The same obligations, a different delivery context

Social procurement in Bendigo and across regional Victoria operates under the same legal and policy framework as metropolitan projects. The Victorian Social Procurement Framework does not distinguish between metropolitan and regional contract locations. If a project is government-funded and above the relevant threshold, social procurement obligations apply. For construction contractors working in Bendigo and the broader Loddon Campaspe region, understanding what those obligations require is essential for tendering competitively and managing project delivery effectively.

What the Victorian Social Procurement Framework requires

The Victorian Social Procurement Framework requires government-funded construction projects above threshold to achieve specific social outcomes through procurement decisions. These include spend targets for social benefit suppliers - Indigenous enterprises, social enterprises, and disability enterprises - and workforce commitments for disadvantaged workers including long-term unemployed people, First Nations employees, and workers with disability.

Social procurement in construction across regional Victoria presents both challenges and opportunities relative to metropolitan delivery. The pool of certified social benefit suppliers operating locally may be smaller, which requires more proactive market development. But regional projects often have stronger existing relationships with local Indigenous enterprises and community organisations.

Local content and the Local Jobs First Policy

The Local Jobs First Policy adds specific local content obligations on projects above threshold, requiring contractors to demonstrate engagement with regional Victorian suppliers and workers. For projects in Bendigo, this creates an opportunity to evidence local economic impact alongside social procurement performance. Both are increasingly valued in government reporting.

Getting compliance right in a regional context

Social procurement compliance requirements do not change for regional projects, but the practical delivery context does. Contractors working in Bendigo and regional Victoria should consider identifying social benefit suppliers who can service regional project locations; engaging with local First Nations organisations in the Loddon Campaspe region early in project planning; and capturing and reporting data consistently throughout the project, particularly important when project teams are smaller.