Social procurement

Social procurement is when organisations use their buying power to generate social value above and beyond the value of the goods, services, or construction being procured. Since 2018, the Victorian Government has used government purchase power to generate social value, guided by the Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework.

At Homes Victoria, our vision is to integrate strong social procurement practices and support inclusive employment outcomes across all Homes Victoria projects. As an agency delivering new housing infrastructure across Victoria, it is our responsibility to ensure our projects maximise opportunities to generate social value and provide the best job, education and training outcomes for those who are often under-represented in our workforce.

Homes Victoria has introduced a set of scalable social procurement requirements that apply to all projects, no matter the size or value.

Stemming from the Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework, Homes Victoria has set social procurement requirements that align with our housing programs priorities and homelessness support services. Our social procurement objectives draw from those of the Victorian Government’s Social Procurement Framework and Department of Families, Fairness and Housing Social Procurement Strategy 2021-22.

Homes Victoria’s social procurement objectives are to provide:

• opportunities for Victorian Aboriginal people
• opportunities for Victorians with disability
• opportunities for Victorian priority jobseekers (social housing renters, people on the Victorian Housing Register, asylum seekers and refugees)
• women’s equality and safety.

Our social procurement requirements relate to the contract value. These requirements have been developed in coordination with other government agencies and endorsed for industry consultation by our executive team and advisory board. For further information, please see the Homes Victoria Social Procurement guide below.

The Social Housing Employment Program helps people living in Victorian social housing get the hands-on experience and training they need to join the social housing workforce.

Homes Victoria is partnering with Jobs Victoria, Uniting Vic/Tas and Qualify to support 200 social housing residents and other priority job seekers into full-time or part-time social housing jobs by mid-2023. The Social Housing and Employment Program will be delivered through a $3 million investment from the $250 million Jobs Victoria Fund.

Homes Victoria will encourage suppliers to help meet their social procurement contractual obligations through engaging with this program and encourage social housing residents to seek employment through the program.

The Social Housing Employment Program targets social housing residents and others at risk of long-term unemployment, connecting them with a wide range of career opportunities. Opportunities may include social housing tenancy and management, maintenance, cleaning, to security services. Participants will work and get paid while completing an industry-related qualification and receive on-the-job training to build skills and capabilities.

The entry-level roles provide secure work for a minimum of 12 months paid at or above award rates and offer one-on-one mentoring and networking opportunities.