The Minns Labor Government in NSW has introduced a landmark agreement aimed at providing greater job security and long-term funding certainty for the community services sector, benefiting nearly a quarter of a million workers. This initiative fulfills the government’s Secure Jobs and Funding Certainty election commitment through the establishment of a new Community Services Funding Framework alongside a complementary Community Service Jobs Compact.
The Community Services Funding Framework offers a whole-of-government approach to funding, providing 7,800 organisations with default five-year contracts. The Jobs Compact commits funded organisations to enhance employment stability for more than 240,000 frontline workers, who deliver essential services including family, domestic and sexual violence support, homelessness services, and child and family programs to over one million vulnerable people across NSW.
Previously, short-term contracts and uncertain funding hindered organisational planning, created administrative burdens, and contributed to job insecurity. By providing longer-term funding and stable employment, the reforms will allow providers to plan effectively, innovate, and retain skilled staff, enabling them to focus on supporting communities in need.
The agreements also establish clear performance and outcome expectations for service providers, ensuring that taxpayer money is used efficiently, transparently, and directly for the benefit of the community. Developed through consultation with the community sector, the Australian Services Union (ASU), and key government funding agencies, the Funding Framework and Jobs Compact represent a first-of-its-kind commitment to secure employment and long-term viability in Australia’s community services sector.
Minister for Families and Communities Kate Washington highlighted the importance of job security for community workers, noting that stable relationships between staff and clients improve outcomes. Department of Communities and Justice Secretary Michael Tidball emphasized that the agreements provide clarity and stability for providers and workers, supporting consistent, high-quality services for communities across NSW.
The Australian Services Union welcomed the Jobs Compact, noting that it sets a precedent for linking long-term government funding to secure, permanent employment for frontline workers, helping retain skilled staff in essential services. The NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS) praised the reforms for enabling organisations to plan ahead, invest in their workforce, and focus on delivering quality outcomes to over a million people who rely on community services each year, reinforcing the sector’s sustainability and capacity for the future.
