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4ST Roadmap for the Social Service Sector (2022-2026)


Shaping the Future Together

The Social Service Sector Strategic Roadmap (4ST), previously known as Social Service Sector Strategic Thrusts, launched in its first iteration in 2017 and spanning until 2021, served as a five-year strategic roadmap for the sector. It set forth a shared vision and directions aimed at guiding the sector towards realising a society where “every person is empowered to live with dignity in a caring and inclusive society”

In the years following the launch of the 4ST roadmap in 2017, the social service sector faced significant challenges and opportunities brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as global and local changes. These changes include evolving social issues, transformations in the workforce, rapid digitalisation, new forms of charitable giving, and an upsurge in volunteerism.

In response to these dynamics, in 2021, NCSS engaged stakeholders to explore how the sector could adapt to emerging trends and prepare for the future, leading to the development of the refreshed 4ST (2022-2026) roadmap.

The refreshed 4ST (2022-2026) presents four strategic thrusts to actualise our shared vision:

  • Thrust 1: Empowered and included individuals, families, and communities.
  • Thrust 2: Effective and impactful social purpose entities.
  • Thrust 3: Caring, collaborative and impactful social service ecosystem.
  • Thrust 4: Future-directed social service sector.

With greater focus on the development of planning capabilities to enable the sector to become more future-oriented, a new fourth thrust was added to the 4ST (2022 - 2026) emphasising the need for sector leaders to be future-directed and better equipped to plan for the sector’s services and capability requirements, utilising data and digitalisation.

For a more in-depth understanding of the 4ST (2022-2026), please explore the 4ST (2022 – 2026) report.

As a complement to the 4ST (2022-2026) report, NCSS has also compiled the 4ST Playbook. The Playbook offers concrete steps, examples, and ideas that various stakeholders can explore to advance the refreshed 4ST.

Watch the 4ST (2022-2026) Launch Video: