Centrelink
Centrelink is the trading name of the Commonwealth Service Delivery Agency (CSDA), a statutory authority responsible for delivering human services on behalf of agencies of the Commonwealth Government of Australia. The majority of Centrelink's services are the disbursement of social security payments. Centrelink delivers services primarily on behalf of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR).[1]
Centrelink differs from earlier welfare agencies as it acts merely as a conduit for the delivery of services. Centrelink's client agencies provide funding for payments and are responsible for policy development, including development of social security entitlement and payment policies.[2] Services are delivered according to Business Partnership Agreements (BPAs) negotiated periodically with each client agency, although Centrelink does receive some direct funding from the federal budget.[1]
Centrelink was created by the Commonwealth Service Delivery Agency Act 1997 [1] and primarily took over the service delivery functions of the then Department of Social Security (DSS) and the functions of the former Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs (DEETYA) Student Assistance Centres. It also took on a referral role for employment assistance such as to the DEEWR-administered Providers of Australian Government Employment Services (PAGES), originally Job Network, which were created through the privatisation of the functions of the Commonwealth Employment Service (CES). The reforms aimed to simplify access to Commonwealth services by providing a 'one stop shop',[3] and to encourage efficiency through a purchaser-provider service delivery relationship.[4]
The United Kingdom has implemented strikingly similar unemployment/welfare policies, which also have official titles based on informal, colloquial terminology; eg. New Deal, Jobseeker's allowance and Work Fare.
Centrelink International Services
Centrelink International Services (CIS) is the customer service centre/call centre responsible for: (a) paying Centrelink customers who leave Australia permanently or long-term ("portability"), (b) processing claims for Australian pension under international agreements from customers living outside Australia, (c) assisting customers in Australia claiming a pension from another country, (d) paying Australian pensions under international agreements, and (e) advice and assistance to other Centrelink offices on matters involving portability, residence or international agreements.
Located with CIS is Centrelink's International Branch, which handles all policy and administration issues for Centrelink's international social security program. CIS and Centrelink International Branch are located in Hobart, Tasmania and employ around 450 staff, speaking 18 languages. The National Manager for Centrelink International is Michelle Lees.
CIS has approximately 82 000* customers in over 150 countries and a further 8 000* customers in Australia. The vast majority of international customers are located in Europe. CIS pays approximately A$14 million* to Australian pensioners each fortnight. Over 330 000* people living in Australia receive a foreign pension, and CIS assists with over 22 000* claims for foreign pensions each year.
Foreign pensions bring in over A$1 billion* per year to the Australian economy, compared to the A$365 million* per year which leaves Australia in pension payments.
- all figures approximate, as at 12 August 2008
Australia's International Social Security Agreements
| Country | Date Commenced | Date Revised (if relevant) |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 1958 | terminated 1 March 2001 |
| Italy | 1 September 1988 | 1 October 2000 |
| Canada | 1 September 1989 | 1 January 2003 |
| Spain | 3 June 1991 | 1 January 2003 |
| Malta | 1 July 1991 | 1 July 2005 |
| Republic of Ireland | 1 April 1992 | 1 January 2006 |
| Netherlands | 1 April 1992 | 1 April 2003 |
| Portugal | 1 November 1992 | 1 October 2002 |
| Austria | 1 December 1992 | 1 October 2002 |
| Cyprus | 1 January 1993 | |
| New Zealand | 1 January 1995 | 1 January 2002 |
| Denmark | 1 January 2001 | |
| U.S.A. | 1 October 2002 | |
| Germany | 1 January 2003 | |
| Slovenia | 1 January 2004 | |
| Chile | 1 July 2004 | |
| Croatia | 1 July 2004 | |
| Belgium | 1 July 2005 | |
| Norway | 1 January 2007 | |
| Switzerland | 1 January 2008 | |
| Republic of Korea | 1 October 2008 | |
| Greece | 1 October 2008 | |
| Japan | 1 January 2009 | |
| Finland | 1 July 2009 (expected commencement date) |
Centrelink's IT
Centrelink operates one of the largest and highest throughput OLTP database systems in Australia, and is one of the largest users in Australia of Model 204. Ann Steward led the implementation of 'Refresh', a project described as a "major new service capability initiative". She was in overall charge of Centrelink's enterprise architecture and strategic planning and technology strategies [5].
See also
References
- ^ a b Halligan, J: "The quasi-autonomous agency in an ambiguous environment: the Centrelink case" Public Administration and Development 24(2): 147-156, 153.
- ^ Australia. Public Service Commission. 2003. The Australian Experience of Public Sector Reform. Canberra: APSC, 147.
- ^ Australia. Public Service Commission. 2003. The Australian Experience of Public Sector Reform. Canberra: APSC, 142.
- ^ Halligan, J. 2004. The quasi-autonomous agency in an ambiguous environment: the Centrelink case. Public Administration and Development 24(2): 147-156, 153
- ^ Centrelink manager appointed federal CIO: News - Business - ZDNet Australia