Formed 18 September 2013 Founded 18 September 2013 | Employees 3,487 (at June 2014) Headquarters Phillip | |
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Preceding Department Department of Health and Ageing Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia Ministers responsible Greg Hunt,
Minister for Health and Minister for Sport
Ken Wyatt,
Minister for Aged Care and Minister for Indigenous Health
David Gillespie,
Assistant Minister for Health Department executives Martin Bowles, Secretary (2014‑)
Jane Halton, Secretary (2003‑14) Predecessor Department of Health and Ageing Subsidiaries Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, Australian Sports Commission, Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority Profiles | ||
The Australian Federal Department of Health is a department of the Government of Australia charged with the responsibility to oversee the running of Australia's health system, including supporting universal and affordable access to medical, pharmaceutical and hospital services, while helping people to stay healthy through health promotion, participation and exercise and other disease prevention activities.
Contents
The head of the department is the Secretary of the Department of Health, currently Martin Bowles, who reports to the Minister for Health and the Minister for Sport, currently the Hon. Greg Hunt MP, and the Minister for Aged Care and the Minister for Indigenous Health, currently the Hon. Ken Wyatt AO, MP. The ministers are assisted by the Assistant Minister for Healthe, currently David Gillespie MP.
Scope
According to the Administrative Arrangements Order issued 18 September 2013, matters dealt with by the Department are:
History
The Department of Health (I) was established in 1921 and was the precursor to today's Department of Health. The first Department of Health was dissolved in 1987, when it was merged with the Department of Community Services to form the Department of Community Services and Health.
In June 1991, the Department of Health, Housing and Community Services was formed when housing industry programs were transferred from the Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce. In March 1993 the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs joined with the Department of Health, Housing and Community Services to form the Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services. Subsequently, in December 1993, the Department was abolished and replaced with the Department of Human Services and Health. Also in 1994, the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health was established.
After a new government was elected in March 1996, the Department of Health and Family Services was formed. The department also had responsibility for the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program from the former Department of Housing and Regional Development. Later, the department assumed responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health matters from the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
After the October 1998 election, the Department was abolished and replaced by the Australian Federal Department of Health and Aged Care, named to reflect new responsibilities and functions. Responsibility for Family and Children's Services, Disability Programs and the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service were transferred to the Department of Family and Community Services on 22 October 1998.
Following the November 2001 election, the Australian Federal Department of Health and Aged Care was abolished and replaced with the Australian Federal Department of Health and Ageing. The Australian Federal Department of Health and Ageing was abolished in 2013 and replaced by the current Australian Federal Department of Health on 18 September 2013 by way of an Administrative Arrangements Order issued by the Governor-General of Australia on the recommendation of the Abbott Government.