Working with ministerial offices
Departmental Liaison Officers
A Departmental Liaison Officer (DLO) is a public servant who is temporarily placed in a minister's office (MO). They act as a conduit between their department and the MO.
Information on the allocation of Department of Social Services DLOs to portfolio ministers is provided in the table below. This information is updated twice a year.
Correct as at 31 October 2024.
| Minister | DLO allocation and classification |
|---|---|
| The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP | Two (2): 1x EL2, 1x EL1 |
| The Hon Bill Shorten MP | One (1): EL1 |
| The Hon Clare O'Neil MP | One (1): APS6 |
| The Hon Justine Elliot MP | One (1): APS6 |
| The Hon Kate Thwaites MP | One (1): APS6 |
Ministerial briefs and correspondence
The Department of Social Services routinely provides briefing to its ministers.
The table below shows the number of briefings provided to ministers or assistant ministers.
| 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 (to 31/10/24) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total sent to MO | 1,578 | 1,642 | 1,197 | 1,792 | 1,963 | 708 |
The table below shows the number of correspondence sent for ministers or assistant minister signature.
| 2019–20 | 2020–21 | 2021–22 | 2022–23 | 2023–24 | 2024–25 (to 31/10/24) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total sent to MO | 1,727 | 1,259 | 1,024 | 2,023 | 1,201 | 426 |
The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission provided 46 briefs to the ministers and assistant minister between 29 September 2022 and 31 October 2024.
Interdepartmental committees, taskforces, reviews and entities
Interdepartmental committees
An Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) is a common governance body for cross-agency taskforces. An IDC is where officials from representative agencies may discuss work and provide input on deliverables.
The Department of Social Services and its portfolio agencies are regularly involved in the work of IDCs. We participate in IDCs that are led by the following departments/agencies:
- Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
- Department of Finance
- The Treasury
- Department of Health and Aged Care
- Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
- National Indigenous Australians Agency
- Attorney General’s Department
- Department of Education
- Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
- Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
- Australian Tax Office
- Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
- Department of Home Affairs
- National Disability Insurance Agency
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Digital Transformation Agency
- Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Some examples of IDC topics include: Australian Public Service reforms; Closing the Gap; health and wellbeing; aged care; people with disability; gender equality; education; employment; children and young people; seniors; families; communities; income management; housing; migration; regional development; international relations; finance; privacy; integrity; and resilience and emergency management.
By their nature, IDCs can be established and conclude their work rapidly as the need arises.
Taskforces
Taskforces are a method of doing business across the Australian Public Service (APS), including in the department. Taskforces are regularly established within the department to meet emerging or high-profile government priorities. Some are short term (3 to 6 months), some longer (1 to 3 years). All taskforces require dedicated focus, varying timescales, set-up and delivery resourcing and effort from many parts of the department and more broadly across the APS.
Our department and its portfolio agencies are regularly involved in the work of a range of taskforces.
Reviews
Our department is also involved in reviews. The department’s current reviews, as at 31 October 2024, are:
- Review of Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031
- Review of the 1st set of Targeted Action plans (TAPs) under Australia’s Disability Strategy 2021–2031
- Evaluation of the Escaping Violence Payment trial
- National Model of Care
- Review of child, youth and parenting programs under the Families and Children (FaC) Activity
- Review of Carer Payments and Supports
- Transition to Independent Living Allowance (TILA) Review
- Review of jurisdictions’ implementation of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Child Placement Principle.
The department’s reviews which were released between 1 July 2022 and 31 October 2024, are:
- Evaluation of the Escaping Violence Payment (EVP) trial - released on 15 September 2023
- Social Impact Investing (SII) Program Evaluation - released on 28 June 2024
- Review of the Reconnect Program – released on 28 June 2024.
Entities
Since 1 July 2022, the following new entities including advisory boards and agencies have been wound up, amalgamated, ceased, disbanded, or reconstituted as new bodies:
- Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership - ceased in October 2022
- Financial Counselling Industry Funding Advisory Group - ceased 30 June 2023
- Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel – ceased 7 June 2024
- National Autism Strategy Oversight Council – ceased 14 August 2024
Since 1 July 2024, the following new entities including advisory boards and agencies were created:
- National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People (entity) – established as an Executive Agency on 26 September 2024 – to commence operations on 13 January 2025
- Parents and Carers Reference Group – 26 November 2024 (first meeting)
Groups, councils and committees
Our groups, councils and committees provide ways for people and organisations to help us develop policies and provide advice on specific issues.
