NSW Government Delivers Nation-Leading Community Service Agreement

The New South Wales Government has signed a nation-leading agreement aimed at strengthening job security and funding stability across the community services sector. This initiative fulfils the Minns Labor Government's Secure Jobs and Funding Certainty for Community Services election commitment by establishing two key elements: a Community Services Funding Framework and a Community Service Jobs Compact. The new agreement intends to strengthen the sector’s capacity to focus on outcomes, improve service delivery and retain skilled workers.

Under the Community Services Funding Framework, around 7,800 community service organisations will benefit from a whole-of-government approach to funding, including default five-year contracts. This long-term funding certainty is designed to reduce administrative burdens on providers and allow better planning, workforce investment and continual service improvements.

The Community Services Jobs Compact commits to offering greater job security to the workforce of funded organisations, meaning more permanent roles and improved stability for around 240,000 community sector workers. These workers deliver vital frontline supports — including family and domestic violence services, homelessness support and child and family programs — to more than one million vulnerable people across NSW each year.

The reforms were developed in consultation with the community sector, the Australian Services Union (ASU) and government agencies. Stakeholders welcomed the initiative, noting that it sets a precedent for linking secure, long-term funding with better employment conditions in the community services sector and supports improved outcomes for communities statewide