Employees 34,757 (at June 2014) | ||
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Formed 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia Headquarters Forrest, Australian Capital Territory Minister responsible Alan Tudge,
Minister for Human Services Department executive Kathryn Campbell CSC, Secretary (since 2011) | ||
The Australian 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.
Contents
The Department of Human Services delivers its services through a portfolio of two organisations and three departmental master programs:
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.