The Department of Health and Aged Care (DHAC), formerly the Department of Health, is a department of the

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

responsible for health research, funding, promotion and regulation in Australia. Primary health care and aged care services are overseen by DHAC, while tertiary health services are administered by state and territory governments. The department is responsible for programs such as Medicare, the

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) is a program of the Australian Government that subsidises prescription medication for Australian citizens and permanent residents, as well as international visitors covered by a reciprocal health care ag ...

, and agencies such as the

Therapeutic Goods Administration The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) is the medicine and therapeutic regulatory agency of the Australian Government. As part of the Department of Health and Aged Care, the TGA regulates the quality, supply and advertising of medicines, p ...

and the

National Health and Medical Research Council The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) is the main statutory authority of the Australian Government responsible for medical research. It was the eighth largest research funding body in the world in 2016, and NHMRC-funded rese ...

. The department is responsible to parliament through the minister for health and aged care, and is supported by four assistant ministers. The department secretary, Brendan Murphy, is responsible for day-to-day accountability of the organisation. The

chief medical officer Chief medical officer (CMO) is the title used in many countries for the senior government official designated head of medical services, sometimes at the national level. The post is held by a physician who serves to advise and lead a team of medical ...

is Paul Kelly, who oversees clinical operations.

History

The first Department of Health was established in 1921 and was the precursor to today's Department of Health. It was dissolved in 1987, when it was merged with the Department of Community Services to form the Department of Community Services and Health. In June 1991, the

Department of Health, Housing and Community Services The Department of Health, Housing and Community Services was an Australian government department that existed between June 1991 and March 1993. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation c ...

was formed when housing industry programs were transferred from the

Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce The Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce was an Australian government department that existed between December 1984 and March 1993. History The Department was created by the Hawke Government in December 1984, a substantial ...

. In March 1993 the

Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs The Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs was an Australian government department that existed between July 1987 and March 1993. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding all ...

joined with the Department of Health, Housing and Community Services to form the

Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services The Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services was an Australian government department that existed between March and December 1993. The Department was created when the local government functions of the Departm ...

. Subsequently, in December 1993, the department was abolished and replaced with the

Department of Human Services and Health The Department of Human Services and Health was an Australian government department that had existed between December 1993 and March 1996. The Department was created when the Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Communi ...

. Also in 1994, the Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health was established. After a new government was elected in March 1996, the Department of Health and Family Services was formed. The department also had responsibility for the

Supported Accommodation Assistance Program The Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) is aimed at reducing homelessness in Australia. SAAP started in 1985 when Commonwealth and State/Territory funding programs were brought together. The object of the new arrangement was to grant ...

from the former

Department of Housing and Regional Development The Department of Housing and Regional Development was an Australian government department that existed between March 1994 and March 1996. History The department was created by the Keating government on 25 March 1994, divid ...

. Later, the department assumed responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health matters from the

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) (1990–2005) was the Australian Government body through which Aboriginal Australians and Torres Strait Islanders were formally involved in the processes of government affecting ...

. After the October 1998 election, the department was abolished and replaced by the Australian Federal Department of Health and Aged Care, named to reflect new responsibilities and functions. Responsibility for Family and Children's Services, Disability Programs and the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service were transferred to the Department of Family and Community Services on 22 October 1998. Following the November 2001 election, the Australian Federal Department of Health and Aged Care was abolished and replaced with the Australian Federal Department of Health and Ageing. The Australian Federal Department of Health and Ageing was abolished in 2013 and replaced by the current Australian Federal Department of Health on 18 September 2013 by way of an '' Administrative Arrangements Order'' issued by the

Governor-General of Australia The governor-general of Australia is the representative of the monarch, currently King Charles III, in Australia.Abbott Government.

Role of Secretary

Chief Medical Officer Chief medical officer (CMO) is the title used in many countries for the senior government official designated head of medical services, sometimes at the national level. The post is held by a physician who serves to advise and lead a team of medical ...

Professor Brendan Murphy, was appointed Secretary of the department, commencing 13 July 2020 (was originally to commence 1 March 2020). He is the first

medical doctor A physician (American English), medical practitioner (English in the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, mai ...

to serve as Secretary. He went on to become "the public face of Australia's fight against

COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quick ...

" during the

COVID-19 pandemic in Australia The COVID-19 pandemic in Australia is part of the ongoing worldwide pandemic of the coronavirus disease 2019 () caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (). The first confirmed case in Australia was identified on 25 January ...

, giving several

press conference A press conference or news conference is a media event in which notable individuals or organizations invite journalists to hear them speak and ask questions. Press conferences are often held by politicians, corporations, non-governmental organ ...

s with the

Prime Minister A prime minister, premier or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. Under those systems, a prime minister is ...

, Scott Morrison, and Health Minister Greg Hunt.

Scope

According to the Administrative Arrangements Order issued 18 September 2013, matters dealt with by the department are: * Public health, including health protection, and medical research * Health promotion and disease prevention * Primary health care * Hospitals funding and policy, including relationships and linkages within the continuum of health care * Implementation of the National Health and Hospitals Network * Health research * Pharmaceutical benefits * Health benefits schemes * Hearing services policy and funding * Specific health services, including human quarantine * Sport and recreation * National drug strategy * Regulation of therapeutic goods * Notification and assessment of industrial chemicals * Gene technology regulation * Medical indemnity insurance issues * Private health insurance * Blood, Organ and Dental policy and funding * Health workforce capacity * Mental health policy and primary mental health care

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Department Of Health

Health Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity".World Health Organization. (2006)''Constitution of the World Health Organ ...

Australia, Health

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands. With an area of , Australia is the largest country by ...

Public policy in Australia Medical and health organisations based in Australia Health policy in Australia 2013 establishments in Australia

History

Role of Secretary

Scope

See also

References