Employees 3,652 (at June 2014) | ||
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Formed 18 September 2013 (2013-09-18) Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia Ministers responsible Christian Porter,Minister for Social ServicesPaul Fletcher,Minister for Major Projects, Territories, and the Local GovernmentJane Prentice,Assistant Minister for Disability ServicesCraig Laundy,Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs | ||
The Australian Department of Social Services is a department of the Government of Australia charged with the responsibility for national policies and programs that help deliver a strong and fair society for all Australians. The department develops and implements social policy.
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The head of the department is the Secretary of the Department of Social Services, currently Finn Pratt, who reports to the Minister for Social Services, currently the Hon. Christian Porter MP and the Minister for Major Projects, Territories, and the Local Government, currently the Hon. Paul Fletcher MP. The ministers are assisted by the Assistant Minister for Disability Services, currently the Hon. Jane Prentice MP and the Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs, currently the Hon. Craig Laundy MP.
The head office of the department is located in the Australian Capital Territory suburb of Greenway.
History
The department was formed by way of an Administrative Arrangements Order issued on 18 September 2013 and replaced the majority of the functions previously performed by the former Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA); with the exception of Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination, that was transferred to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Operational activities
In an Administrative Arrangements Order made on 18 September 2013, the functions of the department were broadly classified into the following matters: