The Promises and Pitfalls of Prime Provider Models in Service Delivery: The Next Phase of Reform in Australia?

Wilma Gallet, Janine O'Flynn, Helen Dickinson, Siobhan O'Sullivan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

At a time of fiscal restraint and reductions in the size of the public sector, governments in Australia are exploring new approaches to delivering public services. One model receiving attention is the prime provider approach. This is an approach where government contracts a lead or prime provider who in turn organizes and manages a group of sub-contractors. In prime provider approaches, non-government organizations take on a quasi-government role and this brings a new complexity into the relationships between the various actors involved in developing and delivering public services. This article provides an overview of prime provider approaches and, drawing on the limited research to date, poses questions that we view as being critical to the current debate. The aim is to provoke further discussion on the potential impact of prime provider approaches.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)239-248
Number of pages10
JournalAustralian Journal of Public Administration
Volume74
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jun 2015
Externally publishedYes

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