Departmental Operational Information

Department of Social Services Reporting

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Working with Ministerial Offices

Departmental Liaison Officers

A Departmental Liaison Officer (DLO) is a public servant who is temporarily placed in a Minister's office to act as a conduit between their Department and the Minister's office.

Information on the allocation of Department of Social Services DLOs to Portfolio Ministers is provided below. This information is updated twice a year.

Correct as of: 31 December 2023

Minister DLO allocation and classification
The Hon Amanda Rishworth MP Two (2): 1x EL2, 1x EL1
The Hon Bill Shorten MP One (1): EL1
The Hon Julie Collins MP One (1): EL1
The Hon Justine Elliot MP One (1): APS6

Ministerial briefs and correspondence

The Department of Social Services routinely provides briefing to its Ministers.

The number of briefings provided to Ministers or Assistant Ministers:

  2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 1/7/23 – 29/2/24
Total Sent to MO: 1,578 1,642 1,197 1,792 1,293

The number of correspondence for Ministers or Assistant Minister signature:

  2019-20 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 1/7/23 – 29/2/24
Total Sent to MO: 1,727 1,259 1,024 2,023 691

The Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Commission provided 34 briefs to the Ministers and Assistant Minister between 29 September 2022 and 29 February 2024.

Portfolio entities, Interdepartmental Committees, Taskforces and Reviews

An Interdepartmental Committee (IDC) is a common governance body for cross agency taskforces, where officials from representative agencies may discuss work and provide input on deliverables.

The Department of Social Services and its portfolio agencies are regularly involved in the work of IDCs.

By their nature, IDCs can be established and conclude their work rapidly as the need arises.

Taskforces are a method of doing business across the APS, including in DSS. Taskforces are regularly established within DSS to meet emerging or high-profile government priorities. Some are short term (3-6 months), some longer (1-3 years), but all require dedicated focus, varying timescales, set-up and delivery resourcing and effort from many parts of DSS and more broadly across the APS.

DSS and its portfolio agencies are regularly involved in the work of a range of taskforces.

The Department is also involved in reviews. The department’s current reviews, as at March 2024, are:

  • Review of the impact of the Cashless Debit Card (CDC) transition
  • Review of the Financial Wellbeing and Capability (FWC) Activity
  • Review of the Reconnect Program
  • Review of Australia’s Disability Strategy (ADS) 2021-2031
  • Evaluation of the Escaping Violence Payment trial

The Department’s reviews which were released between 1 July 2022 and 1 July 2023, are:

The new entities and advisory boards that have been created within the portfolios since May 2022 are listed on the DSS website - New, amalgamated, ceased or disbanded entities and advisory boards.

Operational matters

Events Catering

For the period from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023, all hospitality provided at events delivering government objectives where attendance included persons other than departmental officials, consisted of general catering for working meals or light refreshments. The approximate cost across this period was $37,660.

DSS Leadership forums

The department regularly holds in-person executive forums to build capability in our leadership. These are for both Senior Leadership staff (including SES and State Managers), and for Executive Level 2 staff. In-person forums range from a few hours to longer days and involve simple catering such as tea, coffee and sandwiches. Participants are encouraged to attend in-person, with an online option also available for those unable to attend.

2024

Executive Level 2 forums
Date: 20 March 2024 (9.30am – 3pm)
Venue: Hellenic Club, Woden ACT
Approximate attendance: 250

Key topics: Secretary’s address, address from Australian Institute of Family Studies (AIFS), fraud, flexible working, evaluation expectations, DSS website upgrade, Q and A with Deputies and corporate update.

External speakers:

  • Acting Director, Australian Institute of Family Studies
Senior Leadership forums
Date: 20 February 2024 (9.30am – 3.30pm)
Venue: Hellenic Club, Woden ACT
Approximate attendance: 80

Key topics: Secretary’s address, leadership discussion, Legal authority, AIFS discussion, corporate update (including flexible working).

External speakers:

  • Deputy Secretary, Prime Minister & Cabinet
  • Acting Director, Australian Institute of Family Studies

2023

Executive Level 2 Forums
Date: 27 April 2023 (9.30am – 2.30pm)
Venue: Hellenic Club, Woden ACT
Approximate attendance: 250 people

Key topics: working with Ministers’ offices, media management, integrity culture, Secretary and Deputy Secretaries’ Q and A sessions, Australia’s Disability Strategy in depth and a corporate update.

