Portfolio structure | who are we?

Changes to the portfolio

Our portfolio's responsibilities changed under the Administrative Arrangements Order of 26 November 2001, as amended on 20 December 2001. Youth affairs came to us from the former Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs. CRS Australia became part of the Department of Health and Ageing with effect from 1 July 2002.

We report on the resources and performance of youth affairs and CRS Australia in this annual report.

Portfolio structure

At 30 June 2002, the Family and Community Services portfolio consisted of FaCS, Centrelink and the Australian Institute of Family Studies (Figure 4). FaCS* incorporates the Child Support Agency and, until 30 June 2002, CRS Australia. The resources needed to support the operations of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal are also provided through FaCS.

The 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 those who are retired
managing the delivery of services for people with disabilities, families with children, community support (excluding the Home and Community Care program), family relationships and welfare housing.

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

CRS Australia provides rehabilitation programs to eligible people with injuries, disabilities or health conditions to help them find and keep work. Rehabilitation is the process of restoring function and independence to people with a disability, injury or health condition and through the coordinated use of medical, physical, psychological, social, educational and vocational measures.

Social Security Appeals Tribunal

The Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) considers appeals lodged by people about decisions made under a number of enactments, especially the social security law and the family assistance law. The tribunal must aim to provide a mechanism of review that is fair, just, economical, informal and quick. The Executive Director of the tribunal provides an annual report to the Minister for Family and Community Services on the tribunal's operations.

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

The portfolio agencies

Centrelink

Centrelink is a service delivery organisation, responsible for providing information, products 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

The 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.

Figure 3 Portfolio structure at 30 June 2002 (Text description)

Figure 3 Portfolio structure at 30 June 2002

* FaCS without Child Support Agency (and until 30 June 2002, CRS Australia) is known as FaCS core.