Better Together is a report from the Centre for Policy Development that looks at how state and federal governments can partner with local councils to better deliver some of the critical services communities rely on like disaster recovery, child care, aged care, mental health support and more.
Local councils play a vital role in Australia’s social fabric. They provide active community hubs for learning and connection, deliver essential social and health services, and maintain much of the infrastructure that underpins our daily life.
Council funding has declined over three decades from 1% of tax revenue in the 1990s to 0.49% in 2026-27. At the same time, the expectations of local government has expanded, far beyond “roads, rates and rubbish”. As the level of government closest to the community, it makes sense that they are active leaders in managing the wellbeing of people and the environment. But right now, they lack adequate support to deliver.
When federal and state governments work together with local councils, communities can thrive. Strong, active local-state partnerships enable councils to deliver for the community, while also helping meet national and state priorities for health and wellbeing.
Better Together is a report from the Centre for Policy Development that looks at ways local councils can overcome chronic under-resourcing by partnering with state and federal governments to provide some of the critical services communities rely on.
Council budgets are under immense pressure. This is especially true for regional councils where they are already the provider of last resort for many services like child care and health care, straining already stretched resources.
When people’s needs are neglected, disaffection becomes the norm. Trust in institutions and democracy declines, and social cohesion frays. Over time, this ends up costing governments more.
We need a focus on how to grow the skills, resources and mindsets needed for all levels of government to work in genuine partnership with each other and with communities.
To respond to these pressures and risks, levels of government alongside the broader public health ecosystem need to work better together. To achieve this, we must rethink how we collaborate.
Drawing on case studies of successful partnerships in Victoria and South Australia, Better Together identifies four strategies for effective partnerships:
As the backbone of our communities, local councils need sustainable, collaborative support to provide for the growing needs of their residents. When local governments are properly equipped to thrive, the entire community benefits.
In South Australia, the Regional Preventive Health Partnerships and nine Wellbeing Hubs are funded and run by Preventive Health SA to support the physical, social and mental wellbeing of a priority population group within the local community. Preventive Health SA provides funding, data, public health expertise, evaluation frameworks and connections with other hubs while councils implement the hubs in communities. Examples of co-designed activities include mental health support sessions, multicultural sports carnivals, community nutrition education and youth social connection programs.
