Collaboration between Australian peak bodies and governments in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic: New ways of interacting

Peak bodies (“peaks”) are funded by Australian governments to fulfil a multifaceted role, including presenting a collective voice to government on behalf of their nongovernmental service provider members and the vulnerable client populations they serve. However, the relationship between peaks and governments has been fraught, with governments imposing contractual conditions in exchange for funding, thereby constraining advocacy. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the nongovernmental sector provided vital services, including care and support for children and families, and dispensed emergency funding through their service networks. This research investigates engagement between peak bodies and governments during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020–2021. Nineteen CEOs and senior executives were interviewed from 16 peak bodies. Additionally, 27 surveys were completed by peak and nongovernmental sector representatives. Interview transcripts were coded using NVivo and thematically analysed. Four types of interactions between government and peak bodies were identified: collective leadership; partnership; advocacy to influence; and advocacy designed for public pressure. These four types of interactions formed a public advocacy continuum. In some Australian jurisdictions, the study showed that collective and partnership mechanisms between peaks and government were strengthened or revived, yet sustained work will be needed to entrench these positive developments in a postcrisis environment.