# Minister for Children and Families

The Northern Territory Minister for Territory Families is a Minister of the Crown in the Government of the Northern Territory. The minister administers their portfolio through Territory Families.
The Minister is responsible for child guardianship, child protection, children and families policy, children's services, family and parent support services, family responsibility agreements and orders, family violence services, men's and women's policy, multicultural affairs, pensioner and carer concessions, out of home care, the Seniors Card, seniors policy, youth affairs and services and youth detention.
The former minister is Dale Wakefield (Labor). She was sworn in on 12 September 2016 following the Labor victory at the 2016 election. The ministry and department were both created in a reorganisation by the incoming government, which was significant for having separated youth justice from adult correctional services for the first time following the Don Dale Youth Detention Centre scandal and subsequent Royal Commission into Juvenile Detention in the Northern Territory.
The enlarged Territory Families ministry replaced a number of separate ministries from the preceding Giles Ministry, including the ministers for children and families, women's policy, men's policy, multicultural affairs, Senior Territorians and Young Territorians. The Minister for Children in the Gunner Ministry is a new position concerned with "whole of government children's policy", while specific areas of child-related policy lie in Territory Families.

## List of ministers
### Territory families

| Minister | Minister | Party | Term | Ministerial title |
| | Dale Wakefield | Labor | 12 September 2016 – 7 September 2020 | Minister for Territory Families |
| | Kate Worden | Labor | 8 September 2020 – Present | Minister for Territory Families and Urban Housing |

### Children and families / family and community services

| Minister | Minister | Party | Term | Ministerial title |
| | Don Dale | Country Liberal | 19 March 1987 – 27 July 1989 | Minister for Health and Community Services |
| | Marshall Perron | Country Liberal | 31 July 1989 – 3 September 1989 | Minister for Health and Community Services |
| | Stephen Hatton | Country Liberal | 4 September 1989 – 12 November 1990 | Minister for Health and Community Services |
| | Daryl Manzie | Country Liberal | 13 November 1990 - 29 November 1992 | Minister for Health and Community Services |
| | Mike Reed | Country Liberal | 30 November 1992 – 30 June 1995 | Minister for Health and Community Services |
| 1 July 1995 – 14 September 1997: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Denis Burke | Country Liberal | 15 September 1997 – 8 February 1999 | Minister for Health, Family and Children's Services |
| | Stephen Dunham | Country Liberal | 9 February 1999 – 26 August 2001 | Minister for Health, Family and Children's Services |
| | Jane Aagaard | Labor | 27 August 2001 – 12 November 2003 | Minister for Health, Family and Children's Services |
| | Jane Aagaard | Labor | 13 November 2001 – 14 December 2003 | Minister for Health and Community Services |
| | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | 15 December 2003 – 10 July 2005 | Minister for Family and Community Services |
| | Delia Lawrie | Labor | 11 July 2005 – 6 August 2007 | Minister for Family and Community Services |
| | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | 7 August 2007 – 30 June 2008 | Minister for Family and Community Services |
| | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | 1 July 2008 – 17 August 2008 | Minister for Children and Families |
| | Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor | 18 August 2008 – 3 December 2009 | Minister for Children and Families |
| | Kon Vatskalis | Labor | 4 December 2009 – 28 August 2012 | Minister for Children and Families |
| | Robyn Lambley | Country Liberal | 4 September 2012 – 5 March 2013 | Minister for Children and Families |
| | Alison Anderson | Country Liberal | 6 March 2013 – 9 September 2013 | Minister for Children and Families |
| | John Elferink | Country Liberal | 14 March 2013 – 27 August 2016 | Minister for Children and Families |
| | Michael Gunner | Labor | 31 August 2016 – 11 September 2016 | Minister for Children and Families |
| | Nicole Manison | Labor | 12 September 2016 – 25 June 2018 | Minister for Children |
| | Michael Gunner | Labor | 26 June 2018 – 7 September 2020 | Minister for Children |
| | Lauren Moss | Labor | 8 September 2020 – Present | Minister for Children |

