Portfolio Responsibilities
Senator the Hon. Joe Ludwig, was appointed as Minister for Human Services on 3 December 2007. The Minister also has responsibility for Government Business in the Senate.
In October 2004, the Department of Human Services was established within the Finance and Administration Portfolio. In January 2007, the Department became an Australian Government portfolio department in its own right.
The Department is responsible for:
- the development, delivery and co-ordination of government services across the portfolio; and
- monitoring and management of service delivery and purchaser/provider relationships involving Centrelink, Medicare Australia, the Child Support Agency, Australian Hearing, The HSA Group and CRS Australia.
Portfolio structure
The Portfolio Department of Human Services (DHS) includes the Core Department, the Child Support Agency (CSA) and CRS Australia:
- the Core Department directs, coordinates and brokers improvements to service delivery across Human Services agencies;
- the Child Support Agency supports separated parents to transfer payments for the benefit of their children; and
- CRS Australia provides vocational rehabilitation services to people with a disability, injury or health condition, and helps employers keep their workplaces healthy and safe through injury prevention and injury management services.
Human Services portfolio agencies include:
- Centrelink - aiming to provide exceptional service to the community by linking government services wherever possible in one place and to achieve best practice in service delivery. Centrelink delivers a range of government payments and services for retirees, families, carers, parents, people who are seeking work or studying, people with disabilities, Indigenous people, and people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and provides wider services at times of major change.
- Medicare Australia - working to improve the health and wellbeing of Australians by administering a range of health and payment programs, including Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, the Australian Organ Donor Register, the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and Aged Care Payments to approved aged care providers. Medicare Australia also delivers Family Assistance Office services in partnership with other Australian Government agencies.
- Australian Hearing - providing a full range of hearing services for a broad group of Australians, including children and young people up to the age of 21 years, eligible adults and aged pensioners, war veterans and Indigenous people aged 50 years and over. Australian Hearing has centres located in all States and Territories.
- The HSA Group - focusing primarily on providing occupational health, safety and medical assessments.
Legislation administered by the Minister
- Australian Hearing Services Act 1991, except to the extent administered by the Minister for Health and Ageing
- Child Support (Assessment) Act 1989, insofar as it relates to the exercise of the powers and functions conferred on the Registrar under the Act
- Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme – Initial Measures) Act 2006, insofar as it relates to the exercise of the powers and functions conferred on the Registrar under the Act
- Child Support Legislation Amendment (Reform of the Child Support Scheme – New Formula and Other Measures) Act 2006, insofar as it relates to the exercise of the powers and functions conferred on the Registrar under the Act
- Child Support (Registration and Collection) Act 1988, insofar as it relates to the appointment of the Registrar and the exercise of the powers and functions conferred on the Registrar under the Act
- Commonwealth Services Delivery Agency Act 1997
- Medicare Australia Act 1973