1. Introduction

1.1 Scope of chapter

This chapter gives details about:

• the services provided by Centrelink (1.2);
• the structure of Centrelink (section 2);
• the role of the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA), the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST) and the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) (section 3); and
• important publications for reference and assistance (section 4).

1.2 What Centrelink does

Centrelink is a statutory authority set up by the Commonwealth and is responsible to the Minister for Human Services, a junior minister under the Minister for Finance. It is run by a Chief Executive Officer and is monitored by the Department of Human Services.

Centrelink is responsible for administering Social Security policy and legislation. Its primary function is to make all Social Security payments to the right person in an accurate and timely manner. For example, local Centrelink offices accept new Social Security claims, interview claimants and determine ongoing entitlements.

The employment-related functions carried out by Centrelink include:

• the registration of new claimants as unemployed;
• referrals for employment assistance, Labour Market Programs and programs for Indigenous Australians, sole parents, people with a disability and people with problems with the English language, and;
• the provision of a database to enable unemployed people to search for suitable jobs on touch screen computers.

Centrelink also administers ABSTUDY and Austudy Payment.