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From the Chief Executive
Contents
Annual Report 2022 – 2023
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The agency's performance
Our strategic focus
Our Purpose
Making a difference so South Australia thrives.
Our Vision
Fainess, opportunity and choice for all South Australians.
Our Values
At the Department of Human Services (DHS), we embrace the public sector values of:
- Service
- Professionalism
- Trust
- Respect
- Collaboration and engagement
- Honesty and integrity
- Courage and tenacity
- Sustainability
Our functions, objectives and deliverables
With people at the heart of what we do, the department’s strategic priorities are:
- Increasing inclusion, independence and shared decision-making for all.
- Supporting our communities when it matters most.
- Delivering modern services for our communities.
The department is responsible for commissioning human services across the not-for-profit sector, and investing in the community through grants and funding. We provide core services including:
- youth justice
- disability accommodation
- cost of living concessions and rebates
- employment-related screening
- family safety and support.
We also lead important government reforms in:
- disability inclusion
- intensive family support services
- women’s equality and safety.
Our services at DHS span South Australia, from Kaurna Country in Adelaide to the many regional communities that make up the state. This includes working alongside communities in the far west and Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands in the north-west.
Our organisational structure
Organisational chart in plain text
This organisational chart reflects the structure of the department as at 30 June 2023. The current chart is available on the DHS website.
Changes to the agency
During 2022–23, there were the following changes to the agency’s structure and objectives as a result of internal reviews or machinery of government changes.
- The Procurement and Grants Unit (PGU) moved from Community Investment and Support to Finance and Business Services. This change acknowledges PGU’s role as a corporate service to the whole of the department.
- The Internal Audit team transferred from Finance and Business Services to the Office of the Chief Executive and Governance, following the retirement of the department’s Principal Risk Management Consultant. This change was made to maintain the alignment of risk functions within the Office of the Chief Executive and Governance following the Manager of Internal Audit assuming responsibility for the department’s risk management. Internal Audit’s direct reporting responsibilities to the Chief Executive and the Risk Management and Audit Committee remain unchanged.
- Metropolitan Aboriginal Youth and Family Services (MAYFS) moved from First Nations Practice and Partnerships within Inclusion and Reform to the Communities and Justice directorate within Community and Family Services. This will enable the department to attain the best outcomes for Aboriginal young people and their families, given MAYFS alignment to the new Aboriginal Practice and Services Team within Communities and Justice.
- A new Quality and Clinical Services directorate was established as part of Disability Services, to provide clinical services and assure quality and safeguarding for DHS clients. This supports reforms to Disability Services as it works to operate as a registered NDIS provider from the expiration of the in-kind period.
- Remote and Regional Service Development, formerly Community and Services Development, was moved from within the Communities and Justice directorate to report directly to the Executive Director of Community and Family Services.
Our Ministers
Hon Nat Cook MP
Minister for Human Services
Appointed Minister for Human Services in March 2022, Minister Cook has responsibility for advancing the inclusion of people with disability, delivering early intervention and support services to at-risk children and families, the administration of concessions and cost of living supports, provision of statutory youth justice services, and screening services. The Minister also has lead policy responsibility in relation to youth, volunteers and carers.
Hon Katrine Hildyard MP
Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence
Appointed Minister for Women and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence in March 2022, Minister Hildyard has responsibility for leading the Government’s coordinated approach to implement strategies to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence. The Minister also has lead responsibility across government and the community to improve women’s economic equality and participation in South Australia.
Our Executive team
DHS Executive Leadership Team as at 30 June 2023:
Sandy Pitcher, Chief Executive
Appointed in November 2022, Sandy Pitcher leads the Department of Human Services, collaborating across the public sector to address barriers of social inclusion, equality and disadvantage.
The Chief Executive is responsible for providing the department with strong, dedicated leadership, connecting the social policy and program support systems across all divisions.
The role of the Chief Executive covers the day-to-day operations of the department, including its effective contribution to the achievement of whole-of-government and agency specific priorities.
Nick Ashley, Chief Financial Officer, Finance and Business Services
The Finance and Business Services division is comprised of:
- Finance, which is responsible for budgeting, management accounting, financial analysis, monitoring and reporting, providing strategic financial advice, accounting policy and monitoring financial compliance.
- Financial Reform, which supports the commercialisation of DHS Disability Services to operate fully under the NDIS.
- Infrastructure, which provides corporate support services including records management, asset and building management, security services, fleet and transport management, and mail services.
- Procurement, which supports all areas of DHS to manage the procurement of goods and services and is responsible for managing all procurement over $110,000 (GST inclusive).
Sue-Ann Charlton, Executive Director, People and Performance
People and Performance provides a broad range of corporate support services to enable the department to deliver its services. The division is made up of:
- Human Resources, Wellbeing and Safety, which provides expertise and services in human resources workforce development, human resources business partnering, workforce relations, career support services, and wellbeing and safety.