External speakers: nil
Date: 12 October 2023 (9.30am – 2.30pm)
Venue: Hellenic Club, Woden ACT
Approximate attendance: 250 people

Key topics: Secretary address, Deputy Secretaries’ Q and A, APS reform, performance management, Departmental Liaison Officer role and corporate update

External speakers: 

  • APS Reform Office
Senior Leadership Forums
Date: 16 March 2023 (9.30am – 2.30pm)
Venue: Southern Cross Club, Woden ACT
Approximate attendance: 80

Key topics: Secretary’s address, Closing the gap update, Staff Engagement Action Plan, NACC update, Early Years Strategy, Q and A with deputies and corporate update.

External speakers:

  • Fraud Prevention and Anti Corruption, Attorney General’s Department.
Date: 27 July 2023 (9.30am – 2.30pm)
Venue: Southern Cross Club, Woden ACT
Approximate attendance: 80

Key topics: Secretary’s address, working with the Minister’s office, Stakeholder engagement, Robodebt discussion, Q and A with Secretary and Deputies.

External speakers:

  • Chief of Staff to Minister Rishworth
Date: 7 December 2023 (2-5pm)
Venue: DSS conference suites, Enid Lyons Building
Approximate attendance: 80

Key topics: Disability Royal Commission in depth, systems thinking, Secretary address and Q and A.

External speakers: 

  • Associate Professor, Macquarie University

Travel

DSS’s Official Travel Policy provides the overarching rules and principles for officials undertaking official travel, or organising official travel for others, including:

  • Officials ensuring maximum value for money is achieved when booking travel. Value for money requires the use of Commonwealth resources in a proper (efficient, effective, economical and ethical) manner, and is enhanced through competition.
  • When booking travel, officials making decisions based on an impartial consideration of the fares available and not on a personal preference for a particular airline or aircraft type, provision of access to airline lounges or accumulating airline status points.
  • Official travel being undertaken where other communication tools, such as teleconferencing and videoconferencing, are an impractical option.

Travel expenses

DSS travel statistics between 1 July 2023 and 31 January 2024 are outlined below.

The total travel expense for DSS is $3.04 million.

Secretary and Deputy Secretaries travel (included in total above)*

  Number of trips Total cost
Secretary 11 $54,302.35***
Deputy Secretary Social Services ** 3 $1,977.44
Deputy Secretary Families and Communities ** 11 $20,594.15
Deputy Secretary Disability and Carers ** 9 $13,746.46
Chief Operating Officer ** 1 $5,884.66
Previous Incumbents 0 $NIL

* Data is provided by the Whole-of-Government contract provider and at the time of publication may not include adjustments of trips (including amended travel dates, and late cancellations) in this reporting period and includes flights, ground transport and accommodation.
** Deputy Secretary positions reflect titles outlined on the DSS organisation chart at the time of publication.
*** Includes International travel

Facilities

The Department has a presence in each State and Territory.

Upgrades to DSS’s staff amenities (including SES offices) are managed in accordance with Commonwealth guidelines and policies, including the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

From 1 July 2023 to 31 January 2024, DSS had 2 contracts with a total value of $2,961,370 relating to upgrades to staff amenities. DSS’s procurement contracts with a minimum contract value of $10,000 (GST inclusive) and above are reported on AusTender.

Our people

At DSS, we continue to invest in our people’s capability and grow the diversity of our workforce to support the Government to deliver outcomes for all Australians.

DSS’s employee data is reported on biannually, based on data as at the end of June and end of December, via the APS Employment Database (APSED).

Information regarding the department’s organisation structure, including Senior Executive Services Officers, is available at Organisational structure.

As at 31 December 2023:

  • the department’s workforce comprised of:
    • 3,058 APS staff
    • 310 Contractors.
  • Of the 3,058 APS staff, 2,846 are ongoing, 211 are non ongoing, and 1 is casual.
  • 205 APS staff in the department identify as having Disability (6.7 per cent against the APS average of 5.1 per cent*).
  • 146 APS Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander staff work for the department (4.8 per cent compared to the APS average of 3.5 per cent*).

* APS Employment Data 30 June 2023, published 26 September 2023.

