Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)

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Department of Veterans' Affairs
Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia) logo.png
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 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.[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
1 Sir Richard Kingsland Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs 5 October 1976 (1976-10-05) 1981 4–5 years served as Secretary to the Repatriation Department since 1970
2 Derek Volker 1981 14 November 1986 (1986-11-14) 4–5 years
3 Noel Tanzer 18 December 1986 (1986-12-18) 1 March 1989 (1989-03-01) 2 years, 73 days
4 Lionel Woodward 1 March 1989 (1989-03-01) 26 April 1994 (1994-04-26) 5 years, 56 days
5 Allan Hawke 1994 1996 1–2 years
6 Neil Johnston 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) 30 September 2004 (2004-09-30) 8 years, 203 days
7 Mark Sullivan 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) 2008 3–4 years
8 Ian Campbell 22 September 2008 (2008-09-22) 5 July 2013 (2013-07-05) 4 years, 286 days
9 Simon Lewis July 2013 18 May 2018 8 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.[12]

See also[]

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. ^ Jump up to: a b "CA 2107: Department of Veterans' Affairs, Central Office", National Archives of Australia, retrieved 9 February 2021
  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. ^ Jump up to: 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.
  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.

External links[]

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