Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)

Department of Veterans' Affairs
Department overview
Formed 5 October 1976 (1976-10-05)
Preceding Department
Jurisdiction Commonwealth Government
Employees 2,055 (at April 2013)[1]
Minister responsible
Department executive
Child agencies
Website www.dva.gov.au
Footnotes
[2][3][4]

The Department of Veterans' Affairs is a department of the Government of Australia, established in 1976, and charged with the responsibility of delivering government programs for war veterans, members of the Australian Defence Force, members of the Australian Federal Police, and their dependants. The Repatriation Commission's Day-to-Day manager is the Department of Veterans' Affairs.

For administration purposes, the department forms part of the Defence portfolio.[5] The Minister for Defence acts on behalf of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs within the Cabinet.

The head of the department is the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, currently Simon Lewis PSM,[4] who is responsible to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Minister for Defence Personnel, and the Minister Assisting the Prime Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, currently the Hon. Darren Chester MP. The Secretary of the Department also has the responsibility of the Repatriation Commission.

Operational activities

The functions of the department are broadly classified into the following matters:[5]

  • Repatriation income support, compensation and health program for veterans, members of the Defence Force, certain mariners and their dependants
  • Commemorations, including promotion of understanding of Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans' Day
  • War graves
  • Defence Service Homes

Agencies

In carrying out its functions, the department administers the following agencies:[2][6][7][8]

Key legislation

The Department of Veterans' Affairs is responsible for administration of several key Acts:[9]

Key officeholders

Department secretary

The Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs is Simon Lewis, since July 2013.[10] In addition to his role of departmental secretary, he is also the President of the Repatriation Commission and Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.

Below is a full list of the Department's Secretaries since it was established.

Order Official Official title Date appointment
commenced		 Date appointment
ceased		 Term in office Notes
1Sir Richard KingslandSecretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs5 October 197619814–5 yearsserved as Secretary to the Repatriation Department since 1970
2Derek Volker198114 November 19864–5 years
3Noel Tanzer18 December 19861 March 19892 years, 73 days
4Lionel Woodward1 March 198926 April 19945 years, 56 days
5Allan Hawke199419961–2 years
6Neil Johnston11 March 199630 September 20048 years, 203 days
7Mark Sullivan26 October 200420083–4 years
8Ian Campbell22 September 20085 July 20134 years, 286 days
9Simon LewisJuly 2013incumbent5 years, 108 daysacting between May and July 2013

Other key officeholders

Other key officeholders in the department are the Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission, currently Major General Craig Orme; and the Repatriation Commissioner, currently Major General Mark Kelly.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Australian Public Service Commission (2 December 2013), State of the Service Report: State of the Service Series 2012–13 (PDF), Australian Public Service Commission, p. 254, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2013
  2. 1 2 CA 2107: Department of Veterans' Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
  3. ↑ Australian Government. "Budget Paper No. 1". 2013–14 Commonwealth Budget. Statement 6: Expenses and Net Capital Investment: Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013.
  4. 1 2 "The Secretary: Simon Lewis PSM". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  5. 1 2 "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 23 September 2013.
  6. ↑ CA 616: Australian War Memorial, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
  7. ↑ CA 4456: Office of Australian War Graves, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
  8. ↑ CA 225: Repatriation Commission [II], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
  9. ↑ "Legislation". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 13 July 2009. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  10. ↑ Gillard, Julia (5 April 2013). "Proposed Appointment of Departmental Secretary" (Press release). Archived from the original on 11 December 2013.
  11. ↑ "Our structure". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 5 August 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
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