The Department of Education (CA 1478) was renamed the Department of Eduction and Youth Affairs on 11 March 1983 by a meeting of the Federal Executive Council (notified in Commonwealth Gazette, No S45, 11 March 1983). In this Press Statement of 10 March 1983 the Prime Minister Designate, the Hon R J Hawke made the following comment:  

 "Co-ordination of the prices and incomes policy will be the 
 responsibility of the Minister for Employment and Industrial
 Relations (Mr Willis). With these added responsibilities it seemed 
 appropriate to move Youth Affairs from Employment and Industrial
 Relations [II] (CA 3255) to Education, to ensure that proper
 attention can be devoted to policies affecting our Youth."
 
The Administrative Arrangements Orders of 11 March 1983
(notification in Commonwealth Gazette, No S46, 11 March 1983) stated that the Department of Education and Youth Affairs would be
responsible for the following `principal matters':
 
. Education, other than migrant adult education
. Youth Affairs.
 
The same source stated that the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs would administer the following legislation:
 
. Australian National University Act 1946
. Canberra College of Advanced Education Act 1967
. Commonwealth Schools Commission Act 1973
. Commonwealth Tertiary Service Act 1972
. Commonwealth Tertiary Education Commission Act 1977
. Curriculum Development Centre Act 1975
. Education Research Act 1970
. Immigration (Education) Act 1971, except to the extent administered
  by the Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs
. Independant Schools (Loans Guarantee) Act 1969
. Maritime College Act 1978
. Non-government Schools (Loans Guarantee) Act 1977
. States Grants (Advanced Education) Acts
. States Grants (Advanced Education Assistance) Act 1976
. States Grants (Independant Schools) Act 1969
. States Grants (Pre-school Teachers Colleges) Act 1968
. States Grants (School) Act
. States Grants (Schools Assistance) Acts
. States Grants (Technical and Further Education) Act 1974
. States Grants (Technical and Further Assistance) Act 1976
. States Grants (Technical Training) Act 1971
. States Grants (Tertiary Education Assistance) Acts
. States Grants (Universities) Act
. States Grants (Universities Assistance) Act 1976
. Student Grants (Universities Assistance) Act 1976
. Student Assistance Act 1973
. Student Assistance (Loans Guarantee and Subsidy) Act 1982
. Universities (Financial Assistance) Acts.
 
In the Administrative Arrangements Orders of 1 March 1984,
(Commonwealth Gazette, No S83, 1 March 1984) the Minister for Education and Youth Affairs became responsible for administering a new piece of legislation, the States Grants (Education Assistance - Participation and Equity) Act 1983.
 
In the Administrative changes of 13 December 1984 (as notified in Commonwealth Gazette, No S520, 13 December 1984) the Department of Education and Youth Affairs was renamed the Department of Education [II] (CA 4134). The Office of Youth Affairs was transferred to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (CA 1401). In his Media Release of 11 December 1984, the Prime Minister said that the change was part of an effort to improve and more effectively integrate the Government's policies for youth. He also said that the office would function in the same way as the office of the Status of Women.  

Minister for the Department of Education and Youth Affairs was:  

11 Mar 1983 - 13 Dec 1984   : Hon Susan Maree Ryan.
 
She was also Minister assisting the Prime Minister for the Office of the Status of Women.
 
Secretaries to the Department were:
 
11 Mar 1983 - 25 Mar 1983   : K N Jones
25 Mar 1983 -  1 Nov 1983   : Dr P Wilenski
 1 Nov 1983 -  5 Apr 1984   : H R Williams (acting)
 5 Apr 1984 - 13 Dec 1984   : Prof R Johnson.
Historical agency address
MLC Tower, Phillip ACT
Legislation administered
Creation: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. S45, 11 March, 1983
Abolition: Commonwealth of Australia Gazette, No. S520, 13 December,1984