Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Last updated

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Department overview
Formed3 December 2007
Preceding Department
Dissolved18 September 2013
Superseding agency
Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters Greenway, Canberra
Employees3,324 (at April 2013) [1]
Department executives
Website fahcsia.gov.au
The main entrance to FaHCSIA's national headquarters Main entrance to FaHCSIA offices March 2013.jpg
The main entrance to FaHCSIA's national headquarters

The former Australian Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) was a department of the Australian Government located in Greenway in Canberra. It was formed in 2007 and absorbed the former Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. As a result of an Administrative Arrangements Order issued on 18 September 2013, the Department of Social Services was established and assumed most of the responsibilities of FaHCSIA; with indigenous affairs functions assumed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. [3] [4] [5]

Contents

Operational activities

The former department's role was to develop social policies and support affected Australian society and the living standards of Australian families. The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination was a part of FaHCSIA. In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 3 December 2007, the functions of the department were broadly classified into the following matters: [6]

Administrative structure

Ministers and parliamentary secretaries for the former Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Start dateEnd dateMinisterial titleMinisterRef.
3 Dec 200718 Sep 2013Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Minister for Disability Reform
Jenny Macklin [7]
14 Dec 201118 Sep 2013Minister for Housing and Homelessness, Community Services, Indigenous Employment and Economic Development
Minister for the Status of Women
Julie Collins [7]
25 Mar 201318 Sep 2013Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Amanda Rishworth [7]
1 Jul 201318 Sep 2013Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Homelessness Doug Cameron [7]
4 Feb 20131 Jul 2013Minister for Housing and Homelessness Mark Butler [7]
4 Feb 20131 Jul 2013Parliamentary Secretary for Homelessness and Social Housing Melissa Parke [7]
14 Sep 201025 Mar 2013Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers Jan McLucas [7]
5 Mar 2012Feb 2013Minister for Housing and Homelessness Brendan O'Connor [7]
14 Dec 20115 Mar 2012Minister for Housing and Homelessness Robert McClelland [7]
14 Sep 2010Nov 2011Minister for Indigenous Employment and Economic Development
Minister for Social Housing and Homelessness
Mark Arbib [7] [8]
14 Sep 2010Nov 2011Minister for the Status of Women Kate Ellis [7] [8]
3 Dec 200714 Sep 2010Minister for Housing
Minister for Status of Women
Tanya Plibersek [7] [8]
3 Dec 200714 Sep 2010Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Children's Services
Parliamentary Secretary for Victorian Bushfire Reconstruction
Bill Shorten [7] [8]
3 Dec 200714 Sep 2010Parliamentary Secretary for Social Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector Ursula Stephens [7] [8]

The Secretaries of the department were:

See also

Related Research Articles

The Australian Department of the Environment was a department of the Government of Australia that existed between September 2013 and July 2016. The department was charged with responsibility for developing and implementing national policy, programs and legislation to protect and conserve Australia's environment and heritage.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Immigration and Border Protection</span> Former department of the Australian government

The Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) was a department of the Government of Australia that was responsible for immigration, citizenship and border control. It has now been subsumed into the Department of Home Affairs, which combines its responsibilities with a number of other portfolios.

The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC) was the Australian Government-led unit for the coordination of policy, programs and services for Indigenous Australians from July 2004 to August 2011.

The Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between January 2006 and December 2007. The department which preceded the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs was the Department of Family and Community Services (1998–2006).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Attorney-General's Department (Australia)</span> Federal attorney-general department of the Australian Government

The Attorney-General's Department, also known as the Department of the Attorney-General or AG’s Department, is the national law enforcement and justice department of the federal government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The attorney-general’s department is responsible for the enforcement and compliance of federal law, the administration of justice and the oversight of industrial relations affairs. The department oversees various agencies including the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the national Human Rights Commission (AHRC) and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Finance (Australia)</span> Department of the government of Australia

The Department of Finance is a department of the Government of Australia that is charged with the responsibility of assisting the government across a wide range of policy areas to ensure its outcomes are met, particularly with regard to expenditure, financial management, and the operations of government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Health and Aged Care</span> Federal health department of the Australian Government

The Department of Health and Aged Care (DoHAC), formerly the Department of Health, is a department of the Australian Government responsible for health research, funding, promotion and regulation in Australia. Primary health care and aged care services are overseen by DoHAC, while tertiary health services are administered by state and territory governments. The department is responsible for programs such as Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, and agencies such as the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the National Health and Medical Research Council.

