Department of Social Services | Departments/Agencies

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Insights and analysis

Census finds public servants overworked, risk burnout

By Melissa Coade

Careers

Here's a detailed breakdown of how APS departments responded to their employee census questions on capacity and burnout.

End of federal pay equity supplements could risk 12,000 community service jobs, research finds

By Shannon Jenkins

Community & Social

The report warns that past gains will be undermined and reversed unless federal funding consistent with new pay equity norms is quickly confirmed.

Kathryn Campbell on DSS’s pandemic response and why she’s proud to be a public servant

By Shannon Jenkins

Community & Social

Kathryn Campbell tells how her department has worked tirelessly throughout the bushfires and the pandemic, and what public servants across the country should be considering…

Opinion: the cashless debit card is not a ‘financial literacy tool,’ and Big 4 involvement won’t change that

By Accountable Income Management Network

Community & Social

With the government’s recent announcement of its plan to start rolling out the Cashless Debit Card beyond its trial phase, thousands of people currently struggling…

Treasury dep sec switches to Social Services after long holiday and allegations

By Shannon Jenkins

Community & Social

Treasury deputy secretary Matt Flavel has quietly moved to the Department of Social Services following an investigation into his conduct. Flavel went on leave in…

The Facebook of government: watch the ‘vision’ of what Services Australia will deliver

By Stephen Easton

Communications & Technology

The Digital Transformation Agency has finally published a flashy promotional video showing the government's "vision" of Services Australia, a week after Minister for Government Services Stuart…

CPSU says government jobs could help drought-hit towns, panics over phantom ‘job cuts’

By Stephen Easton

Federal

The Community and Public Sector Union says the Morrison government's cuts to the Australian Public Service workforce have worsened the economic effects of the drought,…

A good plan, now for the execution: Australia’s ‘world-first’ cross-border child protection system

By Stephen Easton

Federal

A new information-sharing platform designed to aid cross-border collaboration between child protection agencies is expected to be up and running by mid-2020, following a joint…

Once more unto the socials: NDIS chief stays on Twitter, enjoys minister’s ‘absolute confidence’

By Stephen Easton

Communications & Technology

Rather than bunker down and abandon Twitter, Hoffman has quickly opened a new official account — @ndisceo — and addressed the issue in three opening…

NDIS chief deletes Twitter account, defends past activity: ‘I am not an anti-union Trump supporter’

By Stephen Easton

Federal

"I am not an anti-union Trump supporter," declared National Disability Insurance Agency chief executive Martin Hoffman last night, after his past social media use came…

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Cans of worms and what the Auditor-General is thinking of digging up next. The hints are there for the taking

By Verona Burgess

Features

The Australian National Audit Office’s annual work program gives departments and agencies the chance to fix problems before the auditors arrive. Not everyone takes the…

New appointment to disability inquiry amid call for commissioners to stand down

By Shannon Jenkins

Community & Social

Roslyn Atkinson has been appointed as the seventh commissioner for the disability royal commission, as disability advocates have threatened to boycott the inquiry. The first…

PM asks APS to publish gift registers: News Corp achieves what the auditor-general could not

By Stephen Easton

Communications & Technology

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has decided Australian Public Service agencies should publish their lists of gifts and benefits.

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Columnists

Auditors take your seats! Old money becomes new money when it’s time to pay out election promises

By Verona Burgess

Economy & Industry

All political parties play fast and loose with spending promises during election campaigns but once the rubber of government hits the road afterwards, it is…

APS commissioner Peter Woolcott takes the field for NAIDOC footy comp, but AGD wins the day

By Stephen Easton

Australian Capital Territory

The Attorney-General's Department has won the 17th NAIDOC Week touch football carnival for public servants. Australian Public Service commissioner Peter Woolcott took the field this…