Department_of_Families,_Community_Services_and_Indigenous_Affairs_(Australia)

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Australian government department, 2007–2013

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]

Quick Facts Formed, Preceding Department ...
The main entrance to FaHCSIA's national headquarters

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]

  • Income security policies and programs for families with children, carers, the aged and people in hardship
  • Services for families with children, people with disabilities and carers
  • Community support services, excluding the Home and Community Care program
  • Family relationship services
  • Housing policy co-ordination, welfare housing and rent assistance
  • Women's policies and programs
  • Indigenous policy co-ordination and the promotion of reconciliation
  • Community development employment projects

Administrative structure

Main article: Minister for Social Services (Australia)
More information Start date, End date ...

The Secretaries of the department were:

  • Dr Jeff Harmer (3 December 2007 to April 2011). Harmer had been appointed Secretary of the previous Department of Families and Community Services in October 2004.[8][9]
  • Mr Finn Pratt (April 2011 to 18 September 2013).[8]

See also

References

  1. [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. [2]
    Gillard, Julia (21 December 2010). "Departmental Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
  3. [3]
    Packham, Ben (18 September 2013). "Tony Abbott puts broom through bureaucracy". The Australian. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  4. [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. [5]
    Wilson, Lauren (19 September 2013). "Coalition carves up the public service". The Australian. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  6. [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. [7]
    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. [8]
    CA 9193: Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 22 April 2014
  9. [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
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