The Department of Human Services (also called DHS) is a department of the Government of Australia charged with responsibility for delivering a range of welfare, public aid, health and other services to the people of Australia.
The Department of Human Services delivers its services through a portfolio of two organisations and three departmental master programs:
- Australian Hearing - a statutory authority providing hearing services
- Centrelink - a departmental master program administering the Australian Government’s income support system
- Child Support - a departmental master program providing support to separated parents
- CRS Australia - a DHS business unit providing disability employment services
- Medicare Australia - a departmental master program delivering health programs to Australians
The head of the department is the Secretary of the Department of Human Services, currently Kathryn Campbell CSC, who is responsible to the Minister for Human Services, currently the Hon. Christian Porter MP.
History
The Department of Human Services was created on 26 October 2004 as part of the Australian Government's Finance and Administration portfolio. At the time of the department's creation, it incorporated the Child Support Agency and CRS Australia.
The Human Services Legislation Amendment Act 2011 integrated the services of Centrelink, Medicare Australia and CRS Australia into the Department of Human Services, with effect from 1 July 2011.
The Secretary at the Department's establishment in 2004 was Patricia Scott. Helen Williams was appointed Secretary of the Department in 2007. Finn Pratt succeeded Williams in September 2009 after her retirement from the public service.
Responsibilities
Currently, the Department of Human Services is responsible for administering the following Australian legislation.
- Australian Hearing Services Act 1991
- Human Services (Centrelink) Act 1997
- Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973
See also
- List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities
- Minister for Human Services
References
