Main entrance to FaHCSIA offices March 2013

The former

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

n Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) was a

department Department may refer to: * Departmentalization, division of a larger organization into parts with specific responsibility Government and military *Department (administrative division), a geographical and administrative division within a country, ...

of the

Government of Australia The Australian Government, also known as the Commonwealth Government, is the national government of Australia, a federalism, federal parliamentary system, parliamentary constitutional monarchy. Like other Westminster system, Westminster-sty ...

located in Greenway in

Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia. Founded following the federation of the colonies of Australia as the seat of government for the new nation, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The ci ...

. It was formed in 2007 and absorbed the former Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. As a result of an Administrative Arrangements Order issued on 18 September 2013, the Department of Social Services was established and assumed most of the responsibilities of FaHCSIA; with indigenous affairs functions assumed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Operational activities

The former department's role was to develop social policies and support affected Australian society and the living standards of Australian families. The

Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination __NOTOC__ The Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination (OIPC) was the Australian Government-led unit for the coordination of policy, programs and services for Indigenous Australians from July 2004 to August 2011. The OIPC was formally establish ...

was a part of FaHCSIA. In the Administrative Arrangements Order of 3 December 2007, the functions of the department were broadly classified into the following matters: *Income security policies and programs for families with children, carers, the aged and people in hardship *Services for families with children, people with disabilities and carers *Community support services, excluding the Home and Community Care program *Family relationship services *Housing policy co-ordination, welfare housing and rent assistance *Women's policies and programs *Indigenous policy co-ordination and the promotion of reconciliation *Community development employment projects

Administrative structure

The Secretaries of the department were: * Dr Jeff Harmer (3 December 2007 to April 2011). Harmer had been appointed Secretary of the previous Department of Families and Community Services in October 2004. * Mr Finn Pratt (April 2011 to 18 September 2013).

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Department Of Families, Housing, Community Services And Indigenous Affairs Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs

Australian Australian(s) may refer to: Australia * Australia, a country * Australians, citizens of the Commonwealth of Australia ** European Australians ** Anglo-Celtic Australians, Australians descended principally from British colonists ** Aboriginal Au ...

Housing in Australia Public policy in Australia Government agencies disestablished in 2013 Government agencies established in 2007 2007 establishments in Australia 2013 disestablishments in Australia Social security in Australia Indigenous affairs ministries