Portfolio Bodies and Statutory Office Holders

The Department of Social Services (the Department) portfolio includes a number of statutory and non-statutory portfolio bodies and statutory office holders.

Portfolio Bodies

The Department provides advice to Ministers on strategic governance issues associated with portfolio bodies including Ministerial appointments, performance outcomes and their contribution to the Government’s broader policy agenda.

Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS)

Established in 1980 as an independent, statutory authority, the role of AIFS is to conduct research and communicate findings that affect family wellbeing to policy makers, service providers and the broader community.

• Australian Institute of Family Studies website

Hearing Australia

Hearing Australia is the largest provider of government funded hearing services. Hearing Australia provides hearing services to clients eligible under the Australian Government Hearing Services Program. Its services include assessing hearing, fitting hearing devices and providing rehabilitative programs to help eligible clients manage their hearing impairment.

• Hearing Australia website

National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA)

The NDIA operates the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). It provides individualised support for eligible people with permanent and significant disability, their families and carers, encourages greater inclusion and access to mainstream services, community activities and other government initiatives.

• National Disability Insurance Agency website

The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

The Commission is an independent agency established to improve the quality and safety of NDIS supports and services. The role of the Commission is to regulate the NDIS market, provide national consistency, promote safety and quality services, resolve problems and identify areas for improvement.

• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website

Services Australia

Services Australia delivers social and health related services, through its Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support programmes. Through close collaboration with the community and partner agencies, the agency plays an active role in developing new approaches to social and health related policy and service delivery.

• Services Australia website

Statutory Appointments

A statutory office holder is a person who holds a position to which duties and functions are specifically assigned in legislation (as opposed to people who carry out the duties and functions assigned to a body established in legislation).

The Department supports the Minister in appointment matters for the following statutory appointments:

* Referred to as Australian Hearing in the enabling legislation
** Referred to as the National Disability Insurance Scheme Launch Transition Agency in the enabling legislation

Ministerial Appointments to boards and Advisory bodies

The Department supports the Minister in making appointments to boards and advisory bodies with a level of input or Ministerial sign-off on appointments, such as members of non-statutory bodies and Directors of companies. These include appointments to the following bodies:

• Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS) Expert Advisory Committee (formerly the AIFS Advisory Council)
• Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS)
• National Disability and Carers Advisory Council
• Our WATCh.

Further information

Further information about the statutory and non-statutory appointments (including appointee details) in the Social Services Portfolio is available on Directory.gov.au.

Last updated: 30 January 2023 - 9:42am