Family and Community Services portfolio structure

At 30 June 2003, the Family and Community Services portfolio consisted of FaCS (incorporating the Child Support Agency (CSA)), Centrelink and the Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) (Figure 3). The resources needed to support the operations of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) are also provided through FaCS.

Portfolio changes

CRS Australia became part of the Department of Health and Ageing with effect from 1 July 2002 for administrative purposes. However, it still provides rehabilitation services—the majority of its business—on behalf of FaCS.

Figure 3 Portfolio structure at 30 June 2003 (Text description)

Depicts the portfolio reporting structure as at 30 June 2003

Department of Family and Community Services

FaCS is the principal policy formulation and advising body in the portfolio. FaCS is responsible for:

putting to work the Government's social support policies for families, working-age people and retirees
managing the delivery of a wide range of support services through thousands of provider organisations located across Australia.

CSA promotes parental responsibility for the costs of raising their children and provides services to help parents pay child support.

Social Security Appeals Tribunal

The SSAT is a statutory body created by the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to conduct reviews of administrative decisions made under a number of enactments, in particular the social security law and the family assistance law.

The SSAT aims to provide a mechanism of review that is fair, just, economical, informal and quick.

Administrative arrangements of long standing exist between FaCS and the tribunal that allow the tribunal to benefit from FaCS' infrastructure. Information on staff required to support the operations of the tribunal is included in this report, together with other relevant management information. Funding for the tribunal is included in the price of the departmental outputs.

In line with its reporting obligations under section 25 of Part 3 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999, the Executive Director of the SSAT submits an annual report to the Minister for Family and Community Services, to be laid before each House of Parliament.

Portfolio agencies

Centrelink

Centrelink is a service delivery organisation, responsible for providing information, payments and services to the Australian community. The Chairman of the Board of Centrelink must provide an annual report on Centrelink operations to the responsible minister, who is the Minister for Family and Community Services.

Australian Institute of Family Studies

AIFS is an independent statutory authority that promotes the identification and understanding of factors affecting marital and family stability in Australia. AIFS must prepare an annual report to the Parliament.

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