Portfolio agencies
At 30 June 2005, the Family and Community Services portfolio comprised the Department of Family and Community Services, the Australian Institute of Family Studies and the Social Security Appeals Tribunal.
Figure 1.5 | Structure of Family and Community Services portfolio at 30 June 2005 (Description of Figure 1.5)
Note: the five FaCS outcomes above were introduced in December 2004. However the report on performance relates to the three departmental outcomes set out in the 2004–05 Portfolio Budget Statements and which form part of the departmental overview on page 30. These outcomes are:
- Outcome 1: Families are strong
- Outcome 2: Communities are strong
- Outcome 3: Individuals reach their potential.
Department of Family and Community Services
The Department of Family and Community Services (FaCS) is the principal policy formulation and advising body in the portfolio. FaCS is responsible for:
- providing policy advice and income support and assistance to families and their children, senior citizens and the community
- managing the delivery of a wide range of support services through thousands of provider organisations located across Australia.
Australian Institute of Family Studies
The Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) is an independent statutory authority that promotes the identification and understanding of factors impacting on families in Australia. AIFS submits an annual report to parliament.
Aboriginal Hostels Limited
Aboriginal Hostels Limited (AHL) is an Australian Government company providing temporary accommodation services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in areas of greatest need. The agency transferred to FaCS from the Immigration and Multicultural Indigenous Affairs portfolio in July 2004. AHL submits an annual report to parliament.
Social Security Appeals Tribunal
The Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) is a statutory body created by the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to conduct merit reviews of administrative decisions made under a number of enactments, in particular the social security law and family assistance law.
The SSAT has the power to review decisions independent of Centrelink and FaCS. It provides a review mechanism that is fair, just, economical, informal and quick.
The SSAT submits an annual report to the Minister for Family and Community Services, to be laid before each house of parliament.
Changes to the portfolio
Following the new Administrative Arrangements Orders put into place after the October 2004 Federal Election, responsibility for the CSA and Centrelink transferred from the FaCS portfolio to the Finance portfolio’s Department of Human Services. Other significant changes for FaCS and its portfolio included:
- women’s issues became the responsibility of FaCS. The Office for Women, formerly the Office for the Status of Women, moved to FaCS from the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet
- responsibility for most income support payments to people of working age and a number of programmes and services facilitating workforce participation were transferred to the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- a number of working age payments and programmes for students moved to the Department of Education, Science and Training.
Programmes and responsibility for payments transferred to other departments are outlined in Table 1.2.
| receiving department: employment and workplace relations | receiving department: education, science and training |
|---|---|
| Youth Allowance for unemployed young people | Youth Allowance (for students) |
| Green corps | Austudy |
| Job Placement, Employment and Training Program | Fares Allowance |
| Payment for Voluntary Work | Student Financial Supplement Scheme |
| Personal Support Programme | Ex gratia payments to former Youth Allowance recipients |
| Mature Age Allowance | Ex gratia exempt scholarships that waive or pay fees |
| Newstart Allowance | Pensioners Education Supplement |
| Parenting Payment (Partnered and Single) | Sickness Allowance (for students) |
| Disability Open Employment Services | |
| Disability Support Pension | |
| Mobility Allowance | |
| Youth Allowance (other than students) | |
| Sickness Allowance (other than students) |