Annual Report 2005–06
Overview: Human Services
Human Services comprises the following entities:
1. The Department of Human Services ( DHS), which consists of the core department, the Child Support Agency (CSA) and CRS Australia:
- the core department’s role is to direct, coordinate and broker improvements to service delivery through the six Human Services agencies (the Child Support Agency, CRS Australia, Centrelink, Medicare Australia, Australian Hearing and Health Services Australia)
- the Child Support Agency’s role is to ensure that children of separated parents receive financial support from both parents
- CRS Australia’s role is to assist people with an injury or a disability to get a job or return to work by providing individualised vocational rehabilitation. CRS Australia also helps employers to keep their workplaces safe.
2. Centrelink, which delivers a range of government payments and services for retirees, families, carers, parents, people with disabilities, Indigenous people, and people from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds and provides services at times of major change.
3. Medicare Australia , which administers a range of health and payment programs, including Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, Family Assistance Office services, the Australian Organ Donor Register, the Australian Childhood Immunisation Register and Aged Care Payments to approved aged care providers.
4. Australian Hearing , which helps people manage their hearing impairment so they have a better quality of life. Australian Hearing provides a full range of hearing services for children and young people up to the age of 21, eligible adults and aged pensioners, and war veterans.
5. Health Services Australia , which is a government business enterprise established in 1997 focusing primarily on providing occupational health, safety and medical assessments.
Figure 2 Structure of Human Services, 30 June 2006
