Planner-coordinator, catalyst, facilitator, service provider and service funder now characterise Local Government's involvement in children's services and the human services generally.

A 1987 report prepared for the Local Government Ministers, Community Development, Human Services and Local Government presents a national overview of the increased role of councils in human services clearly signalling that the debate of the 70s about whether Local Government should be involved has been replaced with questions about the basis of that involvement and implementation issues.