- Australia’s Disability Strategy Advisory Council(Opens in a new tab/window)
The Advisory Council’s role is to advise Australian governments and disability ministers on the implementation of Australia’s Disability Strategy. - Blueprint Expert Advisory Group (BERG)
An advisory group established to create a sector led not for profit Blueprint to provide the not for profit and charities sector with support and strategic direction. - Child Support Stakeholder Consultation Group
An advisory group to Government on the Child Support Scheme to help achieve better outcomes for separated and separating families. - Community Services Advisory Group
A key community sector stakeholder engagement group on issues relating to the department’s policies and programs. - Disability Reform Ministerial Council
The Ministerial Council provides advice about how to improve disability policy and implementation through Australia's Disability Strategy (ADS) and the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). - Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel
An expert 14-member Early Years Strategy Advisory Panel was established to provide advice to Government to inform the development of the Strategy. Members of the Advisory Panel work collaboratively to share their insights and expertise on how to best support children and families in the early years. - Economic Inclusion Advisory Committee
Provides independent advice to Government before each Budget on economic inclusion and tackling disadvantage. - Forced Adoptions
Provide key advice to Government on services and projects to improve support for people affected by forced adoption practices. - Housing and Homelessness Ministerial Council
The Ministerial Council provides a forum to progress critical housing and homelessness reforms, including improving housing supply, affordability and accessibility, and pathways out of homelessness. - Intercountry Adoption Authorities
The department performs the duties of the Australian Central Authority under the Hague Convention. There is also a central authority for each state and territory. Responsibility for intercountry adoption is shared across these central authorities. - National Autism Strategy Oversight Council
The National Autism Strategy Oversight Council will guide the development of the Strategy. The Oversight Council includes an autistic co-chair and a majority of members from the autistic community, sector representatives, researchers with some members from relevant Australian Government departments. - National Coordination Group
The National Coordination Group monitors demand for Emergency Relief, Food Relief and Financial Counselling services in response to cost of living pressures and natural disasters. The Group provides advice to Government on where additional support is most needed. - National Disability Data Asset Disability Advisory Council(Opens in a new tab/window)
An expert Disability Advisory Council guided the Pilot for the National Disability Data Asset. - National Leadership Group
A cross-sector advisory body that supports the implementation of the Stronger Places, Stronger People initiative. - Partnership Priorities Committee
Helps steer better policy and delivery outcomes by embedding partnerships and co‑design.
Operational matters
Events catering
All hospitality provided at events delivering government objectives where attendance included persons other than departmental officials, consisted of general catering for working meals or light refreshments. The approximate cost was:
- 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024: $241,911
- 1 July 2024 to 31 October 2024: $22,956.73.
Department leadership forums
The department regularly holds in-person executive forums to build capability in our leadership. These are for both senior leadership staff (including SES and state managers), and for Executive Level 2 staff. In-person forums are usually 5-6 hours long and involve catering for morning tea and lunch (buffet-style of salads, sandwiches/wraps and a hot food option). Participants are encouraged to attend in-person, with an online option also available for those unable to attend.
2024
Executive Level 2 forums
| Date, venue and approximate attendance | Key topics and external speakers |
|---|---|
20 March 2024 (9:30 am to 3 pm) Hellenic Club, Woden ACT Approximate attendance: 250 | Secretary’s address, address from Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), fraud, flexible working, evaluation expectations, Department of Social Services website upgrade, Q and A with deputy secretaries, corporate update. External speakers:
|
25 July 2024 (9:30 am to 3 pm) Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden ACT
| Address from the Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), campaigns update, Q and A with deputy secretaries, group activity on challenges for managers, presentation from National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC), Department of Social Services website update. External speakers:
|
