The Department of Education (CA 1478) was created by Executive Council Minute No. 47 on 19 December 1972, taking over the education functions of the former Department of Education and Science (CA 116).
 
At the regional level the Department of Education and Science, State Office, NSW (CA 1604) was abolished and its education functions taken over by the Department of Education, New South Wales.
 
The Regional Director of the Department of Education and Science State Office, NSW, Mr. G. Green, was appointed as Regional Director of the Department of Education, New South Wales.
 
The main functions of the NSW Office were as follows:
 
 a. the administration of individual awards under the various schemes
    of assistance available to Australian students;
 
 b. the administration of the training of overseas students
    studying at Australian educational institutions under a number of
    international schemes and under schemes sponsored by certain
    overseas governments;
 
 c. liaison with the Department of Immigration and Foreign Affairs in
    relation to overseas students in Australia;
 
 d. provision of professional education advice regarding overseas
    students;
 
 e. liaison with the State educational department, tertiary
    institutions and non-government schools;
 
 f. administration of the Australian Government's programme of
    grants for recurrent expenditure to non-government schools;
 
 g. investigation and reporting on applications from organizations
    for assistance under the Child Care Scheme;
 
 h. responsibility for arranging the programmes of visiting
    scholars and fellows fron non-aid countries;
 
 i. provision of education programme for migrants in association and
    consultation with state departments;
 
 j. conducting surveys and investigations for and on behalf of 
    the Central Office of the Department;
 
 k. the teaching of English to overseas students preparing to
    undertake courses of study in Australia and to foreign
    government officials.
 
Significant developments in Government education policy during 1974 resulted in some major changes in the responsibilities of the State offices. The following responsibilities were transferred to other departments:
 
 a. administration of grants to establish and maintain child-care
    centres was transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister 
    and Cabinet;
 
 b. responsibility for the pastoral care of overseas students from
    aid countries studying in Australia under the sponsorship of
    their home governments was transferred to the Australian
    Development Assistance Agency, Department of Foreign Affairs;  

 c. responsibility for the ex-servicemen training schemes was
    transferred to the Department of Labor and Immigration (CA 1769).
 
In addition the following new responsibilities were assumed by the State offices:
 
 a. supervising the academic progress of private overseas 
   students in Australia;
 
 b. implementation of the new Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme
 
The main types of records created by the Department of Education, New South Wales Office consist of case and policy files, relating to:
 
 (1) scholarship schemes;
 
 (2) assistance schemes;
 
 (3) private overseas students scheme;
 
 (4) vocational training schemes;
 
 (5) Aboriginal grants scheme; and
 
 (6) postgraduate awards.
 
The Department of Education, Branch Office, NSW was abolished 
on 11 March 1983. Its functions were taken over by the new
Department of Education and Youth Affairs (CA 3494).
Historical agency address
1972-1973: La Salle Building, Cnr Castlereagh & King Streets, Sydney
1973-1983: Sydney Plaza Building, 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney
Legislation administered
Creation: Executive Council Minute (Public Service Board Minute No. 47, 19 December 1972) Executive Council Minute (Public Service Board Minute No. 16 of 1973 ) Abolition: Executive Council Meeting of 11 March 1983.