Advancement Department, with the new department the policy was changed to promote equal opportunity in the Queensland Community for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. The Department ran the Kowanyama Mission from 1984 to 1987. In 1987, the name of the Department was changed by proclamation to the Department of Community Services and Ethnic Affairs.
The Department of Community Services was established on 31 May 1984 when the Community Services (Aborigines) Act 1984 and the Community Services (Torres Strait) Act 1984 were passed. The policy of the time promoted “responsible participation and equal opportunity in the Queensland Community” for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. These Acts facilitated the establishment of local-authority type Councils. The democratically elected Community Councils had increased responsibilities, their main function being the making of recommendations to the Minister on matters of progress, development and wellbeing of the people they represented.
The name of the Department of Community Services was changed by proclamation on 14 December 1987, to Department of Community Services and Ethnic Affairs.