Date: 24 October 2024 (9:30 am – 3 pm) Venue: Canberra Southern Cross Club, Woden Approximate attendance: 280 | Key topics: Campaigns showcase, networking activity, bullying and harassment discussion, Q&A with senior leaders on managing through change, Engaging with Ministers’ offices, Secretary address. External speakers: Nil |
Senior leadership forums
| Date, venue and approximate attendance | Key topics and external speakers |
|---|---|
20 February 2024 (9:30 am to 3:30 pm)
Approximate attendance: 80 | Secretary’s address, leadership discussion, legal authority, Australian Institute of Family Studies discussion, corporate update (including flexible working). External speakers:
|
Wednesday 19 June 2024 (9:30 am to 3:00 pm)
| Secretary’s review, leadership discussion, corporate update, Q and A with deputy secretaries. External speaker:
|
Thursday 19 September 2024 (9:30 am to 3:00 pm)
| Department of Social Services update, Social Residualisation project, disability reforms, Services Australia, group activity on briefing and Right to Disconnect. External speakers:
|
2023
Executive Level 2 forums
| Date, venue and approximate attendance | Key topics and external speakers |
|---|---|
27 April 2023 (9:30 am to 2:30 pm)
| Working with ministers’ offices, media management, integrity culture, Q and A sessions with the Secretary and deputy secretaries, Australia’s Disability Strategy in depth and a corporate update. External speakers: nil |
12 October 2023 (9:30 am to 2:30 pm)
| Secretary’s address, Q and A with deputy secretaries, APS reform, performance management, DLO role and corporate update External speakers:
|
Senior leadership forums
| Date, venue and approximate attendance | Key topics and external speakers |
|---|---|
16 March 2023 (9:30 am to 2:30 pm)
| Key topics: Secretary’s address, Closing the Gap update, Staff Engagement Action Plan, National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) update, Early Years Strategy, Q and A with deputy secretaries, and corporate update. External speakers:
|
27 July 2023 (9:30 am to 2:30 pm)
| Secretary’s address, working with the minister’s office, stakeholder engagement, Robodebt discussion, Q and A with the Secretary and deputy secretaries. External speakers:
|
7 December 2023 (2 pm to 5 pm)
| Disability Royal Commission in depth, systems thinking, Secretary’s address and Q and A. External speakers:
|
Travel
The department’s Official Travel Policy provides the overarching rules and principles for officials undertaking official travel, or organising official travel for others, including:
- Officials ensuring maximum value for money is achieved when booking travel. Value for money requires the use of Commonwealth resources in a proper (efficient, effective, economical and ethical) manner, and is enhanced through competition.
- When booking travel, officials making decisions based on an impartial consideration of the fares available and not on a personal preference for a particular airline or aircraft type, provision of access to airline lounges or accumulating airline status points.
- Official travel being undertaken where other communication tools, such as teleconferencing and videoconferencing, are an impractical option.
Travel expenses
The total travel expense for the department including Secretary and Deputy Secretary travel is:
- 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024: $7.25 million.
- 1 July 2024 to 31 October 2024: $2.43 million.
The table below shows details of Secretary and Deputy Secretary travel.*
| Number of trips 2023‑24 | Total cost 2023‑24 | Number of trips Jul‑Oct 2024 | Total cost Jul- Oct 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary | 17 | $89,249.11*** | 9 | $33,661.86*** |
| Deputy Secretary Social Security ** | 5 | $3,884.21 | 3 | $4,333.78 |
| Deputy Secretary Families and Communities ** | 16 | $27,963.96 | 4 | $13,400.16 |
| Deputy Secretary Disability and Carers ** | 11 | $32,981.50 | 3 | $4,352.58 |
| Chief Operating Officer ** | 1 | $5,884.66 | 2 | $948.91 |
| Previous incumbents | 0 | $NIL | 0 | $NIL |
* Data is provided by the whole-of-government contract provider and at the time of publication may not include adjustments of trips (including amended travel dates, and late cancellations) in this reporting period. The data provided includes flights, ground transport and accommodation.
** Deputy Secretary positions reflect titles outlined on the department's organisation chart at the time of publication.
*** Includes international travel.
Facilities
The department has a presence in each state and territory with approximately 3,600 work points.
Upgrades to the department’s staff amenities (including SES offices) are managed in accordance with Commonwealth guidelines and policies, including the Commonwealth Procurement Rules(Opens in a new tab/window).
From 1 July 2023 to 31 October 2024, the department had 7 contracts with a total value of $4,932,386 relating to upgrades to staff amenities as per table below. The department's procurement contracts with a minimum contract value of $10,000 (GST inclusive) and above are reported on the AusTender website(Opens in a new tab/window).
