Premier Announces New Department of Health
The Premier of Victoria announced changes to the administration of health and human services today.
The functions of the former Department of Human Services will now be divided between two departments:
- The Department of Health (DoH) will be responsible for prevention, mental health and drugs, public health, health services (including hospitals), community and rural health and aged care.
- The Department of Human Services (DHS) will be responsible for housing; disability services; concessions; children, youth and families.
The purpose of the change is to provide an intensive focus on health, including the key priority areas of hospitals, mental health and prevention; and to further embed new approaches to human services delivery, including early intervention, personalisation and recovery.
The provision of services to Victorians will continue uninterrupted by this change.
All service arrangements, contracts, employment processes and policy settings remain in place.
Fran Thorn has been appointed the Secretary of the Department of Health; Gill Callister has been appointed the Secretary of the Department of Human Services.
Details are available on the media release on the Premier's website. Updates will also be provided on this website.