[Australia]: Department of Social Services Media Centre

[Owen]

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Overview​

The Department of Social Services is an Australian Government department responsible for national policies and programs related to social welfare and social security. Additionally, the department develops and implements social policy. The portfolio also includes government agencies such as Services Australia (which encompasses the Centrelink Master Program, the Medicare universal health insurance scheme, Hearing Australia and the Child Support Agency and is led directly by the Minister for Government Services), the National Disability Insurance Agency, the Australian Institute of Family Studies, the Office for Youth, Housing Australia, the National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People, the Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission, Inclusive Employment Australia, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, Intercountry Adoption Australia, Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety, the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council. It also administers various programs and schemes, other than those administered by Services Australia, such as the National Disability Insurance Scheme and the Supported Accommodation Assistance Program. The functions of the department are broadly classified into the following matters as laid out in an Administrative Arrangements Order: Income security and support policies and programmes for families with children, carers, the aged, people with disabilities and people in hardship Income support policies for students and apprentices Income support and participation policy for people of working age Policy and services for families with children and people with disabilities The National Disability Insurance Scheme and Foundational Supports Community support services and related workforce Family relationship, Family and Children's Support Services Family, domestic and sexual violence national policy Rent assistance Child support policy Services to help people with disabilities obtain employment Non-profit sector and volunteering Services and payments relating to social security, child support, students, families, aged care and health programmes (excluding Health provider compliance) Whole of government service delivery policy Co-ordination of early childhood development policy and responsibilities Youth affairs and programmes, including youth transitions Housing, rental and homelessness policy

 

[Owen]

CREATION OF INCLUSIVE EMPLOYMENT AUSTRALIA​

22 May 2007

The Department of Social Services has announced that a new body known as Inclusive Employment Australia will replace Disability Employment Services scheme on the 1 August 2007. Inclusive Employment Australia will be a new specialist disability employment program. Inclusive Employment Australia will help create a more inclusive future where people with disability as well as those with injury or health condition can get support to prepare for, find and maintain work, and grow their career. The program places participants at the centre of the service. It will improve and simplify services for people looking for work, as well as employers and service providers. More people will be able to access the new program including: People with an assessed work capacity of less than 8 hours per week Voluntary participants not getting a Centrelink income support payment There will no longer be a two-year limit on the time people can stay in the program. The new program will have an improved service offer including: Intensive support for people who are preparing to be ready to work Flexible support for people who don’t need intensive services Current Disability Employment Services (DES) participants will receive individual communications and information about the new program before it starts. ​