The table below shows costs and details of upgrades to staff amenities.
| Location | Address | Description | Cost (GST inclusive) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canberra | Enid Lyons Building, 71 Athllon Drive, Greenway ACT | Auto doors to conference room facilities | $67,507 |
| Canberra | Enid Lyons Building, 71 Athllon Drive, Greenway ACT | Changing Places Facility | $311,093 |
| Canberra | Enid Lyons Building, 71 Athllon Drive, Greenway ACT | Self-adjustable monitor arms | $1,166,558 |
| Canberra | Enid Lyons Building, 71 Athllon Drive, Greenway ACT | Security Bollards Installation | $55,165.00 |
| Sydney | State Office – Tower B, Levels 8 and 9, 280 Elizabeth St, Surry NSW | Accommodation fitout – level 8 | $2,983,722 |
| All Offices | Task Chairs - re-stock | $131,845 | |
| Perth | State Office – Level 2, 45 St Georges Terrace, Perth WA | Accommodation - minor fit out | $216,496 |
Our people
We continue to invest in our people’s capability and grow the diversity of our workforce to support the government to deliver outcomes for all Australians.
Our employee data is reported on biannually, based on data as at the end of June and end of December, via the APS Employment Database(Opens in a new tab/window) (APSED).
Learn more about the department’s organisational structure, including SES, on the organisational structure page.
As at 31 October 2024, the department’s workforce comprised of:
- 3,571 APS staff
- 401 contractors.
Of the 3,571 APS staff:
- 3,370 are ongoing
- 201 are non-ongoing.
221 APS staff in the department identify as a person with disability (6.2 % against the APS average of 5.2 %*).
161 APS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff work for the department (4.5 % compared to the APS average of 3.4 %*).
* APS Employment Data 30 June 2024, published 27 September 2024.
The table below shows the Average Staffing Level (ASL), Full Time Employees (FTE) headcount and contractors as at 31 October 2024.
| 31-Oct-24 | 30-Jun-24 | 30-Jun-23 | 30-Jun-22 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASL budget | 2,891.00 | 2,894.00 | 2,428.00 | 2,044.00 |
| ASL actual | 3,256.30 | 2,835.70 | 2,624.50 | 2,235.80 |
| FTE | 3,325.10 | 3,134.10 | 2,572.20 | 2,443.90 |
| Headcount | 3,571 | 3,408 | 2,823 | 2,819 |
| Contractors | 401 | 266 | 386 | 418 |
| Contractor % | 10.1% | 7.2% | 12.0% | 12.9% |
The table below shows the staff headcount and diversity numbers by classification as at 31 October 2024.
| Classification* | Actual** | Indigenous | Disability | CALD*** |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SES 1-3 | 108 | 7 | 8 | 5 |
| EL1-2 | 1,408 | 35 | 80 | 89 |
| APS1-6 | 2,003 | 119 | 130 | 111 |
| Graduates and trainees | 52 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Total | 3,571 | 161 | 221 | 208 |
*APS employees only.
**This includes staff in their acting role and the substantive who are on leave.
***The department currently uses Non-English Speaking Background (NESB) data from the human resources (HR) system to determine Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) status.
Recruitment
The department continues to have a consistent approach on recruitment, taking approximately 14 weeks to complete the advertising, shortlisting, interviewing, and onboarding processes. Although the number of jobs advertised in the past 12 months has increased, the timeframe has remained the same.
During the period 1 January 2024 to 31 October 2024, the department has advertised a total of 237 vacancies, both ongoing and non-ongoing roles.
During the period 1 January 2024 to 31 October 2024, the department has engaged 422 ongoing employees and 213 non-ongoing employees (total 635).
The table below shows the number of ongoing and non-ongoing staff working full time or part time.
| Ongoing | Non-ongoing | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Engaged full time | 360 | Engaged full time | 181 |
| Engaged part time | 62 | Engaged part time | 32 |
| Total | 422 | Total | 213 |
Of the 422 ongoing staff, 352 transferred into the department from other APS agencies.
267 employees transferred at the same classification and 85 employees commenced on promotion.
Flexible work arrangements as at 31 October 2024:
- 1,962 of our people have approved working away from the office arrangements, accounting for 54.9 % of the workforce (ongoing and non-ongoing employees)
- 546 of our people worked on a part time employment arrangement
- 300 also accessed working away from the office arrangements
- 264 of our people accessed compressed hours
- 190 also accessed working away from office arrangements
- 565 of our people worked a pattern of hours outside of the standard hours
- 352 also accessed working away from the office arrangements
- 1,135 staff within ACT had a flexible work agreement in place, accounting for 48.6 % of all ACT staff (excluding non-APS contractors).
