# Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)

The Department of Veterans' Affairs is a department of the Government of Australia, established in 1976, and charged with the responsibility of delivering government programs for war veterans, members of the Australian Defence Force, members of the Australian Federal Police, and their dependants.
The current Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs is Alison Frame, who succeeded Elizabeth Cosson as secretary on 23 January 2023.
For administration purposes, the department forms part of the Defence portfolio. The Minister for Defence acts on behalf of the Minister for Veterans' Affairs within the Cabinet.
The head of the department is the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, currently Alison Frame, who is responsible to the Minister for Veterans' Affairs, the Minister for Defence Personnel, and the Assistant Minister for Veterans' Affairs. The Secretary of the Department also has the responsibility of the Repatriation Commission and the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.

## Operational activities

The purpose of the department is to support the wellbeing of those who serve or have served in the defence of Australia, and their families.
The department deals with the following matters:
* Repatriation income support, compensation and health programmes for veterans, members of the Defence Force, certain mariners and their dependants.
* Delivering meaningful commemorations, including promotion of understanding of Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans' Day.
* Maintaining or providing war graves and memorials.
* Defence Service Homes.

### Agencies

In carrying out its functions, the department administers the following agencies:
* Australian War Memorial
* Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission
* Office of Australian War Graves
* Repatriation Commission
* Repatriation Medical Authority
* Specialist Medical Review Council
* Veterans’ Children Education Boards
* Veterans' Review Board

## Key legislation

The Department of Veterans' Affairs is responsible for administration of several key Acts:
* Defence Service Homes Act, 1918 (Cth)
* Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, 2004 (Cth)
* Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Act, 1988 (Cth)
* Veterans Entitlements Act, 1986 (Cth)
* War Graves Act, 1980 (Cth)

## Key officeholders
### Department secretary

The Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs is Alison Frame, since 23 January 2023. In addition to her role of departmental secretary, she is also the President of the Repatriation Commission and Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.
Below is a full list of the Department's Secretaries since it was established.
| Order | Official | Official title | Date appointment commenced | Date appointment ceased | Term in office | Notes |
| 1 | Sir Richard Kingsland | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 5 October 1976 (1976-10-05) | 1981 | 4–5 years | served as Secretary to the Repatriation Department since 1970 |
| 2 | Derek Volker | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 1981 | 14 November 1986 (1986-11-14) | 4–5 years | |
| 3 | Noel Tanzer | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 18 December 1986 (1986-12-18) | 1 March 1989 (1989-03-01) | 2 years, 73 days | |
| 4 | Lionel Woodward | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 1 March 1989 (1989-03-01) | 26 April 1994 (1994-04-26) | 5 years, 56 days | |
| 5 | Allan Hawke | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 1994 | 1996 | 1–2 years | |
| 6 | Neil Johnston | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 11 March 1996 (1996-03-11) | 30 September 2004 (2004-09-30) | 8 years, 203 days | |
| 7 | Mark Sullivan | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 26 October 2004 (2004-10-26) | 2008 | 3–4 years | |
| 8 | Ian Campbell | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 22 September 2008 (2008-09-22) | 5 July 2013 (2013-07-05) | 4 years, 286 days | |
| 9 | Simon Lewis | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | July 2013 | 18 May 2018 | 11 years, 207 days | acting between May and July 2013 |
| 10 | Elizabeth Cosson | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 18 May 2018 (2018-05-18) | 23 January 2023 (2023-01-23) | 4 years, 250 days |
| 11 | Alison Frame | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 23 January 2023 (2023-01-23) | incumbent | | |

### Other key officeholders

Other key officeholders in the department are the Deputy President of the Repatriation Commission, currently Kate Pope PSM; the Repatriation Commissioner, currently Don Spinks AM; and the Veteran Family Advocate Commissioner, currently Gwen Cherne