The Minister for Social Services is an Australian Government cabinet position which is currently held by Tanya Plibersek following her swearing-in on 13 May 2025 as a result of Anthony Albanese's Labor government being re-elected at the 2025 Australian federal election. The portfolio oversees social services, including mental health, families and children's policy, and support for carers and people with disabilities, and seniors.
Portfolio In the Government of Australia, the Ministers administer the portfolio through the Department of Social Services. Other portfolio bodies for which the Ministers are responsible include: Aged Care Standards and Accreditation Agency Australian Institute of Family Studies Commonwealth Advisory Committee on Homelessness Community and Disability Services Ministers' Conference Community Services Ministers' Advisory Council Emergency Relief State Advisory Committees National Childcare Accreditation Council Inc. National Disability Advisory Council National Disability Insurance Agency National Supported Accommodation Assistance Program (SAAP) Coordination and Development Committee (CAD) representatives and Information Sub-committee Social Security Appeals Tribunal
List of ministers for social services The following individuals have been appointed as Minister for Social Services, or any of its precedent titles:
Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Frederick Stewart United Australia Menzies Minister for Social Services 26 April 1939 29 August 1941 Fadden 29 August 1941 7 October 1941 2 Jack Holloway Labor Curtin 7 October 1941 21 September 1943 3 James Fraser 21 September 1943 6 July 1945 Forde 6 July 1934 13 July 1945 Chifley 13 July 1945 18 June 1946 4 Nick McKenna 18 June 1946 19 December 1949 5 Bill Spooner Liberal Menzies 19 December 1949 11 May 1951 6 Athol Townley 11 May 1951 9 July 1954 7 William McMahon 9 July 1954 28 February 1956 8 Hugh Roberton Country 28 February 1956 21 January 1965 9 Reginald Swartz Liberal 21 January 1965 22 February 1965 days 10 Ian Sinclair Country 22 February 1965 26 January 1966 Holt 26 January 1966 19 December 1967 McEwen 19 December 1967 10 January 1968 Gorton 10 January 1968 28 February 1968 11 Bill Wentworth Liberal 28 February 1968 10 March 1971 McMahon 10 March 1971 5 December 1972 12 Lance Barnard Labor Whitlam 5 December 1972 19 December 1972 days 13 Don Grimes Labor Hawke Minister for Community Services 14 Chris Hurford days 15 Neal Blewett Minister for Community Services and Health 16 Brian Howe Minister for Health, Housing and Community Services Keating Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Services Minister for Housing, Local Government and Human Services 17 Carmen Lawrence Minister for Human Services and Health 18 Michael Wooldridge Liberal Howard Minister for Health and Family Services 19 Jocelyn Newman Minister for Family and Community Services 20 Amanda Vanstone 21 Kay Patterson 22 Mal Brough Minister for Families and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 23 Jenny Macklin Labor Rudd Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Gillard Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Rudd 24 Kevin Andrews Liberal Abbott Minister for Social Services 25 Scott Morrison 15 September 2015 Turnbull 21 September 2015 26 Christian Porter 20 December 2017 27 Dan Tehan 28 August 2018 28 Paul Fletcher Morrison Minister for Families and Social Services 29 Anne Ruston 30 Amanda Rishworth Labor Albanese Minister for Social Services 31 Tanya Plibersek Incumbent
Assistant ministers The following individuals have been appointed as Assistant Minister for Social Services, or any precedent titles:
Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Concetta Fierravanti-Wells Liberal Abbott 2 Alan Tudge Turnbull 3 Zed Seselja Liberal Turnbull 4 David Gillespie National Assistant Minister for Children and Families 5 Michelle Landry Morrison 6 Justine Elliot Labor Albanese Assistant Minister for Social ServicesAssistant Minister for the Prevention of Family Violence 7 Ged Kearney Incumbent
Related ministerial portfolios List of ministers for Government Services
List of ministers for housing
List of ministers for aged care
Former portfolio ministers List of ministers for family services Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1Peter Staples Labor Hawke Minister for Aged, Family and Health Services Keating 2 Rosemary Crowley Minister for Family Services 3 Michael Wooldridge Liberal Howard Minister for Health and Family Services 4 Jocelyn Newman Minister for Family and Community Services 5 Amanda Vanstone 6 Kay Patterson 7 Mal Brough Minister for Families and Community Services and Indigenous Affairs 8 Jenny Macklin Labor Rudd Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Gillard Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Rudd
List of ministers for community services A separate outer ministry role of the Minister for Community Services existed between January 2006 and December 2007, supplementing the cabinet role of the Minister for Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Order Minister Party Prime Minister Title Term start Term end Term in office 1 Don Grimes Labor Hawke Minister for Community Services 2 Chris Hurford days 3 Neal Blewett Minister for Community Services and Health 4 Brian Howe Minister for Health, Housing and Community Services Keating Minister for Housing, Local Government and Community Services 5 Warren TrussNational Howard Minister for Community Services 6 Larry Anthony 7 John CobbNational Howard Minister for Community Services 8 Nigel Scullion 9 Jenny Macklin Labor Rudd Minister for Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs Gillard 10 Julie Collins Minister for Community Services Rudd 11 Mitch Fifield Liberal Abbott Assistant Minister for Social Services 15 September 2015 Turnbull 21 September 2015
See also Minister for Families and Communities (New South Wales) Minister for Mental Health (New South Wales) Minister for Mental Health (Western Australia) Minister for Families and Children (Victoria) Minister for Mental Health (Victoria)
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