Community Services Advisory Group meeting 17 March 2026 – Communique
The Community Services Advisory Group met on Tuesday, 17 March 2026, for the first meeting of the year.
Priorities for the group over 2026 were discussed and finalised. This includes supporting the design and implementation of reforms that align to Government priorities, the Not‑for‑profit Sector Development Blueprint, and the Community Sector Grants Engagement Framework.
Key items discussed included:
- an update on Our Ways – Strong Ways – Our Voices, outlining immediate implementation activities along with longer‑term planning that is now underway
- findings on Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations’ experiences with current funding arrangements for child and family services, based on insights from recent projects conducted by SNAICC
- relational contracting, where member feedback was sought to inform the development of operational guidance and artefacts to support relational contracting approaches
- an update on progress on streamlining grants data and opportunities to strengthen outcome measurement.
I look forward to the next meeting on 16 June 2026, as well as continuing to work in close collaboration with the community services sector in our shared objective to improve the lives of vulnerable Australians.
The Hon Ged Kearney MP, Chair, Community Services Advisory Group
Assistant Minister for Social Services
Assistant Minister for Prevention of Family Violence
Was this page helpful?
DSS5103 | Permalink: www.dss.gov.au/node/5103