Our Business

The Department of Human Services (DHS) brings together a range of services, funding and policy responsibilities which together support fairness, opportunity and choice for all South Australians.

DHS has lead responsibility on behalf of the South Australian government in the areas of:

• early intervention to support health
• disability
• domestic violence
• safety and wellbeing of children
• screening services
• youth justice.

The department also provides a wide range of grants to community organisations, and concessions and has lead policy responsibility in relation to women, young people and volunteers.

We are one of the largest South Australian Government departments, hosting an employment pool of over 3000 staff (of whom 3% identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people) across metropolitan, regional and remote areas of South Australia.

We partner with community to develop policy, programs and services to strengthen communities and enable South Australians to actively participate in community life. We ensure South Australians are safe, empowered and connected to their communities through strength-based programs and services. We focus on supporting positive and lasting outcomes by adapting our services to reflect the changing needs of South Australians. This is all undertaken in a collaborative effort within our sphere of influence from vulnerable South Australians we exist to serve, DHS employees and volunteers to external government and non-government agencies.

Our services span the entirety of South Australia, from Kaurna Country in the state’s capital of Adelaide to the many regional and rural communities that make up our great state. This involves working alongside small and large Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across South Australia, including the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara Lands (APY) in the north-west of the state.

We will:

• Commission human services across the not-for-profit sector.
• Invest in their community through grants and funding.
• Provide core services in areas like youth justice, disability accommodation, concessions, employment- related screening and family safety.
• Lead government reform agendas including disability inclusion, intensive family support services, women's equality and volunteering.