Departmental Overview

We value commitment to quality, professionalism, innovation and flexibility.

The Departmental Overview provides information on the Department’s role, its management and its 2007–08 outcomes and outputs framework.

About the Department

Vision

The Department of Health and Ageing vision is of better health and active ageing for all Australians. The Department aims to achieve this through the delivery of key Government priorities, as reflected in the Department of Health and Ageing Corporate Plan 2006–09, accessible at <www.health.gov.au>, and in the Department’s outcome structure (detailed later in this chapter).

Role

In 2007–08, the Department was responsible for achieving the Australian Government’s priorities (outcomes) by developing evidencebased policy, managing programs and undertaking research and regulation activities. The Department also led and worked with other agencies, consumers and stakeholders. A detailed discussion of the Department’s activities in 2007–08 can be found in Part Two: Performance Reporting.

The Department operated under the Public Service Act 1999 and the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, and administered a large number of Acts which are listed in the 4.6 Freedom of Information chapter.

Executive Team

The Executive Team comprises the Secretary, the Chief Medical Officer and four Deputy Secretaries.

Left to Right: Mary Murnane, Deputy Secretary; David Kalisch, Deputy Secretary; Philip Davies, Deputy Secretary; Professor John Horvath AO, Chief Medical Officer; David Learmonth, Deputy Secretary; and Jane Halton PSM, Secretary.

Jane Halton PSM – Secretary

Ms Jane Halton has been Secretary to the Department since January 2002. In 2007–08, Ms Halton was responsible for all aspects of the Department’s operation, including policy advice on and for the administration of Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, aged and community care, population health, the regulation of therapeutic goods, hospital financing and private health insurance. She also had responsibility for leadership on health security issues, including matters related to bioterrorism.

Ms Halton currently chairs the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Council, and is a board member of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, and the National e-Health Transition Authority. Ms Halton is also a Commissioner of the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care, and the chair of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Health Committee.

Ms Halton was an Executive Board Member on the World Health Organization (WHO) between 2004 and 2007, and President of the World Health Assembly in 2007. She was Vice-Chair of the Executive Board between 2005 and 2006, and Chair of the WHO Program, Budget and Administration Committee between 2005 and 2007. Furthermore, Ms Halton was Chair of the Australian Obesity Taskforce between 2003 and 2006.

Professor John Horvath AO – Chief Medical Officer

Professor John Horvath has been the Chief Medical Officer for the Australian Government since September 2003. In 2007–08, Professor Horvath was the principal medical adviser to the Minister and the Department of Health and Ageing. Professor Horvath supported the Minister and the Department across the full range of professional health issues, including health and medical research, public health, medical workforce, quality of care, evidence-based medicine, and an outcomes-focused health system. He also had responsibility for the continuous development of professional relationships between the Department and the medical profession, medical colleges and universities.

Mary Murnane – Deputy Secretary

Ms Mary Murnane has been a Deputy Secretary with the Department since May 1993. In 2007–08, Ms Murnane’s responsibilities included ageing and aged care, palliative care, health protection and biosecurity, medical and biological research, food policy and regulatory policy.

Ms Murnane oversaw the Department’s Ageing and Aged Care Division, the Office of Health Protection, the Regulatory Policy and Governance Division, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and Food Standards Australia New Zealand. She was also responsible for the Department’s Tasmania and Victoria offices, and policy interests in the National Health and Medical Research Council.

Ms Murnane chairs the Australian Health Protection Committee which advises the Australian Health Ministers Council on emergency preparedness.

Philip Davies – Deputy Secretary

Mr Philip Davies has been a Deputy Secretary with the Department since 2002. In 2007–08, Mr Davies’ responsibilities included primary care, rural health, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Mr Davies oversaw the Department’s Primary and Ambulatory Care Division, the Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health, Business Group and the Department’s New South Wales and Northern Territory offices. Mr Davies is an Honorary Fellow of the Health Services Research Centre at the Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand and has provided advice on health policy to the World Bank and the World Health Organization.

David Kalisch – Deputy Secretary

Mr David Kalisch was appointed Deputy Secretary with the Department in June 2006. In 2007–08, Mr Kalisch was responsible for acute care, mental health, health workforce and portfolio strategies.

Mr Kalisch oversaw the Department’s Acute Care Division, Health Policy Taskforce, Mental Health and Workforce Division, Portfolio Strategies Division, and the Department’s South Australia and Western Australia offices.

Mr Kalisch is on the National Blood Authority Advisory Board and attends the board meetings of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

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David Learmonth – Deputy Secretary

Mr David Learmonth was appointed Deputy Secretary with the Department in June 2006. In 2007–08, Mr Learmonth was responsible for population health, medical benefits, pharmaceutical benefits, hearing services and sports.

Mr Learmonth oversaw the Department’s Population Health Division, the Medical Benefits Division, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Division, and the Department’s Australian Capital Territory and Queensland offices.

