Dr Jeff Harmer AO
Secretary
Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Jeff is currently Secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. He began his career in the Federal Public Service in early 1978 following 5 years as a doctoral scholar and tutor at the University of NSW.
After a range of policy analysis and advising positions in the Departments of Housing, Social Security and Finance, Jeff was promoted into the Senior Executive Service in early 1985. Since then Jeff has occupied a range of executive positions across a range of Commonwealth Departments.
In 1994, Jeff was promoted to the Deputy Secretary position in the Department of Housing and Regional Development and in 1996 Jeff was recruited to the position of Deputy Secretary of the Department of Social Security. Jeff was appointed Managing Director of the Health Insurance Commission in April 1998. In March 2003, Jeff was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training. He was appointed Secretary of the then Department of Family and Community Services in October 2004.
Jeff led the Department through the changes arising from the addition of the Office of Indigenous Policy Coordination to it in 2006 and the post 2007 election changes resulting in the Department being renamed as Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
Jeff was appointed as a member of the panel, chaired by Dr Ken Henry, to review Australia's Future Tax System. The panel has delivered its final report to Government. The Government has said it will consider the review and release it in early 2010, along with an initial response.
This year, Jeff was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for service to public administration through leadership of key policy initiatives, particularly programs for housing assistance, child support, mental health, the disabled and insurance reform, and through initiatives for Indigenous Australians.
Jeff has a keen interest in social policy, management, leadership and organisational change and development.