Department of Education (1984–1987)

The Department of Education was an Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and July 1987. It was the second so-named Australian government department.

Department of Education

Department overview
Formed	13 December 1984
Preceding Department	Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (I) – for matters relating to overseas students Department of Education and Youth Affairs – for education other than migrant adult education
Dissolved	24 July 1987
Superseding agency	Department of the Arts, Sport, the Environment, Tourism and Territories – for the Canberra College of Advanced Education Act 1967 and the remainder of the Commonwealth Teaching Service Act 1972 Department of Employment, Education and Training – for education other than migrant adult education; ACT local education
Jurisdiction	Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters	Canberra
Minister responsible	Susan Ryan, Minister
Department executives	Dick Johnson, Secretary (1984–1985) Helen Williams, Secretary (1985–1987)

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 National Archives of Australia, at its creation, the department was responsible for education, other than migrant adult education.

Structure

The department was an Australian Public Service department, staffed by officials who were responsible to the Minister for Education, Susan Ryan.

The department was headed by a secretary, initially Dick Johnson (1984‑1985) and subsequently Helen Williams (1985‑1987). When Williams earned her secretary appointment, she was the first woman to be elevated to a position at the head of an Australian government department.