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Australian Government Links
Council of Australian Governments
The Council of Australian Governments (COAG) is the peak intergovernmental forum in Australia. It comprises the Prime Minister, State Premiers, Territory Chief Ministers and the President of the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA). The Prime Minister chairs COAG. The role of COAG is to initiate, develop and monitor the implementation of policy reforms that are of national significance and which require cooperative action by Australian Governments. COAG agreed to the National Quality Framework on 7 December 2009.
Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood
The Standing Council on School Education and Early Childhood has responsibility for childhood development including children's education and care. It comprises state, territory, Australian Government and New Zealand Ministers with responsibility for the portfolios of school education, early childhood development and youth affairs.
The Office of Early Childhood Education and Child Care (OECECC) in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) is responsible for delivering the Australian Government's key commitments on children's education and care and advising on major policy reforms at a national level.
Mychild is Australia’s online child care portal containing information for families, carers and providers. The website provides information about children’s early learning, care and wellbeing, including information on different types of child care, how to access help with the cost of child care, a searchable database of local child care services and other relevant links and support.
Australian Early Development Index
The Australian Early Development Index (AEDI) is a population measure of children’s development in communities across Australia. It provides a national picture of children’s health and development with results that identify strengths in the community as well as what can be improved. DEEWR and state and territory governments are working with the Centre for Community Child Health and the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research to deliver the AEDI.
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) is responsible for helping to support Australian families and children. The Families and Children section of this website provides detailed information on the various forms of assistance available including programs, services, benefits and payments.
The Department of Human Services is responsible for the development of Australian Government service delivery policy and offers a range of social, health and other payments and services. Support is available through Medicare, Centrelink, the Child Support program, CRS Australia and Australian Hearing. You can go directly to the Medicare program or the Centrelink program.
Department of Health and Ageing
The Department of Health and Ageing is responsible for supporting better health and active ageing for all Australians. Information is available on a wide range of conditions and diseases, education and prevention, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health issues and topics relevant to ageing and aged care.
Family Assistance Offices have been set up in Medicare offices and Centrelink Customer Service Centres across the country, offering a range of payments to support families with their work and family responsibilities. It has been set up to give Australian families better access to government services. Instead of going to different agencies to get family assistance, families are able to get all their payments from just one place - the Family Assistance Office. Financial assistance includes the Family Tax Benefit, Child Care Benefit, Child Care Rebate and Baby Bonus. The Family Assistance Program is the responsibility of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
The Fair Work Ombudsman provides information and advice about workplace rights and responsibilities for employees, employers and contractors. It is a statutory office created by the Fair Work Act 2009 operating independently of Government. The Ombudsman ensures compliance with Commonwealth workplace laws and has the power to investigate complaints or suspected contraventions of workplace laws, awards and agreements. The services are free to all workers and employers in Australia.
Fair Work Australia is the national workplace relations tribunal. It is an independent body with power to carry out a range of functions relating to: the safety net of minimum wages and employment conditions, enterprise bargaining, industrial action, dispute resolution, termination of employment and other workplace matters. Fair Work Australia provides information on cases and decisions and links to workplace laws in Australia.