WA Industry Participation Strategy: Participation Plans explained
If you tender for WA Government works of $3 million or more in Perth, or $500,000 or more in the regions, you submit a Participation Plan. Here is which plan you need and what you report at the end.
What is the WA Industry Participation Strategy?
The Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy (WAIPS) sits under the Western Australian Jobs Act 2017. It requires tenderers on government contracts above set thresholds to submit a Participation Plan estimating workforce and local benefits. Agencies weight the plan at 10% or 20% of qualitative criteria, and suppliers report outcomes after practical completion.
State Agencies
WAIPS binds agencies listed in Schedule 1 of the Financial Management Act 2006, including government trading entities, departments and statutory authorities. Universities and local governments are outside it.
Tenderers On WAIPS Supply
A tender above the value thresholds is called a WAIPS supply, and each prospective supplier submits a Participation Plan through the WAIPS Portal as part of its offer.
Trade Partners
The head contractor lists intended trade partner (subcontractor) packages in its plan. The model contract clauses make it responsible for ensuring trade partners at any tier do what is needed for it to comply.
Not Covered
Grants are no longer managed under WAIPS, and it does not apply to market led proposals or to procurements under the Delivering Community Services in Partnership Policy. Emergency procurement is also outside it.
What the WA Industry Participation Strategy asks for.
What you report, and when.
Participation Plan
To the agency, through the WAIPS Portal
Successful Bidder's Plan
To DEED, by the agency through the Portal
Participation Plan Report
To the agency, through the WAIPS Portal
Exemption Report
To the agency, through the WAIPS Portal
Annual Report To Parliament
To Parliament, prepared by DEED
- Submitted Participation Plan
- Workforce Estimates And Actuals
- Apprenticeship And Training Outcomes
- Local Sourcing Records By Package
- Trade Partner Package Register
- CEO Or Managing Director Verification
- Records Open To Agency Inspection
Reading The Wrong Threshold
Works in Perth start at $3 million, but regional works start at $500,000 and the Full plan tier is different in each. A team that works mainly in Perth can miss a Participation Plan on a much smaller regional job.
Thinking An Exemption Removes Reporting
An approved exemption only removes the plan requirement from the tender. The supplier still reports on employment, training and local sourcing within 2 months of practical completion, so the data still has to be collected.
Treating Estimates As A One-Off
The final report captures actual outcomes against the estimates given at tender, and the model clauses require it to be endorsed as true and correct by the CEO or equivalent. Figures that were never tracked during delivery are hard to stand behind at the end.
How Catchment manages the WA Industry Participation Strategy.
Local Content By Category
SocialProThe WA IPS framework lists local content requirements for Building, Labour, Infrastructure, Supply of Product & Materials, Steel Related Items and Other, and you add the items and targets on the Content Origin step. Each package reports its line items against them month by month, so local sourcing is built up during delivery.
Actuals Against The Plan You Tendered
SocialProThe WAIPS Participation Plan (Core or Full) is filed as a project document requirement, and the hours and local content targets you set from it are tracked in the same project. That gives you the actuals to set beside your tender estimates when the final report is due.
Workforce Numbers The Report Asks For
SocialProWorker hours count towards targets by attribute, including apprentice, trainee and Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander. You get the employment and skilling record to report from, and you enter it in the WAIPS Portal yourself.
Package Register For Trade Partners
GovAssureA Register requirement with rows drawn from packages can hold your trade partner packages, and package-level requirements reach each new work package, and you switch them on for packages that already exist. Trade partners report free of charge.
Reviewed Figures For CEO Sign-Off
SocialProEach package's monthly report is accepted or sent back section by section, and accepted periods lock. Whoever signs the final report can see that each month's numbers were reviewed before they rolled up.
Adopting this framework on a project generates these targets and documents. You can edit them to match your contract.
WA Industry Participation Strategy questions.
What is the WAIPS threshold?
A tender is a WAIPS supply at $500,000 and above for regional goods, services or works. In the metropolitan area it starts at $1 million for goods and services and $3 million for works. Above those values, tenderers must submit a Participation Plan.
What is the difference between a Core and a Full Participation Plan?
Both estimate workforce numbers and show how you will create local benefits and give local industry opportunity. A Core plan lists subcontractor packages above $20,000. A Full plan lists packages above $100,000 and also answers questions on how local trade partners get opportunity and what standards you specify to them.
How much is a WAIPS Participation Plan worth in a tender?
The plan is weighted at either 10% or 20% of the qualitative evaluation criteria, at the agency's discretion. Section B is scored. Section A is not scored, but an incomplete plan may be rejected or not evaluated.
When is the WAIPS final report due?
The supplier submits the report through the WAIPS Portal within 2 months of practical completion. It records actual outcomes against the estimates in the plan. If a contract is terminated, a report is still needed where the contract ran for more than 12 months.
Who administers WAIPS?
The Department of Energy and Economic Diversification (DEED) administers it under the Western Australian Jobs Act 2017. Older documents may name the Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation. Agencies evaluate the plans, and DPIRD Local Content Advisers help in the regions.
How does WAIPS relate to the WA Buy Local Policy?
They work together. WAIPS must be read as including key features of the Buy Local Policy 2022, such as regional price preferences. Where both apply, WAIPS decides, because it is based on legislation.
What happens if a contractor does not meet its Participation Plan?
The model contract clauses say failing to meet the plan obligations may lead to the State not awarding that contractor future supply contracts. The model clauses also let agencies inspect records and review performance. Your own contract sets the exact terms.
- Western Australian Industry Participation Strategy (WAIPS) Operations Guide, February 2026 (Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, Western Australia)
- Western Australia Industry Participation Strategy 2024 (Department of Energy and Economic Diversification, Western Australia)
- Western Australia Industry Participation Strategy 2024 (WAIPS 2024) publication page (WA Government)
Reviewed 4 November 2026. General information to help you plan reporting, not legal advice. Policies change, so check the current version with the policy owner before you rely on it.
Report against the WA Industry Participation Strategy from one record.
Bring a live project and see this policy set up against it.
Book a Demo →