In 1983 the Department of Social Welfare changed its name to Department for Community Welfare to more accurately reflect its change in perspective and the widening conception of welfare services. This involved taking on a range of programmes which aimed to be preventative and supportive and to increase the general well-being of the community instead of just responding to crisis situations. These changes were reflected in the Department's structure which became officially regionalised in January 1982. The name change was first realised in the Tasmanian Government Gazette of 6 April 1983 p.533 with a list of Public Service Board positions approved for creation in the new department on 24 February 1983. The Department was amalgamated with the Housing Department on 17 July 1989 to form the new Department of Community Services. At the same time its Multicultural Affairs and Aboriginal Affairs Sections were transferred to the Department of Premier and Cabinet.~