Consultation on Relational Contracting Documents

Download the full submission here

RE: Consultation on Relational Contracting Documents

The St Vincent de Paul Society National Council (the Society) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the Department of Social Services’ (DSS) suite of draft relational contract documents. The Society has consulted with its counterparts in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.

The Society commends DSS for moving towards relational contracting. As a significant and national provider of Commonwealth-funded Emergency Relief services, the Society is often ‘at the coal face’, with local people assisting others in their community in times of need and crisis. This requires agility and flexibility, both operationally and administratively. Any changes by DSS to enable organisations such as ours to respond efficiently and effectively are welcome.

The Society supports relational contracting, emphasising transparency, risk-based resource allocation, and ongoing review processes. It highlights the need for clearer departmental decision-making, delegation, and response timeframes, especially during disasters. The Society advocates for increased sector capacity support, flexible policies, and thorough evaluation of implementation phases, ensuring balance between compliance and adaptive partnership approaches.