The Department’s Organisational Structure

The Department’s organisational structure in 2007–08 was based around the key sectors of Australia’s health and ageing system and a number of cross-portfolio functions.

Table 1.1: Divisions with Health and Ageing Sector and Cross-portfolio Functions

Health and Ageing Sector	Cross Portfolio
Acute Care Division Ageing and Aged Care Division Medical Benefits Division Mental Health and Workforce Division Office of Health Protection Pharmaceutical Benefits Division Population Health Division Primary and Ambulatory Care Division	Portfolio Strategies Division Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Regulatory Policy and Governance Division Business Group

The Health Policy Taskforce, the Audit and Fraud Control Branch, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme, and the Office of the Gene Technology Regulator also formed part of the Department.

Changes to the Divisional Structure

On 23 November 2007, the Commonwealth assumed ownership and responsibility for the Mersey Community Hospital from the Tasmanian Government. As part of this process, employees at the hospital were engaged by the Department on non-ongoing contracts, with the majority of employees seconded from the Tasmanian Department of Health and Human Services. During the year, the Department engaged in processes to secure an operator to assume management, and operational and administrative responsibility of the Mersey Community Hospital. Further discussion relating to this activity can be found in the Outcome 13 – Acute Care chapter.

The Health and Ageing portfolio was expanded in 2007–08 with the creation of a new Ministry of Sport. The sports function transferred from the former Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts to the Department of Health and Ageing on 3 December 2007. Staff were relocated to the Department’s Population Health Division.

The Health Policy Taskforce was established to facilitate and coordinate the development of departmental policy positions in the Council of Australian Government (COAG) Health Reform process, and to provide secretariat support for the COAG Health and Ageing Working Group. The Department was also actively involved with setting up the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission through the provision of both staffing resources and expertise. The Government established the commission to address future challenges in the Australian health system, focusing on health financing, rural health, and the relationship between the public and private sectors.

In late 2007–08, the Department examined its divisional structure and found that, with a few minor adjustments, the current structure will continue to serve the Department well in implementing the Australian Government’s health and ageing agenda. Outcomes included the establishment of an Office of Rural Health in 2008–09, to provide the focal point for rural health programs and to align the health workforce with community needs.

The Department also recruited a Commonwealth Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer on 22 June 2008 to develop a national nursing policy across all jurisdictions, and build and strengthen the nursing profession.

• Departmental Structure Chart as at 30 June 2008 (PDF 95 KB)

The Department’s State and Territory Offices

The Department’s State and Territory offices represent the organisation’s interests at state and territory level and ensure appropriate integration of services on the ground with State and Territory Government agencies. The State and Territory offices also work in cooperation with other Australian Government agencies and are well positioned to assist in identifying policy.

In 2007–08, State and Territory office staff worked with local stakeholders to ensure services provided through departmental programs were responsive to diverse local needs and conditions.

Contact details for each office can be found in the 6.1 Department of Health and Ageing Contact Details chapter.

Ministerial Team

The Department is responsible to the Minister for Health and Ageing, the Minister for Ageing, the Minister for Sport and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing.

As at 30 June 2008, The Hon Nicola Roxon MP, as Minister for Health and Ageing and member of Cabinet, held overarching policy responsibility for all issues pertaining to health and ageing.

The Hon Justine Elliot MP, Minister for Ageing, had responsibility for matters relating to ageing, and The Hon Kate Ellis MP, as Minister for Sport, had responsibility for all matters relating to sport.

Senator The Hon Jan McLucas, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Health and Ageing, assisted Minister Roxon by assuming responsibility for matters relating to the Therapeutic Goods Administration, the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency, food policy and alcohol and tobacco issues. Senator McLucas was also responsible for blood and organ donation, human cloning and stem cell research, and gene technology regulation.

All three Ministers and the Parliamentary Secretary were appointed to their respective positions on 3 December 2007. A full description of their responsibilities can be found in the 3.7 Ministerial Responsibilities chapter.

Prior to the swearing in of the Rudd Government on 3 December 2007, The Hon Tony Abbott MHR was the Minister for Health and Ageing, and The Hon Christopher Pyne MP, was the Minister for Ageing. Senator The Hon Brett Mason assisted the Minister for Health and Ageing as his Parliamentary Secretary.

Portfolio Outcomes and Outputs Structure

In 2007–08, the Health and Ageing portfolio worked within a 27 outcome structure, 15 of which were specific to the Department. The remaining 12 were specific to the portfolio agencies that received direct funding from the Australian Government (identified later in this section).

Department of Health and Ageing Outcomes

The Department’s appropriations and performance management fell under 15 department-specific outcomes reflecting the Australian Government’s desired results for health and ageing (see Table 1.2 Department of Health and Ageing Outcome Structure, which appears later in this chapter). The Department moved from a 14 to 15 outcome structure when responsibility for sport was transferred from the former Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts to the Department of Health and Ageing in December 2007.

