Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)

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.

Department of Veterans' Affairs
Department overview
Formed5 October 1976 (1976-10-05)
Preceding Department
JurisdictionCommonwealth Government
Employees2,055 (at April 2013)[1]
Minister responsible
Department executive
Child agencies
Websitewww.dva.gov.au
Footnotes
[2][3][4]

The current Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs is Elizabeth Cosson AM (Mil) CSC, who succeeded Simon Lewis as Secretary, on 19 May 2018.[5]

For administration purposes, the department forms part of the Defence portfolio.[6] 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:[6]

  • 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:[2][7][8][9]

Key legislation

The Department of Veterans' Affairs is responsible for administration of several key Acts:[10]

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.[11]

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
1Sir Richard KingslandSecretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs5 October 1976 (1976-10-05)19814–5 yearsserved as Secretary to the Repatriation Department since 1970
2Derek Volker198114 November 1986 (1986-11-14)4–5 years
3Noel Tanzer18 December 1986 (1986-12-18)1 March 1989 (1989-03-01)2 years, 73 days
4Lionel Woodward1 March 1989 (1989-03-01)26 April 1994 (1994-04-26)5 years, 56 days
5Allan Hawke199419961–2 years
6Neil Johnston11 March 1996 (1996-03-11)30 September 2004 (2004-09-30)8 years, 203 days
7Mark Sullivan26 October 2004 (2004-10-26)20083–4 years
8Ian Campbell22 September 2008 (2008-09-22)5 July 2013 (2013-07-05)4 years, 286 days
9Simon LewisJuly 201318 May 20187 years, 44 daysacting 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.[12]

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See also
  • Minister for Veterans' Affairs
  • List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities

References
  1. 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
  2. CA 2107: Department of Veterans' Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
  3. Australian Government. "Budget Paper No. 1". 2013–14 Commonwealth Budget. Statement 6: Expenses and Net Capital Investment: Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 24 September 2013.CS1 maint: location (link)
  4. "The Secretary: Simon Lewis PSM". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 11 July 2013. Archived from the original on 12 February 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
  5. "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.
  6. "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.
  7. CA 616: Australian War Memorial, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
  8. CA 4456: Office of Australian War Graves, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
  9. CA 225: Repatriation Commission [II], National Archives of Australia, retrieved 23 September 2013
  10. "Legislation". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 13 July 2009. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  11. "Ms. Liz Cosson AM CSC". Directory. Government of Australia. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
  12. "Our structure". Department of Veterans' Affairs. Commonwealth of Australia. 5 August 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
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