The obligations are the same, the market context is different

Social procurement in Frankston and across Melbourne's south-east falls under the same Victorian Social Procurement Framework as any other government-funded construction project in the state. If a project meets the relevant thresholds, social procurement obligations apply regardless of location. For construction contractors working in the Frankston area, the City of Frankston, and the broader Mornington Peninsula region, understanding what those obligations require is important for both tender preparation and project delivery.

What the Victorian Social Procurement Framework requires in this context

The Victorian Social Procurement Framework requires government-funded construction projects above threshold to achieve measurable social outcomes through procurement. These include engaging social benefit suppliers - Indigenous enterprises, social enterprises, and disability enterprises - and meeting workforce inclusion targets for disadvantaged workers.

Social procurement in construction in the south-east Melbourne corridor benefits from proximity to a relatively dense network of social enterprises and a significant First Nations community in the region. Frankston and the Mornington Peninsula have active community organisations and social enterprise providers that can be engaged as part of a social procurement plan, but this requires proactive market development, not reactive engagement when a contract requires it.

Local government and council projects

Social procurement obligations on local government projects in the Frankston area operate differently from state government projects. Frankston City Council has its own procurement policies that may include social value requirements, but these are not identical to SPF requirements. For contractors working across both state and local government projects in the region, maintaining a consistent approach to supplier identification, data capture, and reporting is more efficient than developing separate processes for each client type.

Making social procurement work in the local context

Social enterprise suppliers operating in the south-east Melbourne region can provide services including training, catering, safety equipment, and workwear relevant to construction projects. First Nations engagement in the Frankston and Mornington Peninsula region should involve early consultation with Bunurong Land Council, who represent the Bunurong people as the Traditional Owners of this Country. Engagement should begin in project planning, not after procurement decisions have been made.