The Department of Education and Youth Affairs was created with the movement of the responsibility for Youth Affairs from the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations on 11th March 1983.
 
The State office of the Department of Education (CA 1785) was replaced by the Department of Education and Youth Affairs, State Office. State offices were responsible for the administration of various schemes of assistance to students for including the Tertiary Education Assistance Scheme, Postgraduate Awards Scheme, Assistance for Isolated Children Scheme and Secondary Allowances Scheme. Support was also given to applicants for and holders of grants under various Aboriginal Grant Schemes, awards and grants available to overseas students, visitors and fellows were administered by the office, as was the checking and assessment of the academic progress of private overseas students.
 
With respect to youth affairs the functions were to administer the International Youth Exchange Program, assist in the interviewing and selection of students for participation in overseas programs, develop programs for exchange students and represent the office on the IYY Cooordinating Committee in the State.
 
The Department was abolished in December 1984 when the responsibility for Youth Affairs was moved to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabine
Historical agency address
       1983-by Apr 1984: 450 St Kilda Road, Melbourne
by Apr 1984-13 Dec 1984: 17 Yarra Street, Hawthorn Vic
Legislation administered
Creation :Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No S45, 11 March 1983
 Abolition : Commonwealth of Australia Gazette No S520, 13 December 1984