🚀 Inside SA’s Department of Human Services: Your 60‑Second Career Cheat‑Sheet
Because who has time to read 136‑page annual reports?
AT‑A‑GLANCE
Name of Department / Council: South Australian Department of Human Services (DHS)
Location: Head Office – Level 8, Riverside Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000; services delivered state‑wide
CEO: Sandy Pitcher
Total Revenue: A$1.289 billion (FY 2023‑24)
Total Number of Employees: ≈ 2,600 FTE* (derived from salary and wages spend of A$218.9 million)
*The department does not publish a head‑count in its report; we have estimated FTE for practical insight.
DID YOU KNOW? ✨
DHS turbo‑charged its disability workforce in 2023‑24, onboarding 181 new Disability Support Officers across nine intakes to boost direct client services.
THE QUALIFICATIONS, CERTIFICATIONS, TRADES, PROFESSIONS, WORK EXPERIENCES & SKILLS MOST SUITED TO DHS
Top 5 Academic Qualifications
Bachelor of Social Work – central to case‑management and safeguarding roles.
Bachelor of Psychology – underpins behavioural support and youth justice programs.
Diploma of Community Services – fast track into client‑facing teams supporting vulnerable South Australians.
Master of Public Policy – shapes evidence‑based reforms like the Cost‑of‑Living Concession overhaul.
Certificate IV in Disability – meets mandatory standard for Supported Independent Living workers.
Top 5 Certifications
NDIS Worker Screening Clearance – mandatory for frontline disability roles.
White Ribbon Workplace Accreditation – signals commitment to family‑violence prevention projects.
Project Management Professional (PMP) – valued in multi‑million‑dollar IT & infrastructure programs.
CPA or CA (Accounting) – essential for stewardship of A$1.3 billion budget.
Mental Health First Aid – equips staff to support both clients and colleagues.
Top 5 Trades / Professions
Allied Health Practitioners (OT, Physio, Speech) – deliver specialist disability services.
ICT Specialists – maintain MyHub HRIS and cybersecurity across statewide network.
Electricians & Builders – modify homes for disability access through grant programs.
Financial Counsellors – anchor the new Financial Wellbeing Program.
Translators & Interpreters – power DHS’s interpreter & translating centre.
Top 5 Skills
Stakeholder Engagement – coordinate NGOs, Commonwealth and state agencies.
Data Analysis – translate program metrics into policy wins.
Cultural Competency – crucial for serving diverse communities, including remote SA.
Trauma‑Informed Practice – supports clients in youth justice & domestic‑violence services.
Agile Project Delivery – speeds up reforms such as Energy Bill Relief roll‑outs.
Top 5 Work Experiences
Direct care in NDIS or aged‑care settings.
Policy drafting within a government or NGO environment.
Change‑management on large ICT transformations.
Community development in regional or remote areas.
Budget management on grants or funded‑service contracts.
THE KEY FACTS
Name of Department: South Australian Department of Human Services
CEO: Sandy Pitcher
Location: State‑wide (head‑office Adelaide)
Year Founded: Current form 2018 (heritage agencies date back over 80 years)
Mission & Purpose: To help South Australians live safe, inclusive and connected lives. Example: DHS led the Energy Bill Relief Fund, delivering up to A$500 relief per household.
Main Duties: Fund & deliver disability, youth justice, concessions, community grants and screening checks. Example: the Screening Unit processed thousands of checks to keep volunteers & children safe.
Key Projects & Future Plans:
Expansion of Financial Wellbeing Program (2024‑25)
Legislative push to criminalise coercive control in SA.
Ongoing rollout of Energy Bill Relief with Commonwealth partners.
THE EMPLOYEES & REVENUE
Total Employees: ≈ 2,600 FTE*
Executives by Classification: EXEC0E 1; SAES2 6; SAES1 22
Salary Bands (remuneration ≥ A$166 k): 44 staff across 13 pay bands up to A$506 k
Average Salary (est.): ≈ A$112 k (Total employee expenses A$292.9 m ÷ estimated FTE)
Total Revenue: A$1.289 billion
Average Revenue per Employee: ≈ A$496 k
GETTING A JOB AT DHS
Which Academic Subjects Shine?
Certificate / Diploma Level:
Community Services, Auslan, Information Technology, Business Administration.
Bachelor / Master Level:
Social Work, Psychology, Criminology, Accounting, Public Policy, Cybersecurity.
PhDs:
Behavioural Science (to inform evidence‑based youth justice), Economics (welfare modelling).
Trades & Professions in Demand
Electricians & plumbers for accessible‑housing adaptations.
Allied Health clinicians for complex disability support.
Software engineers for digital‑service innovations.
Finance officers for grants & concessions programs.
Youth Workers & Correctional Officers in Youth Justice.
Valued Work Experiences
Frontline disability or aged‑care service delivery.
Large‑scale ICT implementations (e.g., HRIS, CRM).
Grant‑making or contract‑management within gov/NGOs.
Emergency or disaster‑relief coordination.
Community‑led program design in regional SA.
Must‑Have Skills
Soft skills: Empathy, persuasive communication, resilience.
Technical skills: SAP, SQL, data‑visualisation, risk‑assessment.
General skills: Report‑writing, procurement, budget tracking, mentoring.
Hobbies & Interests that Align
Volunteering, Auslan conversation groups, hackathons for social good, inclusive sports coaching, community gardening.
WANT MORE INFORMATION ON DHS?
Contact the department:
Address: Level 8, Riverside Centre, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000
Phone: (08) 7424 5980
Email: enquiries@dhs.sa.gov.au
Website: https://www.dhs.sa.gov.au
Current vacancies: https://iworkfor.sa.gov.au (search “Department of Human Services”)
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