Department of the Senate

The Senate department provides secretariat support for the Senate and its committees, and advice and support to enable senators and others to participate in their meetings. Its work is substantially driven by the requirements of the Senate and senators.

The department provides services and undertakes activities in the following areas:

• advice about Senate and committee proceedings
• secretariat support for the Senate
• secretariat support for committees
• administrative advice and support for senators
• public information and parliamentary education
• capability, governance and accountability.

In undertaking its functions the department is responsible not to the government of the day but to the Senate and all senators, maintaining complete impartiality in serving equally senators from all political parties and independent senators.