What is community service in local government?

Human services are a significant part of local government’s role in providing for the social wellbeing of communities. Councils undertake a critical role both in social planning and in the coordination and delivery of human services at the local level.

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Partnerships
Further information

As the representative body for the local government sector, our advocacy is primarily undertaken in relation to policy, planning and funding in negotiations with the Victorian and Australian Governments and other stakeholders, and to facilitate the funding and provision of human services, particularly where councils are major service providers.

We also facilitate local capacity development, promote innovation and act as an information hub for Victorian local government on human services issues.

Partnerships

Major objectives of our social policy area include achievement of joint sign-off with other levels of government on social policy issues relevant to local government, and where appropriate, establishment of memorandums of understanding (MoUs) or program partnership agreements between the Victorian Government and the sector collectively.

Committees

The social policy area manages the Human Services Committee – one of the Committees set up by the Board to receive strategic advice.

The Human Services Committee comprises elected members and senior council officers from around the state, and is well attended and supported.

Further information

Councils provide a variety of services. Ultimately, each council has the discretion to decide what services to provide an appropriate service levels, in consultation with its community. Some are provided on a user pays basis, while others are funded through a council’s rating income and grants.

A number of factors affect the range, delivery and cost of council services:

the population size and mix
the availability of funding
socio-economic factors
geography
the number and range of services provided
councils’ cost allocation practices
the efficiency of council
council policies
short term programs

Service Type	Description of Service
Governance & administration	Council’s role as a democratic government, including elections, members’ fees and expenses, meetings of councils and policy making committees, area representation and public disclosure and compliance, corporate support and other support services, engineering works and any council policy compliance.
Public order, safety and health	Fire services, fire protection, emergency services, beach control, enforcement of local government regulations and animal control.
Environment	Noxious plants and insect/vermin control, environmental protection, solid waste management, street cleaning, drainage and stormwater management.
Community services, education & housing	Administration and education, social protection (welfare), aged, disabled and children’s services, public cemeteries and conveniences, street lighting, town planning and other community amenities.
Water & sewer	The provision of water and sewer services.
Recreation and culture	Libraries, museums, art galleries, community centres, halls and performing arts, sporting grounds and venues, swimming pools, parks and gardens and other sporting and recreation facilities.
Roads, Bridges & Footpaths	The provision of roads, bridges and footpaths.
Other Services	Services such as caravan parks, economic activities, agriculture, building control, aerodromes and communication.

Some care needs to be taken when drawing conclusions about these results. While water and sewer represents 10% of average expenditure, only 66% of councils provide either one or both of these services. No metropolitan councils provide water and sewer and in some regional and rural areas, the services are provided by county councils. In addition, depending on councils’ costing methods, the governance and administration category includes a range of indirect costs, such as payroll, associated with providing other services. Key observations are:

Rural councils generally have far greater costs per capita due to their relatively smaller population.
Road related expenditure is far greater in rural areas due to the significantly larger road networks.

Per Capita Expenditure by Service:

Metropolitan and metropolitan fringe councils have lower per capita expenditure primarily due to economies of scale.
Expenditure per capita can vary due to councils’ decisions in relation to number and size of services provided.
Metropolitan councils do not provide water and sewer services.
Many rural councils provide ‘Other Services’ such as aerodromes, medical and agricultural services that are not provided by most other councils

	State avg.	Metro	Metro fringe	Regional	Large rural	Rural
Governance & Admin	472.08	309.02	173.15	326.15	551.93	1059.62
Public Order, Safety, Health	119.49	70.22	72.06	94.25	129.05	265.56
Environment	295.78	241.47	255.27	314.26	305.13	338.84
Community Services, Amenities, Education, Housing	278.35	168.03	135.54	219.91	326.68	556.72
Water & Sewer	604.56	57.93	330.35	629.8	571.1	721.91
Recreation & Culture	332.23	258.67	210.76	295.28	383	476.73
Roads, Bridges, Footpaths	613.52	122.64	194.83	358.22	879.16	1568.82
Other Services	419.93	94.49	124.59	273.64	497.21	1284

Local government acknowledges that providing tailored support services for community groups with specific needs is key to creating equitable, cohesive communities, and that reinstatement, maintenance and increases in funding for these activities from federal and state government is vital to councils providing on-going services.

Local government recognises that there is an ageing population in South Australia that will require governments to allocate more resources to ensure better outcomes for our communities as they age. Notwithstanding the significant obligations of federal/ state governments, councils should equitably contribute to meeting the needs of an ageing population.

Local government acknowledges the contribution of migrants from both other parts of Australia and internationally to the diversity and prosperity of local communities. Councils should identify means of attracting, supporting and retaining migrants who positively contribute to South Australian society.

Local government acknowledges the important role that young people play in the social, economic and cultural progression of communities, and support their right to be informed, consulted and heard on all matters that affect them. Councils should continue to respect the contribution of young people and shall implement engagement processes that allow their views to be considered.

3.4.4 National Disability Insurance Scheme

Local government recognises that the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) represents a major shift in the way that disability services are delivered and is concerned that new provisions may not be adequate. Local government shall continue to lobby federal/ state governments to ensure nobody ‘falls through the gaps’ as a result of these reforms.

3.4.5 Disability Inclusion Action Planning

Local government recognises the benefits of Disability Access and Inclusion Plans (DAIP) and ensuring adequate provisions for those with a disability are put in place. Local government shall continue to lobby for adequate resources to carry out the new statutory services contained in the Disability Inclusion Act 2018.

3.4.6 Access and Inclusion

Local government recognises the imperative in insuring all individuals can access community services and facilities to tackle issues contributing to social exclusion. Councils shall continue to explore and implement strategies through planning and community functions that promote access and inclusion for all individuals.

3.4.7 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander People

Local government acknowledges and recognises Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of Australia and respects their culture and practices. Councils, along with federal and state governments need to make an ongoing commitment to working together to provide services to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

3.4.8 Family and Domestic Violence

Local government commits to being part of the solution in the prevention of violence against women in South Australia. As the level of government closest to our communities, we recognise the damaging impact domestic and family violence has on individuals and our communities.

Recognising local government’s role to create and maintain healthy, vibrant, inclusive and safe communities, councils in South Australia will seek opportunities to work in partnership with each other and collaborate with specialist non-government organisations and agencies from other levels of government to raise awareness, facilitate, advocate and provide information to support victims of domestic violence. Councils in South Australia will demonstrate leadership by supporting employees through training and HR arrangements where appropriate.