### Women

| Minister | Minister | Party | Term | Ministerial title |
| | Shane Stone | CLP | 15 September 1997 – 8 February 1999 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| | Denis Burke | CLP | 9 February 1999 – 26 August 2001 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| | Clare Martin | Labor | 27 August 2001 – 10 July 2005 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | 11 July 2005 – 17 August 2008 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| | Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor | 18 August 2008 – 28 August 2012 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| | Robyn Lambley | CLP | 4 September 2012 – 5 March 2013 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| | Alison Anderson | CLP | 6 March 2013 – 9 September 2013 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| | Bess Price | CLP | 15 September 2013 – 27 August 2016 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| | Michael Gunner | Labor | 31 August 2016 – 11 September 2016 | Minister for Women's Policy |
| 12 September 2016 – 7 September 2020: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Lauren Moss | Labor | 8 September 2020 – Present |

### Multicultural affairs

| Minister | Minister | Party | Term | Ministerial title |
| | Nick Dondas | Country Liberal | 1 December 1982 – 12 December 1983 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Nick Dondas | Country Liberal | 13 December 1983 – 20 December 1984 | Minister for Health, Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Jim Robertson | Country Liberal | 13 December 1983 – 19 August 1985 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Ray Hanrahan | Country Liberal | 20 August 1985 – 28 April 1986 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Don Dale | Country Liberal | 29 April 1986 – 18 March 1987 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| 19 March 1987 – 3 September 1989: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Roger Vale | Country Liberal | 4 September 1989 – 12 November 1990 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Roger Vale | Country Liberal | 13 November 1990 – 29 November 1992 | Minister for Sport, Recreation, Ethnic Affairs and Local Government |
| | Eric Poole | Country Liberal | 30 November 1992 – 15 September 1993 | Minister for Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Shane Stone | Country Liberal | 16 September 1993 – 20 June 1996 | Minister for Ethnic Affairs |
| | Stephen Hatton | Country Liberal | 21 June 1996 – 14 September 1997 | Minister for Ethnic Affairs |
| | Mick Palmer | Country Liberal | 15 September 1997 – 3 August 1999 | Minister for Ethnic Affairs |
| | Peter Adamson | Country Liberal | 4 August 1999 – 26 August 2001 | Minister for Ethnic Affairs |
| | Kon Vatskalis | Labor | 27 August 2001 – 9 December 2004 | Minister for Ethnic Affairs |
| | Kon Vatskalis | Labor | 9 December 2004 – 31 August 2006 | Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| | Delia Lawrie | Labor | 1 September 2006 – 6 August 2007 | Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| | Paul Henderson | Labor | 7 August 2007 – 28 August 2012 | Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| | Terry Mills | Country Liberal | 29 August 2012 – 13 March 2013 | Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| | Peter Styles | Country Liberal | 14 March 2013 – 27 August 2016 | Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| | Michael Gunner | Labor | 31 August 2016 – 11 September 2016 |
| 12 September 2016 – 20 December 2018: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Nicole Manison | Labor | 21 December 2018 – 7 September 2020 | Minister for Multicultural Affairs |
| | Kate Worden | Labor | 8 September 2020 – Present | Minister for Multicultural Affairs |