The Department of Industry, Innovation, Climate Change, Science, Research and Tertiary Education was a department of the Australian Government charged with further developing growth in Australian industries and advancements in science and research.

The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C) is an Australian Government public service central department of state with broad ranging responsibilities, primary of which is for intergovernmental and whole of government policy coordination and assisting the prime minister of Australia in managing the Cabinet of Australia. The PM&C was established in 1971 and traces its origins back to the Prime Minister's Department established in 1911.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Family and Community Services (Australia)</span> Australian government department, 1998–2006

The Department of Family and Community Services was an Australian government department that existed between October 1998 and January 2006.

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism was an Australian Government department. It was formed in December 2007 and dissolved on 18 September 2013. The majority of its functions were assumed by the Department of Industry; with the exception of tourism functions that were assumed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport was an Australian government department. It was formed in December 2011, absorbing the former Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government along with Arts and Sport functions from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The department was abolished in September 2013 with its functions moved to other Australian Government departments.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Infrastructure and Transport</span> Australian government department, 2010–2013

The Department of Infrastructure and Transport was an Australian government department. It was formed in September 2010, following the federal election in August 2010. The department absorbing parts of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government. Regional development and local government functions were sent to the Department of Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government. Following the 2013 federal election, the department was renamed on 18 September 2013 to become the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, regaining regional development and local government functions.

The Australian Department of Employment was a department of the Government of Australia charged with the responsibility for national policies and programs that help Australians find and keep employment and work in safe, fair and productive workplaces. On 20 December 2017 the department was dissolved and its functions assumed by the newly formed Department of Jobs and Small Business.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Social Services (Australia)</span> Australian government department, 2013-

The Department of Social Services (DSS) 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.

Jeffrey Allan 'Jeff' Harmer is a former senior Australian public servant. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training in 2003 and served in a series of Secretary-level roles until his retirement in December 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Metcalfe</span> Australian public servant and policymaker

Andrew Edgar Francis Metcalfe, is a former senior Australian public servant and policymaker who was Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry until 4 August 2023 when he retired. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He was a Partner at Ernst and Young, Canberra in its Government and Public Sector team from 2014-19. Metcalfe was appointed by Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus QC MP to the role of lead reviewer of the Family Relationships Services Program on 15 November 2023, with a 30 June 2024 deadline by which to complete the review.

Paul Francis Grimes is a senior Australian public servant. Between September 2013 and March 2015, he was Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development</span> Australian government department, 2013–2017

The Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development was an Australian government department that existed between September 2013 and December 2017. Matters dealt with by the department included: infrastructure planning and coordination; transport safety; land transport; civil aviation and airports; maritime transport including shipping; administration of Australian territories; constitutional development of the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory; regional programs; regional development; local government matters; and regional policy.

References

  1. Australian Public Service Commission (2 December 2013), State of the Service Report: State of the Service Series 2012-13 (PDF), Australian Public Service Commission, p. 253, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2013
  2. 1 2 Gillard, Julia (21 December 2010). "Departmental Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
  3. Packham, Ben (18 September 2013). "Tony Abbott puts broom through bureaucracy". The Australian. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  4. Abbott, Tony (18 September 2013). "The Coalition will restore strong, stable and accountable government" (Press release). Canberra, Australia: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 20 September 2013. Retrieved 20 September 2013.
  5. Wilson, Lauren (19 September 2013). "Coalition carves up the public service". The Australian. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  6. "Administrative Arrangement Order of 3 December 2007" (PDF). Australian Government. 3 December 2007. p. 19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2013.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Former Ministers and Parliamentary Secretaries, Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, archived from the original on 24 September 2013, retrieved 24 September 2013
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 CA 9193: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 22 April 2014
  9. Malone, Paul (November 2006), "Chapter 13: The People's Choice – Jeff Harmer, Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs", Australian Department Heads Under Howard: Career Paths and Practice (Collected articles from the Canberra Times), ANU E Press and ANZSOG, ISBN   1-920942-83-1, archived from the original on 27 September 2013