With just three years to go before the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Victorian Government recently launched its goods and services procurement pipeline, which features more than 1200 opportunities to contribute to the games.  

The pipeline is worth hundreds of millions of dollars, covering everything from sporting equipment to medals, transport, security, catering, temporary infrastructure, marketing, telecommunications, IT and more.  

NDS brought together disability service providers and the Minister for Commonwealth Games Legacy last year to brainstorm exciting opportunities for disability services in the Games rollout. Service providers can now register their interest to turn these ideas into reality.  

The Victorian Government’s procurement strategy is built on a Local Jobs First policy, which makes sure local small- and medium-sized enterprises are given a fair chance to compete for government contracts.  

Their Social Procurement Strategy is to ensure that value-for-money considerations are not solely focused on price but also on delivering social and sustainable benefits for all Victorians.  

Disability enterprises and other social enterprises, including those located in each of the five regions hosting the games (Geelong, Bendigo, Shepparton, Ballarat and Gippsland), should consider how they can contribute.  

Businesses of all types and sizes have the chance to take part, from being directly awarded a tender or subcontracted into a regional supply chain.  

What can social enterprises do now to get involved with the Victoria 2026 Commonwealth Games? 

• Take a look at the Procurement Activity Plan. 
• Register your profile on the Buying for Victoria supplier portal at www.tenders.vic.gov.au. 
• Stay updated with the Buying for Victoria portal once you have registered. This is where forward notices, expressions of interest and invitations to supply will be released. 
• See more about the pipeline and keep up to date with news as the games planning progresses on the Victoria 2026 Business Hub.  
• Learn about Victorian Government policies and frameworks that will help expand your opportunities, including Local Jobs First and the Social Procurement Framework. 
• Utilise the Industry Capability Network VMC portal. This is where you can find support to complete Local Jobs First and Social Procurement Framework requirements. 

NDS has welcomed the games organisers’ commitment to inclusion of people with disabilities in all facets of the games, including social procurement from disability enterprises, employment of people with disabilities, volunteer roles for participants and, of course, participation as athletes and spectators.  

In the leadup to the games, NDS will keep talking to Commonwealth Games organisers and advocating for involvement of people with disabilities and the organisations that support them.