[Australia]: Department of Social Services

[Owen]

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Headquarters​

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Tuggeranong Office Park, Greenway, Australian Capital Territory​

Ministers​

Office:	Officeholder:	Image:
Minister for Social Services	The Honourable Jenny Macklin, MP
Minister for Government Services	The Honourable Senator Jan McLucas
Minister for Housing	The Honourable Julie Collins, MP
Minister for Youth	The Honourable Dr. Anne Aly, MP
Assistant Minister for Social Services	The Honourable Senator Jacinta Collins
Secretary of the Department of Social Services	Finn Pratt, AO, PSM

Services Australia

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Overview​

Services Australia is an executive agency of the Australian Government, responsible for delivering a range of welfare payments, health insurance payments, child support payments and other support services to eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents. Services Australia delivers social services through the government programs Centrelink, Medicare, Hearing Australia and the Child Support Agency. Eligible Australian citizens and permanent residents can access many of these services through a myGov account. Services Australia is a portfolio body within the Department of Social Services and reports directly to the Minister for Government Services. As part of the administration of these services, Services Australia operates more than 300 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.

Centrelink

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Overview​

The Centrelink Master Program, or more commonly known as Centrelink, is a Services Australia master program of the Australian Government. It delivers a range of government payments and services for retirees, the unemployed, families, carers, parents, people with disabilities, Indigenous Australians, students, apprentices and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, and provides services at times of major change. The majority of Centrelink's services are the disbursement of social security payments. Currently social security payments are available to the following groups of people: Australian citizens Australian permanent residents Individuals who hold a protection visa New Zealand citizens (under the Australia-New Zealand Social Security Agreement) Canadian citizens (under the Australia-Canada Social Security Agreement) Social security payments and other benefits are currently available under the following acts of parliament: Social Security Act A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act Student Assistance Act Paid Parental Leave Act

Payments under the Social Security Act and Student Assistance Act​

Type:	Description:
ABSTUDY	Offers a range of allowances to assist Indigenous students and New Apprentices
Age Pension	For people planning for retirement or who are already retired aged 67 years and over.
Assistance for Isolated Children	For families with a child who cannot attend school locally because of distance or special needs.
Austudy Payment	For full-time students and New Apprentices aged 25 years or over.
Carer Allowance	For people who care for individuals over 16 years with a disability or age-related special need.
Carer Allowance (Child)	For people who care for a child under 16 years with a disability.
Carer Payment	For people who provide full-time care for someone with a disability.
Disability Support Pension	For people unable to work for at least 2 years due to illness, injury or disability.
Double Orphan Pension	For people who are raising children who have lost both parents.
Maternity Payment	For help with those extra costs after the birth of a new baby.
JobSeeker Payment	For people who are looking for employment, also often given to those in the application process for Disability Support Pension.
Parenting Payment	For parents or guardians to help with the cost of raising children under 6 for partnered parents and under 14 for sole parents.
Pensioner Education Supplement	For people on pensions with education expenses.
Special Benefit	For people who are in financial hardship, have no way of supporting themselves and are not entitled to another payment (normally due to residency requirements).
Youth Allowance	For full-time students or New Apprentices aged 15 (under some circumstances) 16 to 24 and people aged under 21 who are undertaking job search or a combination of approved activities.

Payments under the A New Tax System (Family Assistance) Act​

Type:	Description:
Family Tax Benefit Part A	For parents or carers to help with the cost of raising children.
Family Tax Benefit Part B	For single income families or sole parents.
Maternity Immunisation Allowance	For fully immunised children or those exempt from immunisation.
Child Care Benefit	For families to help with the cost of child care.
Schoolkids Bonus	For families to help with the cost of education for children in primary and secondary school.

Payments under the Paid Parental Leave Act​

Type:	Description:
Parental Leave Pay	For the child's primary carer and eligible parents for up to 18 weeks of pay based on the rate of National Minimum Wage.
Dad and Partner Pay	For eligible working dads or partners (including adopting parents and same-sex couples) for up to two weeks of pay based on the rate of National Minimum Wage.

Concession Cards​

Card:	Description:	Image:
Health Care Card	Primarily entitles holder to PBS medications at the concession rate. This green paper card is the basic and most common Health Care Card which is sent to a recipient of a payment by post shortly after receiving their first payment and then each year before expiry, if still eligible. This card is given to those not eligible for a Commonwealth Seniors Concession, or Pensioner Concession Card. A general Health Care Card does not entitle the bearer to transport concessions. Only Pensioner and Commonwealth Seniors Concession Card holders can apply for a transport concession card.
Commonwealth Seniors Health Card	A Health Care Card issued to senior citizens that also entitles the bearer to transport concessions.
Pensioner Concession Card	This offers additional benefits to the Pensioner, including pensioner transportation fares (in some areas), and a certain number of free country rail journeys within the holder's state. Pensioners can enjoy discounted postal services including discounted stamps, and a whole range of discounted services including discounted cinema tickets, discounted meals when dining out, discounted hair cuts and discounts on all utility and home service costs.

