With support from the LGP Capability Grant Program FY25, Warren Shire Council has strengthened its approach to ethical procurement through the successful delivery of its Building Capacity to Manage Modern Slavery Risks in Procurement initiative.
The project aimed to strengthen Council’s ability to identify and mitigate modern slavery risks in procurement through a tailored training workshop. The initiative successfully delivered practical training, supported by executive engagement and clear tools to guide implementation.
The outcomes and benefits demonstrate how targeted investment in capability building can deliver meaningful, organisation-wide impact while meeting legislative and governance obligations.
Building Practical Capability
Designed in alignment with Council’s Modern Slavery Risk Management Plan and the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW), the initiative focused on equipping staff with practical, real-world tools to identify, assess and mitigate modern slavery risks across tendering, contract management and supplier engagement activities. The project strengthened procurement capability by embedding ethical considerations directly into everyday decision-making processes.
Tailored Workshop
A key milestone of the project was a tailored workshop delivery, which saw the successful delivery of a five-hour onsite training session titled Reducing Modern Slavery Risks in Contract and Supplier Management on 19 November 2025. Facilitated by LGP Sustainable Choice, the workshop brought together executive leadership, procurement, contract management and operational staff to ensure a whole-of-organisation approach.
The workshop was delivered across five structured modules and covered:
- The definition and forms of modern slavery,
- Legislative obligations for NSW councils,
- High-risk procurement categories relevant to Council,
- Embedding risk controls in tendering and contracts, and
- Application of Council’s Modern Slavery Risk Management Plan.
Accountability and Capability Uplift
The training provided participants with practical tools and shared language to confidently apply modern slavery risk management principles in their roles.
Formal certification of attendance reinforced accountability and supported sustained capability uplift across the organisation.
Benefits for Council
The benefits to Council are wide-ranging and enduring.
In the short term,
- Greater staff awareness of compliance obligations under the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (NSW)
- Improved confidence in identifying supplier risks and potential indicators of modern slavery
- Increased procurement capability across departments
Medium‑term benefits include:
- Stronger tender documentation and procurement process
- Improved supplier engagement and contract management practices
- Reduced reputational, legal and governance risks
- Increased transparency and accountability in procurement activities
Strategic benefits include:
- Alignment with the Office of Local Government and ICAC procurement integrity expectations
- Demonstrated ethical procurement leadership within the regional local government context
- Improved ability to complete mandatory online reporting, including successful submission of the 2024-25 report using IRIT & GRS Template
Lessons and Lasting Impact
Key lessons from the project included the importance of early executive engagement, tailoring training to Council specific procurement categories, and integrating training with procurement policy and risk management plan implementation.
The LGP Capability Grant has enabled Council to take a practical step forward in strengthening ethical procurement practices. The training has improved staff awareness, provided clear tools for identifying modern slavery risks and reinforced the importance of responsible supplier engagement. This initiative supports Council to meet its legislative obligations while demonstrating leadership in ethical procurement within regional local government. This demonstrates the powerful role that LGP supported capability building can play in strengthening ethical procurement practices and supporting councils to lead with integrity
