Structure of the department

Department of Housing

The Department of Housing comprises ten service areas that all play a crucial role in the provision and delivery of housing assistance to our clients.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Housing oversees the provision of secure, appropriate and affordable housing to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland as a basis for improving social and health outcomes. This is provided through targeted rental housing, grant funding for social housing in discrete Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, and planning and coordination of housing improvement initiatives for the benefit of Indigenous people living in these communities and on reserves where the department supports social housing.

Client Services is the department's primary service delivery arm for its products and services, and represents the 'public face' of the department. It operates through a service delivery network of 18 area offices, six client service centres and a Call Centre. Client Services works collaboratively with clients to identify their specific housing needs and to match these to products and services available from the department or by referral to community-based providers. This service area also provides tenancy management for clients in department-owned accommodation and assists them to sustain their tenancies by working closely with other support agencies and organisations.

Community and Public Housing provides the operational policy and performance framework for the planning, delivery and management of social rental and crisis housing. It provides funding to community and local government-managed housing providers to deliver crisis, transitional and long-term affordable accommodation, administers the regulation of funded providers and monitors the compliance of registered providers. It also assists households in the private housing market by funding organisations to provide referral services, information and advice on tenancy, maintenance and home security matters.

Community Renewal is a whole-of-Government program coordinated through the Department of Housing. Community Renewal brokers integrated Queensland Government responses to complex and interrelated community issues in selected areas of the State. The program operates at the community level to build the capacity of local residents and groups by addressing identified priorities in renewal zones. Community Renewal works closely with State, local and non-government agencies in each renewal area, ensuring efforts are coordinated and resources directed towards developing sustainable responses to community-identified issues.

Housing Finance is the primary source of financial management advice within the department and is responsible for the department's financial management framework and environment. It also provides a range of housing assistance to eligible Queenslanders to access or maintain home ownership or private rental accommodation.

Housing Policy and Strategy provides leadership, strategic analysis and advice on housing and related social policy across the department. Housing Policy and Strategy oversees the development of policies that enable the department to achieve broader whole-of-Government objectives, as well as contributing to new and enhanced options for delivering housing services.

Organisation Services and Strategy is responsible for the framework of corporate governance and the provision of corporate and executive support across the organisation, including human resources, information and facilities management, performance and reporting, legal services, appeals and review, executive services and marketing and communication.

Private Housing Support is responsible for the development of policy, products and services that enable government, the private sector and the community to maximise outcomes for low to moderate income households in the private housing market.

Property Portfolio Management is responsible for the strategic management of the department's property portfolio and providing expert guidance in the management of associated non-departmental owned properties.

The Service Delivery Reform Unit is responsible for developing the department's forward service delivery strategy in the short, medium and long-term, to improve the way the department delivers services to its clients.

Statutory authorities

The Director-General, Department of Housing administers the Acts for the Queensland Building Services Authority and the Residential Tenancies Authority.

The Queensland Building Service Authority regulates the building industry through the licensing of contractors, educates consumers about their rights and obligations, makes contractors aware of their legal rights and responsibilities, handles disputes, protects consumers against loss through statutory insurance, implements and enforces legislative reforms, and where necessary, prosecutes persons not complying with the law.

Further information can be obtained by visiting www.bsa.qld.gov.au.

The Residential Tenancies Authority assists tenants, lessors, agents, residents and service providers by providing a custodial service for rental bonds, tenancy information and education, and a dispute resolution service and will investigate and prosecute offences under the legislation for which it is responsible, when appropriate.

Further information can be obtained by visiting www.rta.qld.gov.au.