View source for Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

{{Short description|Australian federal health department}}
{{redirect|Department of Health and Aged Care|the Department of Health and Aged Care that existed between 1998 and 2001|Department of Health and Aged Care (1998–2001)}}
{{Use Australian English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2014}}
{{Infobox government agency
| agency_name = Department of Health, Disability and Ageing
| type = department
| logo = Department of Health, Disability and Ageing logo.svg
| picture = Sirius Building at Woden in November 2012.jpg
| picture_caption = The department head office in {{ACTcity|Woden}}, [[Australian Capital Territory|ACT]].
| formed = {{Start date|df=yes|2025|05|13}} (under new name)
| preceding1 = Department of Health and Aged Care (2022{{ndash}}2025)
| preceding2 = Department of Health (2013{{ndash}}2022)
| preceding3 = [[Department of Health and Ageing]] (2001{{ndash}}2013)
| jurisdiction = [[Australian Government]]
| headquarters = [[Canberra]]
| employees = {{Increase}} 7,135 (2024)<ref name="2023-24 Annual Report">{{Cite web |last=Comley |first=Blair |date=16 October 2024 |title=Annual Report 2023-24 |url=https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2024-10/department-of-health-and-aged-care-annual-report-2023-24.pdf |access-date=15 May 2025 |website=Department of Health and Aged Care}}</ref>
| budget = {{Increase}} {{AUD|127 billion}} (2025{{ndash}}26)<ref>{{Cite web |last=Butler |first=Mark |date=2025 |title=Health and Aged Care Portfolio - Budget Statements 2025-26 - Budget Related Paper No. 1.9 |url=https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-03/2025-26_health_pbs_1.01_intro_letter_of_transmittal_portfolio_overview_and_entity_resources.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=15 May 2025 |website=Department of Health and Aged Care}}</ref>
| minister1_name = [[Mark Butler]]
| minister1_pfo = [[Minister for Health and Ageing]], and [[Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme|for Disability and the NDIS]]<ref name="May2025 Ministers">{{Cite web |last=Albanese |first=Anthony |author-link=Anthony Albanese |date=12 May 2025 |title=Ministerial arrangements |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/ministerial-arrangements-12may25 |url-status=live |access-date=15 May 2025 |website=[[Prime Minister of Australia]]}}</ref>
| minister2_name = [[Jenny McAllister]]
| minister2_pfo = Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme
| minister3_name = [[Sam Rae]]
| minister3_pfo = [[Minister for Aged Care and Seniors]]
| minister4_name = [[Rebecca White]]
| minister4_pfo = Assistant Minister for Health and Aged Care, and for Indigenous Health
| minister5_name = [[Emma McBride]]
| minister5_pfo = Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention, and for Rural and Regional Health
| chief1_name = [[Blair Comley]]
| chief1_position = [[Departmental secretary#Current Australian government departmental secretaries|Secretary]]
| chief2_name = Charles Wann
| chief2_position = Chief Operating Officer
| chief3_name = Michael Kidd
| chief3_position = [[Chief Medical Officer (Australia)|Chief Medical Officer]]
| chief4_name = Alison McMillan
| chief4_position = Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}

The '''Department of Health, Disability and Ageing''', previously the '''Department of Health and Aged Care''', is the [[Australian Government]] department responsible for funding and regulation of [[health care in Australia|health care]], [[Aged care in Australia|aged care]] and some disability programs. It also is involved in preventative [[health promotion]] programs. The department manages schemes such as [[Medicare (Australia)|Medicare]] and the [[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme]], and agencies such as the [[Therapeutic Goods Administration]] and National Blood Authority.

The department is responsible to parliament through the [[Minister for Health and Ageing]], a [[Cabinet of Australia|cabinet minister]], and is supported by two other ministers and two [[parliamentary secretary#Australia|assistant ministers]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/ministry-list-13-may-2025 |title=Ministry list as at 13 May 2025 |website=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]] |date=13 May 2025 |access-date=13 May 2025}}</ref> The [[Departmental secretary#Current Australian government departmental secretaries|department secretary]], [[Blair Comley]], is responsible for the day-to-day accountability of the organisation. The [[Chief Medical Officer (Australia)|Chief Medical Officer]] is Professor Tony Lawler and the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer is Allison McMillan, who both oversee clinical operations.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 July 2022 |title=Leadership |url=https://www.health.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/leadership |access-date=4 July 2022 |website=Department of Health and Aged Care}}</ref>

