Speaking Up: How OOSH Services Can Advocate in a Changing Landscape
Every week, OOSH services across NSW face decisions made about them, not with them. Whether it’s a school site tender, a sudden planning change, or a new regulatory requirement, the landscape moves fast. With a few practical steps, your service can have a seat at the table, and make sure children’s needs are front and centre.
The OOSH sector operates in a shifting environment. Tendering processes, planning decisions, and regulatory changes often move quickly, leaving services little time to respond. Those that build relationships with decision-makers early are better placed to shape outcomes rather than scramble at the last minute. Advocacy is not complicated. It starts with knowing who to talk to, what to say, and when to act.
The first step is to be clear on your message. Identify the single issue affecting your service and keep the language simple. It might be an upcoming tender on your site, a lack of permanent space, staffing pressures, or the absence of consultation in planning decisions. Focus on how this impacts children and families. Clarity matters more than volume.
Good advocacy relies on evidence. That does not mean a lengthy report. A few strong facts are enough: the number of children you care for, how long your waitlist is, how many staff you employ, and a short example of what the issue looks like in real life. Real stories, supported by basic figures, carry weight with decision-makers.
Understanding who makes the decisions is essential. Local, state, and federal representatives each play different roles. Local councillors and mayors influence planning, land use, and community facilities. They are the right people to speak with when your issue involves physical space, approvals, or increasing local visibility. State MPs and ministers hold the levers that directly shape OOSH: education policy, access to school sites, regulation, and tendering. They should be your first contact when tenders are announced or when space and regulation are at stake. Federal MPs and ministers focus on broader, long-term settings like workforce strategy and national funding. They are key contacts when you want to influence systemic issues or national reforms.
Relationships should be built before there is a problem. Introducing your service to local representatives early, inviting them to visit, and keeping them informed creates trust. When an issue does arise, they already know who you are and what you contribute to the community.
When you do approach government, be clear and specific. Limit yourself to one main request. This might be early consultation on a tender process, support for permanent space, or help to secure planning approvals. Bringing a short factsheet with your key figures, a simple explanation of the issue, and a single ask is more effective than a long presentation.
How you approach different levels matters. Councillors respond to local stories, so frame your message as a community issue and, if appropriate, attend council forums or community consultation sessions. State MPs should be approached through their electorate offices. A short meeting that connects the issue directly to their electorate, backed by your factsheet, is often enough to get their attention. Ministers should be contacted through a clear and polite email or letter, with your local MP copied in to show community weight behind the issue. Federal MPs are most useful when you need to highlight broader, national impacts. They often raise matters directly with ministers.
Confidence counts. You know your service best. Clear language and a constructive tone are far more persuasive than long, emotional appeals. Be respectful, stay on message, and offer solutions rather than just describing the problem.
Advocacy is rarely a one-off conversation. Strong services keep their local representatives in the loop with short updates, even when no issue is active. This turns advocacy from a single event into an ongoing relationship. It means that when a decision lands without warning, your voice is already part of the conversation.
Consider OOSH tendering as an example. When tenders are announced for school sites, services with strong links to their local state MP are often able to raise concerns early, push for fair processes, and highlight their track record with families. They are known, not new. That positioning can make a tangible difference to outcomes.
Advocacy does not belong only to large organisations. Every service can tell its story, be heard, and influence decisions. The earlier you start, the stronger your position will be when change arrives.
Who to Talk To
| Level of Government | Who They Are | What They Influence | When to Contact |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local Government | Councillors and Mayor | Planning, land use, community facilities, local advocacy | When the issue involves space, council approvals, or local visibility |
| State Government | Local MP, Ministers (e.g. Education, Planning) | Education policy, public school sites, regulation, tendering | When the issue involves tenders, site access, or state regulations |
| Federal Government | Federal MP, Ministers (e.g. Education, Finance) | National funding programs, workforce strategies, national policy | When the issue links to national reform, funding, or workforce settings |
Quick Tips for OOSH Advocacy
- Focus on one issue at a time
- Keep your message child- and family-centred
- Use 3–4 strong facts and one story
- Build relationships before problems arise
- Follow up respectfully and regularly
Want to take the next step?
Network of Community Activities supports services to advocate confidently and constructively.
Contact us at network@networkofcommunityactivities.org.au.
