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 Elizabeth Cosson, who succeeded Simon Lewis as Secretary, on 19 May 2018.
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.
Operational activities
The functions of the department are broadly classified into the following matters:- Repatriation income support, compensation and health program for veterans, members of the Defence Force, certain mariners and their dependants
- Commemorations, including promotion of understanding of Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and Vietnam Veterans' Day
- War graves
- Defence Service Homes
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
Key officeholders
Department secretary
The Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs is Liz Cosson, since May 2018. 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 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 1981 | years | served as Secretary to the Repatriation Department since 1970 | |
| 2 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 1981 | years | |||
| 3 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | |||||
| 4 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | |||||
| 5 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 1994 | 1996 | years | ||
| 6 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | |||||
| 7 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 2008 | years | |||
| 8 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | |||||
| 9 | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | July 2013 | 18 May 2018 | acting between May and July 2013 | ||
| 10 | Liz Cosson | Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs | 18 May 2018 | incumbent |