Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
File:Department of Veterans' Affairs logo.svg | |
Department overview | |
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Formed | 5 October 1976 |
Preceding department |
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Jurisdiction | Australian Government |
Employees | 2,055 (at April 2013)[1] |
Minister responsible | |
Department executive | |
Child agencies |
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Website | dva |
The Department of Veterans' Affairs is a department of the Government of Australia, established in 1976, and charged with the responsibility of delivering government programs for war veterans, members of the Australian Defence Force, members of the Australian Federal Police, and their dependants.
The current Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs is Elizabeth Cosson, who succeeded Simon Lewis as secretary on 19 May 2018.[2]
For administration purposes, the department forms part of the Defence portfolio.[3] The Minister for Defence acts on behalf of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs within the Cabinet.
Operational activities
The functions of the department are broadly classified into the following matters:[3]
- Repatriation income support, compensation and health program for veterans, members of the Defence Force, certain mariners and their dependants
- Commemorations, including promotion of understanding of Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans' Day
- War graves
- Defence Service Homes
Agencies
In carrying out its functions, the department administers the following agencies:[4][5][6][7]
- Australian War Memorial
- Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission
- Office of Australian War Graves
- Repatriation Commission
- Repatriation Medical Authority
- Specialist Medical Review Council
- Veterans’ Children Education Boards
- Veterans' Review Board
Key legislation
The Department of Veterans' Affairs is responsible for administration of several key Acts:[8]
- Defence Service Homes Act, 1918 (Cth)
- Military Rehabilitation and compensation Act, 2004 (Cth)
- Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, 1988 (Cth)
- Veterans Entitlements Act, 1986 (Cth)
- War Graves Act, 1980 (Cth)
Key officeholders
Department secretary
The Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs is Liz Cosson, since May 2018. In addition to her role of departmental secretary, she is also the President of the Repatriation Commission and Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.[9]
Below is a full list of the Department's Secretaries since it was established.
Order | Official | Official title | Date appointment commenced |
Date appointment ceased |
Term in office | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Sir Richard Kingsland | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 5 October 1976 | 1981 | 4–5 years | served as Secretary to the Repatriation Department since 1970 |
2 | Derek Volker | 1981 | 14 November 1986 | 4–5 years | ||
3 | Noel Tanzer | 18 December 1986 | 1 March 1989 | 2 years, 73 days | ||
4 | Lionel Woodward | 1 March 1989 | 26 April 1994 | 5 years, 56 days | ||
5 | Allan Hawke | 1994 | 1996 | 1–2 years | ||
6 | Neil Johnston | 11 March 1996 | 30 September 2004 | 8 years, 203 days | ||
7 | Mark Sullivan | 26 October 2004 | 2008 | 3–4 years | ||
8 | Ian Campbell | 22 September 2008 | 5 July 2013 | 4 years, 286 days | ||
9 | Simon Lewis | July 2013 | 18 May 2018 | 11 years, 63 days | acting between May and July 2013 | |
10 | Liz Cosson | 18 May 2018 | incumbent |
Other key officeholders
Other key officeholders in the department are the Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission, currently Major General Craig Orme; and the Repatriation Commissioner, currently Major General Mark Kelly AO DSC.[10]
See also
References
- ^ Australian Public Service Commission (2 December 2013), State of the Service Report: State of the Service Series 2012–13 (PDF), Australian Public Service Commission, p. 254, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 December 2013
- ^ "The Secretary". Department of Veteran’s Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
On 19 May 2018, Liz Cosson AM CAC was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs... Liz joined the Australian Public Service in 2010
. - ^ a b "Administrative Arrangements Order" (PDF). Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Commonwealth of Australia. 18 September 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 September 2013. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
- ^ "CA 2107: Department of Veterans' Affairs, Central Office", National Archives of Australia, retrieved 9 February 2021
- ^ CA 616: Australian War Memorial, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
- ^ CA 4456: Office of Australian War Graves, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
- ^ CA 225: Repatriation Commission [II], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
- ^ "Legislation". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
- ^ "Ms. Liz Cosson AM CSC". Directory. Government of Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ "Our structure". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
External links
- Use dmy dates from September 2013
- Use Australian English from September 2013
- All Wikipedia articles written in Australian English
- Articles with hCards
- AC with 0 elements
- 1976 establishments in Australia
- Government departments of Australia
- Ministries established in 1976
- Veterans' affairs in Australia
- Veterans' affairs ministries