Part 1: The year in review
- Departmental overview
- Family and Community Services portfolio structure
- Organisational structure
- Financial performance overview
- Child Support Agency General Manager's review
Family and Community Services portfolio structure
At 30 June 2004, the Family and Community Services portfolio consisted of FaCS (incorporating the Child Support Agency), Centrelink and the Australian Institute of Family Studies (Figure 2). The resources needed to support the operations of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal are also provided through FaCS.
Figure 2 Portfolio structure at 30 June 2004 (Text description)
Department of Family and Community Services
FaCS is the principal policy formulation and advising body in the portfolio. FaCS is responsible for:
- putting in place the Government's social support policies for families, working-age people and those who are retired
- managing the delivery of a wide range of support services through thousands of provider organisations located across Australia.
The Child Support Agency (CSA), which is part of FaCS, promotes parental responsibility for the costs of raising children and provides services to help parents pay child support.
Social Security Appeals Tribunal
The Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT) is a statutory body created by the Social Security (Administration) Act 1999 to conduct merits review of administrative decisions made under a number of enactments, in particular the social security law and 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 department's outputs.
In line with its reporting obligations under section 25 of Part 3 of Schedule 3 to the Social Security (Administration) Act, the Executive Director of the tribunal 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, 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 submit an annual report to the Parliament.