Department of Health and Ageing

The Department of Health and Ageing is an Australian Government department. Its role is to oversee the running of Australia including supporting universal and affordable access to medical, pharmaceutical and hospital services, while helping people to stay healthy through health promotion and disease prevention activities. The department's plan for the future include:

• Developing a coherent national Health and Ageing system.
• Using knowledge and information to deliver better services.
• Using integrated funding to deliver more effective services.
• Driving the system with the experience of the customer.

Ministers

Parliamentary Officeholders

• The current Minister for Health and Ageing is Nicola Roxon
• The current Minister for Indigenous Health is Warren Snowdon
• The current Minister for Mental Health and Ageing is Mark Butler
• The current Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Ageing is Catherine King

History

Background

The Department of Health was established in 1921 and has since undergone numerous changes to its name, structure and function.

The first change happened in 1987 when the Department of Health was merged with the Department of Community Services in order to form the Department of Community Services and Health.

In June 1991, The Department of Health, Housing and Community Services was formed. This reflected the transfer of housing industry programs from the Department of Industry, Technology and Commerce to the Department of Community Services and...
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