Department of Social Services (Australia)

The Department of Social Services (DSS) is a department of the Government of Australia charged with the responsibility for national policies and programs that help deliver a strong and fair society for all Australians. The department develops and implements social policy.

This article is about the department of the Australian Government that develops social policy. For the executive agency that operates federal welfare programs, see Services Australia. For the historical Department of Social Services from 1939–1972, see Department of Social Services (1939–72).

Department of Social Services

The head office of the Department of Social Services, located in Greenway, Canberra
Department overview
Formed18 September 2013 (2013-09-18)[1]
Preceding department
JurisdictionAustralian Government
Employees2,305 (2017–18)[2]
Ministers responsible
Department executive
Child agencies
Websitedss.gov.au

The head of the department is the Secretary of the Department of Social Services, currently Ray Griggs,[3][4] who reports to the Minister for Families and Social Services.

The head office of the department is located in the Australian Capital Territory suburb of Greenway.

History

The department was formed by way of an Administrative Arrangements Order issued on 18 September 2013[5] and replaced the majority of the functions previously performed by the former Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA); with the exception of Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, that was transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.[6][7][8]

Operational activities

In an Administrative Arrangements Order made on 18 September 2013, the functions of the department were broadly classified into the following matters:[5]

  • Ageing research
  • Income security and support policies and programs for families with children, carers, the aged, people with disabilities and people in hardship
  • Income support policies for students and apprentices
  • Services for families with children, people with disabilities and carers
  • Services for older people, including their carers
  • Policy for and promotion of active ageing, other than employment policy
  • Community mental health
  • Community support services
  • Family relationship, Family and Children's Support Services
  • Social housing, rent assistance and homelessness
  • Child support policy
  • Housing affordability
  • Services to help people with disabilities obtain employment
  • Arrangements for the settlement of migrants and humanitarian entrants, other than migrant child and migrant adult education
  • Non-profit sector and volunteering
  • Multicultural affairs

Secretary of the Department

The Secretary of the Department Social Services is the head of the department, also known as the secretary of the level of Senior Executive Service Band 4 in the Australian Public Service as per the Public Service Act 1999.

NamePostnominal(s)Term beganTerm endedTime in Appointment
Secretary
Finn Pratt[9]AO, PSM18 September 201318 September 20185 years, 0 days
Major General Kathryn CampbellAO, CSC18 September 201822 July 20212 years, 307 days
Vice Admiral Raymond GriggsAO, CSC, RAN22 July 2021Incumbent2 years, 95 days

See also

References
  1. CA 9434: Department of Social Services [II], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 9 February 2021
  2. Australian Public Service Commission (2018), Leading and shaping a unified, high performing APS, archived from the original on 5 October 2014
  3. "Secretary". Department of Education. October 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  4. Prime Minister of Australia. "Announcement of New Department Secretaries". pm.gov.au. Retrieved 9 July 2021.
  5. "Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2013.
  6. Packham, Ben (18 September 2013). "Tony Abbott puts broom through bureaucracy". The Australian. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  7. Abbott, Tony (18 September 2013). "The Coalition will restore strong, stable and accountable government". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Press release). Canberra, Australia: Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  8. Wilson, Lauren (19 September 2013). "Coalition carves up the public service". The Australian. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  9. "Finn Pratt AO PSM | Former Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries".
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