- Organisational Development and Learning, which leads DHS in respect of our workforce strategy, individual and organisational learning and development needs, and improving the end-to-end employee experience.
- Communications and Engagement, which provides advice and services across a broad range of areas including media management, internal and external communications and promotions, graphic and multimedia design, events, and sector and stakeholder engagement.
- Business Improvement and Technology, which is responsible for providing information, systems and technology support across the department.
- Incident Management Unit, an independent function within the division, which is responsible for investigating a range of incidents that occur within the department. This includes allegations of misconduct and incidents involving DHS clients and staff members, including Critical Client Incidents.
Ruth Ambler, Executive Director, Community Investment and Support
Community Investment and Support provides services and supports to the South Australian public and people in need to build stronger and more connected communities. The division is made up of:
- Concessions and Support Services, which administers a range of concession payments and rebates that provide assistance to eligible South Australians, and is responsible for the operations of the department’s Interpreting and Translating Centre, which includes the Aboriginal Language Interpreting Service.
- Community and Social Investments, which delivers funding and programs that support the capacity and wellbeing of South Australian communities including Grants SA, Community Programs and Partnerships, Problem Gambling, and Community Connections.
- DHS Screening Unit, which continues to process five types of screening checks and conducts ongoing monitoring and background checks, contributing to safe environments for children and other vulnerable people.
- Restrictive Practices Unit, which is responsible for administering the South Australian Restrictive Practices Authorisation scheme that regulates restrictive practices in NDIS services in South Australia in order to provide greater protection and safeguards for NDIS participants.
Joe Young, Executive Director, Disability Services
The Disability Services division is comprised of:
- DHS Disability Services, which provides direct care and support services to people with disability living in community-based group homes and the Northgate Aged Care Service.
- Quality and Clinical Services, which provides clinical services, and assures quality and safeguarding for DHS clients.
- DHS Equipment Program, which funds and arranges equipment and home modifications for South Australians who are not eligible for these services through Commonwealth Government funding options.
Alex Reid, Executive Director, Community and Family Services
Community and Family Services supports vulnerable people and families to participate in social and economic life and build stronger communities. The division is made up of:
- Communities and Justice, which is responsible for statewide community and service development for vulnerable people and communities, which includes working with people with exceptional needs. The directorate is also responsible for the statutory supervision of young people in contact with the justice system, including the management of the Kurlana Tapa Youth Justice Centre (Kurlana Tapa) and community-based supervision and support.
- The Office for Women, which supports the full and equal participation of women in all aspects of life in South Australia by collaborating across government and the community. The Office for Women has a strong focus on addressing domestic, family and sexual violence and provides statewide information and referral services through the Women’s Information Service.
- Safer Family Services, which is responsible for providing early intervention and targeted intensive family support and assistance to children and families under the Child and Family Support System.
- Remote and Regional Service Development, which works collaboratively with services and communities on planning, developing, and implementing community responses to improve outcomes for Aboriginal clients and communities in South Australia.
Katherine Hawkins, Executive Director, Inclusion and Reform
Inclusion and Reform is the department’s central reform unit and is responsible for delivering policy and program reform in partnership with other divisions across the department. The division is made up of:
- Early Intervention Research Directorate, which leads on the research, policy development, and evidence-based implementation of early intervention strategies in order to reduce children’s escalation in the child protection system and prevent poor life outcomes.
- First Nations Practice and Partnerships, which coordinates and increases Aboriginal input into policy and program responses from the department and across government.
- Social Inclusion, which is responsible for leading the state’s inclusion agenda. This includes the development, implementation and oversight of legislation and strategic policy in relation to disability, youth, carers, volunteers and LGBTIQA+.
- The Reform Hub, which drives strategic reform programs across the department through the delivery of expert project management services.
Kelly Biggins, Director, Office of the Chief Executive and Governance
The Office of the Chief Executive and Governance is responsible for a broad range of functions including Cabinet coordination and Parliamentary business, correspondence and briefings, corporate governance, the department’s internal audit function, risk management and business continuity. It also provides high quality and responsive advice and support to the Chief Executive and Ministerial Offices.
The Director also has administrative reporting responsibility for staff in the Office of the Minister for Human Services and the Community Visitor’s Scheme.
Legislation administered by the agency
Carers Recognition Act 2005
Child Safety (Prohibited Persons) Act 2016
Children’s Protection Law Reform (Transitional Arrangements and Related Amendments) Act 2017
Cost of Living Concessions Act 1986
Disability Inclusion Act 2018
Disability Services Act 1993
Julia Farr Services (Trusts) Act 2007
Not-for-Profit Sector Freedom to Advocate Act 2013
Supported Residential Facilities Act 1992
Volunteers Protection Act 2001
Youth Justice Administration Act 2016
Other related agencies (within the Minister's area/s of responsibility)
The South Australian Housing Trust, trading as the SA Housing Authority, is responsible to the Minister for Human Services for the delivery of better housing choices for South Australians.