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Table 1.2: Department of Health and Ageing Outcome Structure

Department-specific Outcomes	Divisions Responsible
1. Population Health The incidence of preventable mortality, illness and injury in Australians is minimised	Population Health Division Regulatory Policy and Governance Division Therapeutic Goods Administration National Industrial Chemicals Notification and Assessment Scheme Office of the Gene Technology Regulator Office of Health Protection
2. Access to Pharmaceutical Services Australians have access to cost-effective medicines	Pharmaceutical Benefits Division
3. Access to Medical Services Australians have access to cost-effective medical services	Medical Benefits Division Primary and Ambulatory Care Division
4. Aged Care and Population Ageing1 Older Australians enjoy independence, good health and wellbeing. High quality, cost-effective care is accessible to frail older people, and their carers are supported	Ageing and Aged Care Division Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance
5. Primary Care2 Australians have access to high quality, well integrated and cost-effective primary care	Primary and Ambulatory Care Division Mental Health and Workforce Division
6. Rural Health Improved health outcomes for Australians living in regional, rural and remote locations	Primary and Ambulatory Care Division (Other areas across the Department also contributed to this outcome.)
7. Hearing Services Australians have access through the Hearing Services Program to hearing services and devices	Medical Benefits Division
8. Indigenous Health Improved access by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to effective primary health care and substance use services and population health programs	Office for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health (Although this outcome is primarily the responsibility of the Office, other programs within the Department were managed to ensure effective and accessible health care for Indigenous Australians.)
9. Private Health A viable private health industry to improve the choice of health services for Australians	Acute Care Division
10. Health System Capacity and Quality The capacity and quality of the health care system meets the needs of Australians	Population Health Division Portfolio Strategies Division Primary and Ambulatory Care Division Regulatory Policy and Governance Division
11. Mental Health Improved mental health care for all Australians	Mental Health and Workforce Division
12. Health Workforce Capacity Australians have access to an enhanced health	Mental Health and Workforce Division
13. Acute Care Australians have access to public hospitals and related hospital care underpinned by appropriate medical indemnity arrangements	Acute Care Division
14. Biosecurity and Emergency Response Australia’s health system has coordinated arrangements to respond effectively to national health emergencies, including infectious disease outbreaks, terrorism and natural disasters	Office of Health Protection
15. Development of a Stronger and Internationally Competitive Australian Sports Sector and Encouragement of Greater Participation in Sport by All Australians	Population Health Division

¹ The Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Ltd also contributed to the achievement of Outcome 4.
² General Practice Education and Training Ltd also contributed to the achievement of Outcome 5.

Departmental Outputs

The Department described its core activities in 2007–08 in terms of the following two output groups:

• Output Group 1 – Policy Advice: this included the provision of policy advice and ministerial services to the Ministers, Parliamentary Secretary and Parliament; and
• Output Group 2 – Program Management: this included the development and management of contracts and grants for administered funds and the payment of administered funds. This output group also included the administration of legislation; and the provision of information to stakeholders on departmental programs.

Portfolio Agency Outcomes

Eleven portfolio agencies also received direct appropriation by outcome, as shown in Table 1.3 Health and Ageing Portfolio Agencies Outcomes. Agencies’ performance against the following agency-specific outcomes is reported in their respective annual reports.

Table 1.3: Health and Ageing Portfolio Agencies Outcomes

Portfolio Agency	Outcomes
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare	Outcome 1. Better health and wellbeing for Australians through better health and welfare statistics and information.
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency	Outcome 1. The Australian people and the environment are protected from the harmful effects of radiation.
Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority	Outcome 1. The protection of Australia's sporting integrity through eliminating doping.
Australian Sports Commission	Outcome 1. An effective national sports system that offers improved participation in quality sports activities by Australians. Outcome 2. Excellence in sports performances by Australians.
Cancer Australia	Outcome 1. National consistency in cancer prevention and care that is scientifically based.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand	Outcome 1. A safe food supply and well-informed consumers.
National Blood Authority	Outcome 1. Australia's blood supply is secure and well managed.
National Health and Medical Research Council	Outcome 1. Australia's health system benefits from high quality health and medical research conducted at the highest ethical standard, well-developed research capabilities and sound evidence-based advice that informs health policy and practice.
Private Health Insurance Administration Council	Outcome 1. The prudential safety of registered private health insurance funds, the best interests of members of those funds, and a competitive level of private health insurance premiums, are efficiently regulated to support a viable industry.
Private Health Insurance Ombudsman	Outcome 1. Consumers and providers have confidence in the administration of private health insurance.
Professional Services Review	Outcome 1. Australians are protected from meeting the cost and associated risks of inappropriate practices of health

Contact details for these organisations can be found in the 6.2 Portfolio Agencies’ Contact Details chapter.

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