The table below shows a breakdown of employees working from home per fortnight.
| Number of days per fortnight | Number of employees | Percentage of workforce |
|---|---|---|
| One day a fortnight | 6 | 0.2% |
| 2 days a fortnight | 172 | 4.8% |
| 3 days a fortnight | 35 | 1.0% |
| 4 days a fortnight | 652 | 18.4% |
| 5 days a fortnight | 49 | 1.4% |
| 6 days a fortnight | 474 | 13.4% |
| 7 days a fortnight | 46 | 1.3% |
| 8 days a fortnight | 421 | 11.9% |
| 9 days a fortnight | 17 | 0.5% |
| 10 days a fortnight | 90 | 2.5% |
A total of 1,048 staff (excluded non-APS contractors) work 6 or more days per fortnight at home. The table below shows the APS classification for these staff.
| APS classification | Total number |
|---|---|
| APS3 | 2 |
| APS4 | 75 |
| APS5 | 299 |
| APS6 | 337 |
| EL1 | 265 |
| EL2 | 70 |
| Grand Total | 1,048 |
Work health and safety
The department is committed to promoting and sustaining a robust safety and wellbeing culture. We value physical and psychological health, safety and wellbeing and promoting inclusivity.
From 1 July 2024 to 31 October 2024:
- 5 incidents were notified to Comcare.
Freedom of Information requests
The department is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982(Opens in a new tab/window) (Cth), including the requirement to publish information as part of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS).
Further detail about the information which has been released in response to an FOI request is available on our Freedom of Information Disclosure Log.
Advertising
The department's total expenditure on government approved information and advertising campaigns in financial year 2024-25 to 31 October 2024 is $11,578,317 (GST exclusive) as itemised in the table below.
| Campaign | Purpose | Expenditure 2024-25 to 31 October 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Consent | Reduce the incidence of sexual violence in Australia by improving community understanding and attitudes on consent and healthy sexual relationships. | $4,829,702 |
| Volunteering Awareness | Increase awareness, interest and consideration of volunteering opportunities among young people 15 to 18 years old. | $694,794 |
| Stop it at the Start | Increase awareness amongst adults of the new and negative influences impacting young people and their behaviours towards disrespect and violence against women. | $6,053,821 |
| TOTAL | $11,578,317 |
Promotional merchandise
From 1 July 2024 to 31 October 2024, there was no expenditure on promotional products.
From 1 July 2023 to 30 June 2024, the department's spend on promotional products was $8,160 (GST exclusive).
Procurement activities
The department’s approach to procuring goods and services, including consultancies, is undertaken in accordance with the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013(Opens in a new tab/window) (Cth) and the requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.
In 2023-24, the department entered into 414 contracts with a total value of $166.4 million (GST inclusive). Further, between 1 July 2024 and 31 October 2024, the department entered into 149 contracts with a total value of $99.1 million (GST inclusive). In accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, we publish all procurement contracts with a value greater than $10,000 (GST inclusive) on the AusTender website(Opens in a new tab/window).
In 2023-24, the department awarded 38 contracts to Indigenous businesses with a total value of $14.3 million (GST inclusive). Further, between 1 July 2024 and 31 October 2024, the department awarded 10 contracts to Indigenous businesses with a total value of $3.2 million (GST inclusive).
Use of consultants
In 2023-24, the department entered into 59 contracts with a total value of $23.3 million (GST inclusive). Further, between 1 July 2024 and 31 October 2024, the department entered into 20 new consultancy contracts with total value of $4.3 million (GST inclusive).
The department engages consultants:
- when there is a need for independent research and assessment
- when there is a need for specialised or professional skills
- where there are skills currently unavailable within the department.
In accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, details about the department's consultancy contracts with a contract value of $10,000 (GST inclusive) and above are reported on the AusTender website(Opens in a new tab/window).
Paper usage
The department’s paper usage and its cost for the last 5 financial years is provided in the tables below.
| 2019/2020 | 2020/2021 | 2021/2022 | 2022/2023 | 2023/2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian made spend | $72,466.41 | $61,603.98 | $28,610.45 | $26,415.31 | $348.46 |
| Overseas spend | $635.46 | $550.14 | $533.85 | $9,482.98 | $40,996.26 |
| Total spend | $73,101.87 | $62,154.12 | $29,144.30 | $35,898.29 | $41,344.72 |
| 2019/2020 | 2020/2021 | 2021/2022 | 2022/2023 | 2023/2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian made reams | 13,707 | 11,369 | 4,989 | 4,511 | 34 |
| Overseas reams | 54 | 65 | 32 | 1,557 | 6,301 |
| Total reams | 13,761 | 11,434 | 5,021 | 6,068 | 6,335 |