The 2019-20 Annual Performance Statement outlines the department’s performance against its outcomes, programs and key activities. The performance criteria are set out in the 2019-20 Portfolio Budget Statements and the Corporate Plan 2019-20.

This year has been a time of significant challenge and adversity in Australia. The bushfires and the
COVID-19 pandemic have had ongoing devastating impacts on individuals, families and communities. They required urgent responses from the Government and, by extension, the department. These events had a significant impact on the department’s operations and required resources to be reprioritised and quickly moved to work on emerging critical activities. Through these events the importance of the department’s mission to improve the social and economic wellbeing of people has been paramount.

In the context of the national emergencies, the department developed new policies to enable existing payments and services to be adapted, and was responsive in facilitating temporary payments and services to support Australians in these unprecedented times. This work included:

• developing the Coronavirus Supplement and introducing the JobSeeker Payment
• working with third party community organisations to ensure enhanced levels of funding and services were provided to support Australians in need, and
• supporting people with disability through initiatives such as the Disability Information Helpline and the new Carer Gateway.

Over and above the response to the bushfires and COVID-19 pandemic, the department continued to develop policies and implement Government priorities across the spectrum of our social services responsibilities.