==History==
The [[Department of Health (1921–1987)|first Department of Health]] was established in 1921 and was the precursor to today's Department of Health.<ref name="NAA CA 17">{{citation|title=CA 17: Department of Health, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+17|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=15 December 2013|archive-date=12 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200312203538/https://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/DumpSession.asp?C=Initialise.inc&S=Open%20P_RECORDSEARCH_SERVICE%20SQLSERVER_ODBC&E=%5BMicrosoft%5D%5BODBC+Driver+17+for+SQL+Server%5D%5BSQL+Server%5DIncorrect+syntax+near+%27207.241%27.|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was dissolved in 1987, when it was merged with the Department of Community Services to form the [[Department of Community Services and Health]].<ref name=HealthDeptHist>{{citation|url=http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-history.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109190520/http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-history.htm|archive-date=9 November 2013|title=History of the Department|publisher=Department of Health|author=Department of Health}}</ref><ref name="NAA CA 5985">{{citation|title=CA 5985: Department of Community Services and Health, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+5985|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131215112308/http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+5985|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2013|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref>

In June 1991, the [[Department of Health, Housing and Community Services]] was formed when housing industry programs were transferred from the [[Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce]].<ref name="NAA CA 7297">{{citation|title=CA 7297: Department of Health, Housing and Community Services, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+7297|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131215112324/http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+7297|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 December 2013|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref> In March 1993 the [[Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs]] joined with the Department of Health, Housing and Community Services to form the [[Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services]].<ref name="NAA CA 7660">{{citation|title=CA 7660: Department of Health, Housing, Local Government and Community Services, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+7660|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130918055418/http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+7660|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 September 2013|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref> Subsequently, in December 1993, the department was abolished and replaced with the [[Department of Human Services and Health]].<ref name=HealthDeptHist/><ref name="NAA CA 7853">{{citation|title=CA 7853: Department of Human Services and Health, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+7853|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131202052937/http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+7853|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2013|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref> Also in 1994, the [[Office of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health]] was established.<ref name=HealthDeptHist/>

After a [[1996 Australian federal election|new government was elected]] in March 1996, the Department of Health and Family Services was formed.<ref name=HealthDeptHist/><ref name="NAA CA 8246">{{citation|title=CA 8246: Department of Health and Family Services, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+8246|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131202054243/http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+8246|url-status=dead|archive-date=2 December 2013|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref> The department also had responsibility for the [[Supported Accommodation Assistance Program]] from the former [[Department of Housing and Regional Development]]. Later, the department assumed responsibility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health matters from the [[Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission]].<ref name=HealthDeptHist/>

After the [[1998 Australian federal election|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.<ref name="NAA CA 8616">{{citation|title=CA 8616: Department of Health and Aged Care, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+8616|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131203044202/http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+8616|url-status=dead|archive-date=3 December 2013|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=15 December 2013}}</ref> Responsibility for Family and Children's Services, Disability Programs and the Commonwealth Rehabilitation Service were transferred to the [[Department of Family and Community Services (Australia)|Department of Family and Community Services]] on 22&nbsp;October&nbsp;1998.<ref name=HealthDeptHist/>

Following the [[2001 Australian federal election|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]].<ref name="NAA CA 8867">{{citation|title=CA 8867: Department of Health and Ageing, Central Office|url=http://naa12.naa.gov.au/scripts/SearchOld.asp?Number=CA+8867|publisher=National Archives of Australia|access-date=15 December 2013}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> The Australian Federal Department of Health and Ageing was abolished in 2013 and replaced by the Australian Federal Department of Health on 18 September 2013 by way of an [[Machinery of government#Australian Government Administrative Arrangement Orders|Administrative Arrangements Order]] issued by the [[Governor-General of Australia|governor-general]] on the recommendation of the [[Abbott government]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20130918.pdf|date=18 September 2013|title=Administrative Arrangements Order of 18 September 2013|archive-date=22 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922235407/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/parliamentary/docs/aao_20130918.pdf|publisher=[[Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (Australia)|Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet]]}}</ref>

