Jeff Harmer Explained

Jeff Harmer
Office1:Secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Term Start1:2007
Term End1:2011
Office2:Secretary of the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
Term Start2:2006
Term End2:2007
Office3:Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services
Term Start3:2004
Term End3:2006
Office4:Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training
Term Start4:2003
Term End4:2004
Birth Name:Jeffrey Allan Harmer
Birth Date:1949 9, df=yes
Birth Place:New South Wales
Occupation:Public servant
Nationality: Australian
Alma Mater:University of New South Wales (BA (Hons), DipEd, PhD)

Jeffrey Allan 'Jeff' Harmer (born 19 September 1949) is a former senior Australian public servant. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training in 2003 and served in a series of Secretary-level roles until his retirement in December 2010.

Life and career

Jeff Harmer was born on 19 September 1949 in country New South Wales.[1] He attended Gundagai High School and then graduated from the University of New South Wales, attaining a Bachelor of Arts (with honours) and a Diploma of Education, and then was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Urban Economic and Urban Geography.[1]

Harmer began his Commonwealth Public Service career in 1978 at the Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development,[2] starting on an 18-month contract.

Between 1998 and 2003, Harmer was head of the Health Insurance Commission (now Medicare Australia), after having served in various senior public sector positions, including as a Deputy Secretary at the Department of Social Security and at the Department of Housing and Regional Development. Harmer was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training in February 2003 and the following year, Harmer became instead Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services.[1]

Harmer retired from the public service in December 2010 after a public sector career that spanned over three decades.[3] [4]

In retirement, Harmer has served on the committee for Reform of the Australian Government's Housing Assistance Programs and the advisory group for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. In September 2016, he was recruited to also chair an advisory committee on private health insurance policy, reporting to the health minister Sussan Ley.[5]

Awards

Jeff Harmer was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra in September 2012.

In 2009, Harmer was named the inaugural Federal Government Leader of the Year by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia. Harmer has also been awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and in 2010 was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Notes and References

  1. Appointment Of Secretary Of The Department Of Education, Science And Training. John. Howard. John Howard. 26 February 2003. 10 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140110131511/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=20577.
  2. Julia. Gillard. Julia Gillard. 21 December 2010. Departmental Secretaries. 1 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140101125041/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=17548.
  3. Retirement of Dr Jeff Harmer AO. Jenny. Macklin. Jenny Macklin. 21 December 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20140110133738/http://www.formerministers.dss.gov.au/13958/retirement-of-dr-jeff-harmer-ao/. live. 10 January 2014.
  4. Web site: Conference Speakers: Dr Jeff Harmer AO. https://web.archive.org/web/20140110135657/http://www.nhc.edu.au/brisbane2012/speakers_qld/jeff_harmer_qld.html. live. 10 January 2014. Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. 2012.
  5. News: Jeffrey Harmer to advise Health Minister Sussan Ley on private health insurance. Australian Financial Review. Jessica. Gardner. Fairfax Media. 8 September 2016.