CHURCHES should develop new partnerships with private and public interests to ensure the future of the not-for-profit sector in Australia, leading community services advocate and Productivity Commissioner Robert Fitzgerald told a conference in Brisbane.
Mr Fitzgerald told the Queensland Council of Social Service (QCOSS) state conference on March 27 that a major stumbling block for the future of the community sector was the lack of capital funding for its activities.
He said there was an opportunity for Christian Churches to partner with other sectors to mobilise participation in delivering projects for the “community good”.
He said the strong asset base of some Churches could provide the security and sustainability governments as well as private parties are looking for to invest with confidence.
He said not enough effort had been spent by Churches in assessing whether their assets such as property was being used for its maximum value.
Mr Fitzgerald warned nearly 400 conference delegates there was a “radically different” operating environment facing the community services sector today than had been the case in recent decades.
His comments follow an earlier statement by the managing director of Church Resources, Jesuit Father Michael Kelly, who said in February that a “third sector” based on not-for-profit groups was necessary for Australia to achieve economic resilience, social inclusion and stronger communities.