Medicare

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Overview​

Medicare is the publicly funded universal health care insurance scheme in Australia. The scheme either partially or fully covers the cost of most health care, with services being delivered by state and territory governments or private enterprises. All Australian citizens, permanent residents and those on protection visas are eligible to enrol in Medicare. Citizens from the following countries that have reciprocal agreements with Australia are able to receive Medicare benefits for medically necessary treatment: New Zealand (incl. Niue) (under the Australia-New Zealand Reciprocal Health Care Agreement) United Kingdom (under the Australia-United Kingdom Health Services Agreement) The Medicare Benefits Schedule lists a standard operating fees for eligible services, called the schedule fee, and the percentage-portion of that fee that Medicare will pay for. The percentage of the schedule fee will be either 100%, 85%, or 75% depending on the circumstances of the "episode of care": 100% for general practice services provided by general practitioners, or a practice nurse on behalf of a GP for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander patients. 85% for specialist services, such as specialist appointments, pathology tests, and medical imaging. 75% for services provided to a patient admitted in a recognised hospital, or a hospital-substitution services covered by private health insurance. When a health service charges only how much Medicare will pay, this is called a "bulk billed" service. Providers can charge more than the schedule fee for services, with patients responsible for the "gap payment". Most health care services are covered by Medicare, including medical imaging and pathology, with the notable exception of dentistry. Allied health services are typically covered depending on meeting certain criteria, such as being related to a chronic disease, and some private hospital costs may be partially covered. Public hospital costs are primarily funded through a different arrangement.

Hearing Australia

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Overview​

Hearing Australia is a statutory authority constituted under the Australian Hearing Services Act 1991. Hearing Australia is the largest provider of government-funded hearing services in Australia. Its research division, the National Acoustic Laboratories, broadly focuses its research into the areas of hearing assessment, hearing loss prevention, hearing rehabilitation devices, and hearing rehabilitation procedures. To be eligible for subsidised hearing services from Hearing Australia, one must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident, and meet one of the following categories: Anyone under the age of 26 Holders of Pensioner concession cards, or their dependants Recipients of a sickness allowance from Centrelink, or their dependants Department of Veterans' Affairs Gold Repatriation Health Card holders, or their dependants Department of Veterans' Affairs White Repatriation Health Card holders where hearing loss is specified, or their dependants Australian Defence Force personnel Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples aged 50 and over Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples participating in a Community Development Employment Project (CDEP) Those requiring specialist hearing services through the Community Service Obligations (CSO) component of the Hearing Services Program Hearing Australia also provides private hearing services to anyone who does not fall into the above categories.

Child Support Agency

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Overview​

The Child Support Agency (CSA) is an Australian Government organisation which was established in 1988 to administer the assessment and collection of child support under the Australian Government's Child Support Scheme. The CSA is responsible for administering the Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989 which sets out the calculation of child support, based on a formula encompassing the income of the parent/s, care arrangements of the children, ages of the children, other dependants and a number of other factors; and the Child Support (Registration and Collection Act) 1988 regarding to the transfer and collection of the calculated payments, including enforcement of unpaid amounts. Transfer of payments can be made independently of the agency or via the agency as either a voluntary arrangement, or through enforcement. Voluntary payments could be made through payroll deductions, deductions from welfare payments, internet transfers or payment at Australia Post outlets. Under the CSA, enforcement can range from the involuntary garnishee from salary and bank accounts, to litigation and restrictions on overseas travel until payment has been made. The CSA can stop you from travelling if an individual fails to pay.

National Disability Insurance Agency

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Overview​

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) is an independent statutory agency. Their role is to implement the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The National Disability Insurance Agency holds all funds contributed by the Commonwealth, States and Territories in a single pool, manages scheme funds, administers access to the scheme and approves the payment of individualised support packages. Its main statutory functions are: Delivering the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) so as to, amongst other things, support the independence, and social and economic participation, of people with disability and enable people with disability to exercise choice and control in the pursuit of their goals and the planning and delivery of their supports Managing, and advising and reporting on, the financial sustainability of the NDIS Developing and enhancing the disability sector Building community awareness of disabilities and the social contributors to disabilities Collecting, analysing and exchanging data about disabilities and the supports for people with disability Undertaking research relating to disabilities, the supports for people with disability and the social contributors to disabilities

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National Disability Insurance Scheme​