### Senior territorians

| Minister | Minister | Party | Term | Ministerial title |
| | Denis Burke | Country Liberal | 15 September 1997 – 8 February 1999 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Stephen Dunham | Country Liberal | 9 February 1999 – 26 August 2001 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Clare Martin | Labor | 27 August 2001 – 10 July 2005 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | 11 July 2005 – 29 November 2007 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Matthew Bonson | Labor | 30 November 2007 – 17 August 2008 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor | 18 August 2008 – 5 August 2009 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Gerry McCarthy | Labor | 6 August 2009 – 3 December 2009 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Rob Knight | Labor | 4 December 2009 – 28 August 2012 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Terry Mills | Country Liberal | 29 August 2012 – 6 March 2013 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Lia Finocchiaro | Country Liberal | 7 March 2013 – 13 March 2013 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Peter Styles | Country Liberal | 14 March 2013 – 11 December 2014 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Gary Higgins | Country Liberal | 12 December 2014 – 10 February 2015 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Peter Styles | Country Liberal | 11 February 2015 – 27 August 2016 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| | Michael Gunner | Labor | 31 August 2016 – 11 September 2016 | Minister for Senior Territorians |
| 12 September 2016 – 7 September 2020: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Lauren Moss | Labor | 8 September 2020 – Present | Minister for Seniors |

### Young territorians

| Minister | Minister | Party | Term | Ministerial title |
| | Nick Dondas | Country Liberal | 2 January 1979 - 30 June 1980 | Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation |
| 1 July 1980 – 31 December 1980: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Nick Dondas | Country Liberal | 1 January 1981 – 25 January 1982 | Minister for Youth, Sport and Recreation |
| 26 January 1982 – 30 November 1982: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Nick Dondas | Country Liberal | 1 December 1982 – 12 December 1983 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Nick Dondas | Country Liberal | 13 December 1983 – 20 December 1984 | Minister for Health, Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Jim Robertson | Country Liberal | 13 December 1983 – 19 August 1985 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Ray Hanrahan | Country Liberal | 20 August 1985 – 28 April 1986 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| | Don Dale | Country Liberal | 29 April 1986 – 18 March 1987 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| 19 March 1987 – 3 September 1989: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Roger Vale | Country Liberal | 4 September 1989 – 12 November 1990 | Minister for Youth, Sport, Recreation and Ethnic Affairs |
| 13 November 1990 – 14 September 1997: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Shane Stone | Country Liberal | 15 September 1997 – 8 February 1999 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Denis Burke | Country Liberal | 9 February 1999 – 26 August 2001 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Clare Martin | Labor | 27 August 2001 – 10 July 2005 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Marion Scrymgour | Labor | 11 July 2005 – 29 November 2007 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Matthew Bonson | Labor | 30 November 2007 – 17 August 2008 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor | 18 August 2008 – 5 August 2009 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Gerry McCarthy | Labor | 6 August 2009 – 3 December 2009 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Rob Knight | Labor | 4 December 2009 – 28 August 2012 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Terry Mills | Country Liberal | 29 August 2012 – 6 March 2013 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Lia Finocchiaro | Country Liberal | 7 March 2013 – 13 March 2013 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Peter Styles | Country Liberal | 14 March 2013 – 14 February 2016 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Nathan Barrett | Country Liberal | 15 February 2016 – 18 July 2016 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Gary Higgins | Country Liberal | 19 July 2016 – 7 August 2016 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| | Michael Gunner | Labor | 31 August 2016 – 11 September 2016 | Minister for Young Territorians |
| 12 September 2016 – 7 September 2020: no minister – responsibilities held by other ministers |||||
| | Lauren Moss | Labor | 8 September 2020 – Present | Minister for Youth |

## Former posts
### Child protection

| Minister | Party | Term | Ministerial title |
| Marion Scrymgour | Labor | 7 August 2007 – 17 August 2008 | Minister for Child Protection |
| Malarndirri McCarthy | Labor | 18 August 2008 – 3 December 2009 | Minister for Child Protection |
| Kon Vatskalis | Labor | 4 December 2009 – 28 August 2012 | Minister for Child Protection |
| Terry Mills | Country Liberal | 29 August 2012 – 3 September 2012 | Minister for Child Protection |

### Men's policy

| Minister | Minister | Party | Term | Ministerial title |
| | Bess Price | CLP | 12 December 2014 – 27 August 2016 | Minister for Men's Policy |
| | Michael Gunner | Labor | 31 August 2016 – 11 September 2016 | Minister for Men's Policy |