On 1 July 2022, the Department of Health became the Department of Health and Aged Care following an Administrative Arrangements Order made by the governor-general. The departmental news release explained this as reflecting the "importance of aged care to the community, and the department’s focus on aged care reform" following the [[Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=1 July 2022 |title=New name for Department |url=https://www.health.gov.au/news/new-name-for-department |access-date=15 February 2025 |website=Department of Health and Aged Care}}</ref>

On 13 May 2025, the department was renamed Department of Health, Disability and Ageing following another Administrative Arrangements Order. The [[National Disability Insurance Scheme]] and Foundational Supports were also transferred from the [[Department of Social Services (Australia)|Department of Social Services]] to the newly renamed department.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/resources/aao-13-may-2025|title=Administrative Arrangements Order - 13 May 2025|website=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet|access-date=14 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="2025AAO">{{cite web|url=https://www.pmc.gov.au/sites/default/files/resource/download/aao-13-may-2025-signed.pdf|title=Administrative Arrangements Order|website=Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|date=13 May 2025|access-date=14 May 2025}}{{Creative Commons text attribution notice|cc=by4|from this source=yes}}</ref> Sport and recreation policy and functions were transferred to the [[Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts]].

==Overview==

{{Improve|date=July 2022|reason=only a list of items from legislation without any discussion|section}}

=== Leadership ===
{| class="wikitable"
|+
Senior leadership of the department<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 June 2025 |title=Leadership |url=https://www.health.gov.au/about-us/who-we-are/leadership |url-status=live |access-date=2 June 2025 |website=Department of Health, Disability and Ageing}}</ref>
! Role !! Person
!Date appointed
|-
| [[Department secretary|Secretary]]|| [[Blair Comley]]
|17 July 2023
|-
|Deputy Secretary, Health Products Regulation
|Tony Lawler
|July 2023
|-
|Deputy Secretary, Health Strategy, First Nations and Sport
|Celia Street
|
|-
|Deputy Secretary, Health Resourcing
|Penny Shakespear
|
|-
|Deputy Secretary, Ageing and Aged Care
|Sonja Stewart
|December 2024
|-
|Deputy Secretary, Primary and Community Care
|Liz Develin
|January 2024
|-
|Deputy Secretary, Australian Centre for Disease Control
|Mary Wood
|
|-
|Chief Operating Officer
|Charles Wann
|February 2020
|-
|Chief Health Economist
|Emily Lancsar
|April 2024
|-
|[[Chief Medical Officer (Australia)|Chief Medical Officer]]
|[[Michael Kidd (physician)|Michael Kidd]]
|
|-
|Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer
|Alison McMillan
|
|}

=== Scope ===

According to the Administrative Arrangements Order issued 13 May 2025, matters dealt with by the department include:<ref name="2025AAO"/>

{{Div col}}
* Public health, including health promotion, health protection, and disease prevention
* Health and medical research
* Primary health care and mental health care systems
* Hospital funding and policy, including oversight of the National Health Reform Agreement and the National Health and Hospitals Network framework
* Private health insurance
* [[Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme|Pharmaceutical]] and [[Medicare (Australia)|Medicare]] benefit schemes
* Hearing services funding and policy, and the Australian Hearing Services program
* Specific health services and human health biosecurity, such as human quarantine
* Alcohol and other drug strategy
* The National Disability Insurance Scheme and Foundational Supports
* Services for [[Aged care in Australia|older adults]] and their carers
* Therapeutic goods and industrial chemicals regulation
* Gene technology
* Health provider compliance
* Blood and organ donation policy and funding
* Health workforce capacity, regulation and insurance indemnification
* Blood, organ policy and funding
* Active and healthy ageing policy and research, other than employment policies
{{Div col end}}

==See also==
{{Portal bar|Australia|Politics}}
* [[Therapeutic Goods Administration]]
* [[List of Australian Commonwealth Government entities]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{-}}
{{Australian Government Departments}}
{{Australian Government Agencies and Bodies}}
{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Department Of Health}}
[[Category:Government departments of Australia|Health]]
[[Category:Ministries established in 2013|Australia, Health]]
[[Category:Ministries of health|Australia]]
[[Category:Public policy in Australia]]
[[Category:Medical and health organisations based in Australia]]
[[Category:Health policy in Australia]]
[[Category:2013 establishments in Australia]]