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a scheme of the Australian Government that funds reasonable and necessary supports associated with significant and permanent disability for people under 65 years old and is governed by the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act. The NDIS model allocates funding to an individual, with the individual, their guardian or a private "plan manager" purchasing goods and services from suppliers. The scheme is entirely publicly funded and not means-tested, with recipients not purchasing or contributing to the scheme directly. The NDIS is independent of the Disability Support Pension and any state and territory disability programs, although NDIS navigation services may help individuals access these supports. The NDIS exclusively funds disability supports, not healthcare-associated costs. These remain publicly funded under Medicare and state and territory government health services. The NDIS eligibility requirements provide guidance on included disability types. Reported disability types are: Acquired brain injury Autism Cerebral palsy Down syndrome Hearing impairment Intellectual disability Multiple sclerosis Psychosocial disability Spinal cord injury Stroke Visual impairment Other neurological Other physical Other sensory/speech

Australian Institute of Family Studies

Overview​

The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is an Australian Government statutory agency in the Department of Social Services. AIFS’ mission is to conduct high-quality, impartial research into the wellbeing of Australian families, to inform government policy and promote evidence-based practice in the family services sector. AIFS also incorporates the Australian Gambling Research Centre (AGRC), which was established under the Gambling Measures Act. AIFS reviews its research directions every three years. The current research directions focus on the following themes: Family change, functioning and wellbeing Social and economic participation for families Child and family safety Services to support families AIFS is the host of the Australian Temperament Project, a large longitudinal study of children’s development that began in 1983. The study investigates pathways to psychosocial adjustment across childhood and adolescence, and results from the study have been published extensively in scientific journals. The Growing Up in Australia: Longitudinal Study of Australian Children commenced in 2004, a major study following the development of 10,000 children and families from all parts of Australia. The study is investigating the contribution of children’s social, economic and cultural environments to their adjustment and wellbeing.

Studies​

Study:	Description:	Release Date:	Researcher(s):

Office for Youth

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Overview​

The Office for Youth connects young people and government. The Office for Youth provides opportunities for young people to share their ideas and be included in government decisions. The Office for Youth is a dedicated unit within the Department of Social Services that: Listens to young people and their advocates Empowers young people to advocate and engage with government Supports government to work with young people The Office for Youth leads "Engage! A strategy to include young people in the decisions made by government". The Office for Youth has two main roles: Supporting young people to engage with the Australian Government on policy and program development Building the capacity of governments to engage with young people The Office for Youth is committed ensuring the wellbeing and safety of every child and young person who has contact with their employees, contractors, consultants, officials and providers.

Housing Australia

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Overview​

Housing Australia is the independent national housing authority. Housing Australia works with the private sector, community housing providers and all levels of government to facilitate and deliver programs that help more Australians to access social and affordable housing or to buy a home. To help deliver on its purpose, Housing Australia set five strategic objectives focused on building the business and continuing to embed best-practice systems, processes and governance practices into operations. The strategic objectives are to: Facilitate the sustainable growth of the community housing sector across Australia Facilitate investment to increase the supply of social and affordable housing Strengthen stakeholder relationships that support better housing outcomes Deliver high-performance organisation practices and outcomes Establish a best-practice governance regime

Supported Accommodation Assistance Program

Overview​

The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) is aimed at reducing homelessness in Australia. SAAP started in 1985 when Commonwealth and state and territory funding programs were brought together. The object of the new arrangement was to grant financial assistance to the States to administer the SAAP program. These programs are aimed to provide transitional supported accommodation and related support services, in order to help people who were homeless to achieve the maximum possible degree of self-reliance and independence. Each of the states and territories runs a SAAP program, providing accommodation to 100,000 homeless Australians. The SAAP programs are aimed at three levels of homeless people: Primary Homeless: People without conventional accommodation, living on the streets. Secondary Homeless: People staying in boarding houses and people already in SAAP accommodation and other similar emergency accommodation services. Tertiary Homeless: People with no secure accommodation staying temporarily with friends or relatives in private dwellings.

National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People

Overview​

The National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People is an independent body that aims to promote and protect the rights of First Nations children and young people. The National Commission focuses on matters that affect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and their families. The National Commission has been established to: Promote and protect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people through strategic policy advice and reports to government on matters affecting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people, and their families Provide advice to Government on and inform the implementation of key policy frameworks which seek to improve outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families Promote and enhance coordination across Commonwealth and state and territory governments, commissioners, guardians and advocates and non-government organisations on matters related to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people Undertake consultation with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families, relevant Commonwealth and state and territory governments, commissioners, guardians and advocates and non-government organisations Ensure the voices of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people and their families are reflected in advice to government

Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission

Overview​

The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission is a national body that aims to improve the coordination of policy and services so people experiencing domestic, family and sexual violence can access the support they need no matter where they live. The Commission is focused on practical and meaningful ways to promote the objectives outlined in the National Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children. They are: Informed by what is important to people with lived and living experience, and what the research, data and frontline workforce outlines what needs to happen. Engage with people with lived and living experience to amplify their voices to ensure their diverse experience is heard in shaping policy design, informing policies and improving service delivery. Take action inquisitively, responsibly and collaboratively, as a body which influences community and governments to end domestic, family and sexual violence. The Commission will focus on five priority areas: Systemic and institutional racism Healthy and diverse masculinity Children and young people Healing justice Housing

Inclusive Employment Australia

Overview​

Inclusive Employment Australia is a Australian Government program that replaced Disability Employment Services (DES) from August 1, 2007. The program aims to provide more personalised and flexible support for people with a disability, injury, or health condition to find and maintain meaningful employment by working with providers to match them with suitable jobs and offer long-term career growth. A diverse network of high-quality providers deliver the program. There is a greater focus on providers with staff and leadership reflecting the diversity of their community. Providers place clients and employers at the centre of their service design. They build meaningful relationships with both clients and employers. The Disability Employment Centre of Excellence (Centre of Excellence) supports providers. It develops best practice, evidence-based information in disability employment. This helps providers deliver high-quality, effective employment services and supports to improve outcomes.

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

Overview​

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, also referred to as the NDIS Commission, is an independent commission that was established to improve the quality and safety of services funded by the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The NDIS Commission regulates NDIS providers, provides national consistency, promotes safety and quality services, resolves problems and identifies areas for improvement. The Commission exists as part of a federal agreement between the Australian Government and states and territory governments. This agreement is called the NDIS Quality and Safeguarding Framework and aligns the various quality and safeguard functions performed by each state and territory government and includes additional investigative and regulatory powers. The NDIS Commission’s role is to manage complaints about NDIS providers, improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services, regulate NDIS service providers and workers, and lead education, capacity building and development for people with disability, NDIS providers and workers. The commission does not regulate the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA), which operates the NDIS scheme.

Intercountry Adoption Australia

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Overview​

Intercountry Adoption Australia (IAA) oversees intercountry adoption to ensure that Australia maintains ethical intercountry adoption arrangements and is an information and referral service to help guide people through the intercountry adoption process. IAA can connect individuals with a range of resources and services. Intercountry Adoption Australia is responsible for: Managing Australia’s intercountry adoption programs International and national stakeholder engagement Providing support services to people at all stages of the adoption process, alongside state and territory central authorities Ensuring Australia meets all obligations under the Hague Convention While Intercountry Adoption Australia will help with information, State and Territory Central Authorities (STCA) manage intercountry adoption applications and assesses eligibility. State and Territory Central Authorities can help individuals throughout the adoption process by: Preparing and supporting families through the intercountry adoption process Assessing adoption applications Handling day-to-day adoption application matters Providing advice to families about specific overseas country requirements Monitoring the progress of applications with the relevant overseas agency Providing support and supervision to families after placement of adopted children

Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety

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Overview​

Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety Limited (ANROWS) is the country’s independent, trusted voice for reliable and informed evidence on domestic, family and sexual violence. ANROWS was established in partnership between the Commonwealth and all state and territory governments as a key initiative of the National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. ANROWS will build the evidence base on reducing violence against women and their children, to inform and improve policy, programmes and service delivery and drive future reform. The members of the Company are comprised of all nine Australian governments. ANROWS is governed by a Board of Directors and operates under a Constitution.

Research​

Research:	Description:	Release Date:	Findings:

Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute

Overview​

The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (AHURI) is a national not-for-profit independent network organisation that funds, conducts, disseminates and tailors high quality research on housing and homelessness. AHURI's mission is to deliver high quality, policy-relevant evidence for better housing and urban outcomes, and their strategic goals are to: Strengthen policy relevance Ensure high quality research Improve research accessibility Foster dynamic collaboration Support and strengthen research capability AHURI funding is received from three sources: grants from the Australian and state and territory governments, contributions from their university partners and third parties. As the only organisation in Australia dedicated exclusively to housing, homelessness, cities and related urban research, AHURI is a unique venture. Through their national network of university partners, AHURI undertakes research that supports policy development at all levels of government, assists industry in improving practice and informs the broader community.

Research​

Research:	Description:	Release Date:	Findings:

National Housing Supply and Affordability Council

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Overview​

The National Housing Supply and Affordability Council (the Council) is responsible for advising the Government on options and policy to improve housing supply and affordability across the housing spectrum, report on key issues in housing policy and promote the regular collection and publication of data on housing supply and affordability. The Council is supported by a dedicated Office of the Council, comprising secretariat and research staff from the Department of Social Services. The Council is a statutory body established under the National Housing Supply and Affordability Council Act. The members of the Council are from across government, industry, the community sector and academia and bring expertise in many fields, including: Economics Residential construction and development Planning Social housing First Nations housing Homelessness