Council Leading the Way in Social Procurement


Wyong Shire Council is hosting the Central Coast & Hunter Social Procurement & Economic Participation Forum to help organisations and government bodies make a positive difference to the community when purchasing their goods and services.

Social procurement involves the purchasing of quality goods or services that also produce a positive social outcome, such as strengthening local economic development, opening up new opportunities for disadvantaged communities or meeting the future needs of the local workforce.  

Mayor Doug Eaton said Council spends close to $100 million a year on procurement and is pleased to be hosting such an important forum.

“We want to see projects in our regional that deliver local jobs for local people.  That lift the barriers to employment currently faced by our youth and other sections of our community.”

“Council is doing our bit – we have plans for infrastructure projects and upgrades across the Shire and have a policy that gives preference to local suppliers when we make purchases.”

“We know this will make a real and lasting difference to our community and we need other levels of government and businesses on board.

“It is time to put your money where your mouth is.”

Council’s Community Partnerships and Planning Manager, Julie Vaughan, said the forum will have interactive sessions on job creation and economic participation in major projects, opportunities for participation from local and regional businesses, jobs and pathways to employment for disadvantaged communities and cross sector regional collaboration and innovation.

“Social procurement is the way of the future for organisations and governments as it provides value for money, while helping communities develop employment and business opportunities that otherwise may not be available to them,” said Ms Vaughan.

“Council’s leadership in social enterprise and innovation is increasingly recognised within other local areas and we are pleased to have this opportunity to share our experience and expertise and establish social procurement relationships within our own region.”

Keynote speakers at the Forum will be Claire Parry from Transport for NSW and Transport for London, Alan Blackman from the NSW Premier’s Department and Dr Ingrid Burkett of the Centre for Social Impact.

The Social Procurement and Economic Participation Forum will be held on Thursday 28 August at Council’s Civic Centre.

For more information go to www.wyong.nsw.gov.au/socialenterprise