Services Australia

Services Australia, formerly the Department of Human Services, is an Executive Agency of the Australian Government,[6] responsible for delivering a range of welfare, health, child support payments and other services to eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents. Services Australia delivers social security services through government programs and brands like Centrelink, Medicare, the PBS and Hearing Australia.[7] Eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents can access many of these services through a myGov account.

Services Australia

Services Australia's office at the Caroline Chisholm Centre in the ACT
Agency overview
Formed26 October 2004 (2004-10-26)[1]
Preceding
  • Department of Human Services
JurisdictionAustralia
HeadquartersForrest, Australian Capital Territory [2]
Employees34,757 (at June 2014)[3]
Minister responsible
Agency executive
  • Rebecca Skinner, Chief Executive Officer [5]
Child agencies
Websiteservicesaustralia.gov.au
Agency IDNAA CA 9610

The head of the agency is the Chief Executive Officer, currently Rebecca Skinner,[8] who is responsible to the Minister for Government Services, currently the Hon. Stuart Robert MP. Previously, this portfolio was held by Michael Keenan as Minister for Human Services.[9]

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 its creation, it incorporated the Child Support Agency and CRS Australia, with the Human Services Legislation Amendment Act 2011 integrating Centrelink and Medicare.

The Secretary at the Department's establishment in 2004 was Patricia Scott.[10] Helen Williams was appointed Secretary of the Department in 2007.[11] Finn Pratt succeeded Williams in September 2009 after her retirement from the public service.[1][11]

The department was renamed "Services Australia" and made an Executive Agency in machinery of government changes made by Prime Minister Scott Morrison on 29 May 2019[12] following the 2019 federal election.[13]

The agency was formed by way of an administrative order issued on 5 December 2019 and effective from 1 February 2020. As a result of this change, the previous secretary, Renée Leon PSM was removed from her role.[14][15] From 1 February 2020, the Department of Human Services began operating under the Services Australia branding with Amanda Cattermole beginning as the agency's acting Secretary until her role was discontinued.[16][17]

Responsibilities

According to the Administrative Arrangements Order of 29 May 2019, Services Australia is responsible for administering the following services as dictated by their legislation:[12]

  • Hearing Australia - Australian Hearing Services Act 1991[18]
  • Centrelink - Human Services (Centrelink) Act 1997[19]
  • Medicare - Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973[20]

Services Australia is also responsible, or sharing responsibility, for the following agencies and services:

As part of the administration of these services, Services Australia operates a number of face-to-face service centres across Australia, as well as myGov centres in major cities. In 13 locations across Tasmania, both state and federal services can be accessed through Service Tasmania centres.[23]

See also

References
  1. CA 9004: Department of Human Services, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 12 December 2013
  2. Towell, Noel (11 December 2013). "Centrelink boss Kathryn Campbell keeps three offices despite cutbacks". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 11 December 2013.
  3. Australian Public Service Commission (2014), Main features:APS at a glance, archived from the original on 5 October 2014
  4. "The Hon Stuart Robert MP". minister.servicesaustralia.gov.au/. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  5. "Organisation structure". servicesaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 11 February 2020.
  6. "New structure of Government Departments | Prime Minister of Australia". www.pm.gov.au. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  7. "About us". Department of Human Services. Retrieved 7 May 2013.
  8. "Organisation structure". Services Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  9. "Minister for Human Services". Department of Human Services. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
  10. Howard, John (22 October 2004). "Appointment of Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 November 2013.
  11. Rudd, Kevin (13 August 2009). "Departmental secretaries and statutory office-holders, Canberra" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013.
  12. "Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  13. Donaldson, David (29 May 2019). "Administrative orders: Home Affairs to grow". The Mandarin. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
  14. "Administrative Arrangements Order - 5 December 2019" (PDF). Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  15. Morrison, Scott. "Media Release: 5 December 2019 - New structure of Government Departments". Prime Minister of Australia. Commonwealth of Australia. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  16. "We are now Services Australia". Services Australia. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  17. "Organisation structure - Services Australia". www.servicesaustralia.gov.au. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
  18. "Australian Hearing Services Act 1991". www.legislation.gov.au. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  19. "Human Services (Centrelink) Act 1997". www.legislation.gov.au. 1 July 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  20. "Human Services (Medicare) Act 1973". www.legislation.gov.au. 21 October 2016. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  21. "myGov Digital Services". Australian National Audit Office. 27 June 2017. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  22. "Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988". www.legislation.gov.au. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  23. "Department of Human Services Agents". www.service.tas.gov.au. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
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