Average Staffing Level (ASL), Full Time Employees (FTE) Headcount and Contractors as at 31 December 2023:

  31-Dec-23 30-Jun-23 30-Jun-22 30-Jun-21
ASL Budget 2,776.00 2,428.00 2,044.00 1,887.00
ASL Actual 2,652.78 2,624.50 2,235.80 1,989.20
FTE 2,811.80 2,572.20 2,443.90 2,033.70
Headcount 3,058 2,823 2,819 2,414
Contractors 310 386 418 379
Contractor % 9.2% 12.0% 12.9% 13.6%

Staff headcount and diversity numbers by classification as at 31 December 2023:

Classification* Actual** Indigenous Disability CALD
SES 1-3 99 4 13 4
EL1-2 1,207 24 65 86
APS1-6 1,752 118 127 122
Total 3,058 146 205 212

*APS employees only
**This includes staff in their acting role and the substantive who are on leave

Flexible work arrangements as at 31 December 2023:

  • 1,811 staff had approved hybrid working from home arrangements, accounting for 59.2 per cent of the workforce (ongoing and non ongoing employees)
  • 464 staff worked on a part time employment arrangement
    • 272 also accessed hybrid arrangements
  • 177 staff accessed compressed hours
    • 139 also accessed hybrid arrangements
  • 445 staff worked a pattern of hours outside of the standard hours
    • 307 also accessed hybrid arrangements

NOTE: A number of staff access a combination of these arrangements.

Work health and safety

DSS is committed to promoting and sustaining a robust safety and wellbeing culture – valuing physical and psychological health, safety and wellbeing and promoting inclusivity.

From 1 July 2023 to 31 January 2024:

  • 2 matters were referred to the Fair Work Commission
  • 10 matters were referred to Comcare.

Freedom of Information requests

DSS is subject to the Freedom of Information Act 1982 (FOI Act) including the requirement to publish information as part of the Information Publication Scheme (IPS).

Further detail about the information which has been released in response to an FOI request is available on the Departmental FOI Disclosure Log accessible at: Departmental FOI Disclosure Log.

Advertising

The Department of Social Services’ total expenditure on Government approved information and advertising campaigns in financial year 2023 24 to 31 January 2024 is $3,966,217 (GST exclusive) as itemised below:

Campaign Purpose Expenditure 2023-24 to 31 January 2024
Consent To keep young people safe from sexual violence. $438,871
Volunteering Awareness To raise awareness of volunteering among young people 15-18 years old. $50,932
Care and Support Workforce To raise awareness of the employment opportunities in the care and support sector – specifically aged care, disability support and veterans’ care. $9,466
Stop it at the Start To reduce violence against women and children. $1,235,975
Carer Gateway To raise awareness and usage of Carer Gateway. $2,230,973
TOTAL   $3,966,217

Promotional merchandise

From 1 July 2023 to 28 February 2024, DSS spend on promotional merchandise was nil.

Procurement activities

DSS’ approach to procuring goods and services, including consultancies, is undertaken in accordance with the Public Governance Performance and Accountability Act 2013 and the requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

Between 1 July and 31 December 2023, DSS entered into 175 contracts with a total value of $56.4 million (GST inclusive). The department publishes all procurement contracts with a value greater than $10,000 (GST inclusive) on AusTender, in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

Between 1 July and 31 December 2023, DSS awarded 23 contracts to Indigenous businesses with a total value of $14.6 million (GST inclusive).

Use of consultants

Between 1 July and 31 December 2023, DSS entered into 16 new consultancy contracts with total actual expenditure of $1.1 million (GST inclusive). In addition, 49 ongoing reportable consultancy contracts were active during the same period, with total actual expenditure of $6.8 million (GST inclusive).

DSS engages consultants when there is a need for independent research and assessment, there is a need for specialised or professional skills, and where there are skills currently unavailable within DSS.

Details about DSS’ consultancy contracts with a contract value of $10,000 (GST inclusive) and above are reported on AusTender, in accordance with the Commonwealth Procurement Rules.

Paper usage

The department’s paper usage and its cost between 1 July 2023 and 31 December 2023 is provided in the below table.

  Reams Costs
Australian Made Reams 34 $348.46
Overseas Reams 3,652 $23,315.09
Totals 3,686 $23,663.55

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