Department of Social Services Secretary Ray Griggs will retire this year. Photo: Wiki.
Department of Social Services Secretary Ray Griggs is stepping down from his role and will retire by the end of the year.
He leaves after having embraced the task of cleaning the department following the tragedy of the Robodebt debacle and the fallout of the Royal Commission into the scheme.
In a wide-spanning career, Mr Griggs has been highly respected across the public service and political spectrums, and previously served as the Chief of Navy and Vice Chief of the Australian Defence Force.
Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth was full of praise for the outgoing secretary when she made public the news of his impending departure.
“The Secretary of my department, Ray Griggs AO CSC, has announced his retirement,” the Minister said.
“Mr Griggs has had an exemplary career, with 46 years of public service across multiple departments and agencies and the Royal Australian Navy.
“Mr Griggs joined the Department of Social Services in 2021 and has led the department through many important reforms that have improved the lives of Australians.
“In my time as Minister, I have worked with Mr Griggs to oversee important changes to the Paid Parental Leave Scheme, increases to Commonwealth Rent Assistance and a range of payments – including Single Parenting Payment, as well as work on the National Plan to End Violence against Women and Children and making permanent the Leaving Violence program.
“Together, we also worked across government to coordinate the response to the final report of the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability, as well as making important improvements to the National Redress Scheme.
“Mr Griggs has also worked hard to change the culture within the department, putting people at the centre of policy development.
“I thank Mr Griggs for his work, counsel and friendship.
“I have been able to witness his passion for making people’s lives better through our time working together and I wish him all the best for his future endeavours.
“Mr Griggs will step down toward the end of the year. His replacement will be announced in due course.”
Griggs was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross in 1997, a Commendation for Distinguished Service in 2003 for his work in the Persian Gulf, and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2009, then elevated to an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
That honour was for “Distinguished service to the Australian Defence Force as Deputy Head of Strategic Reform and Governance, Deputy Chief of Joint Operations, and Chief of the Royal Australian Navy.”
Scott Morrison appointed Griggs as Social Services Secretary in 2021 while the Coalition was still in government, and he survived the shakeup of top public service positions following the election of Anthony Abanese’s Labor government.
On assuming the role, Mr Griggs implemented vast reforms in the department. He introduced the mantra of what he termed the Four Cs – Curiosity, Collaboration, Contestability and Courage – that he said the agency had previously lacked.
Griggs had previously held the appointment of the Associate Secretary of the Indigenous Affairs Group within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and he was the inaugural CEO of the National Indigenous Australians Agency. He was also one of the members of the National Co-design Group of the Indigenous Voice to Government.
In his current role, he has been the chair of the Australian Public Service Disability Champions Network, which is a group of agency heads and APS leaders working to ensure a diverse workforce and safe and inclusive workplaces.
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Riotact.
