NGOs continue to define their roles in relation to the public social services sector, which creates a degree of tension between the two sectors. A clearly demonstrated role of the NGO community is in the area of advocacy and public awareness, which impacts policy as well as service delivery.

http://pdf.dec.org/pdf_docs/Pnadf930.pdf
Thus it is concluded, in line with d'Abbs (1991) in Australia and Graham (1999) in the United Kingdom, that there is a need for adequate community resourcing by the state to fill the gap where the family, the community and the private sector cannot provide. The findings of this study echo those of d'Abbs (1991:128) that "caring about kin does not remove the need for a strong public social services sector", as the informal sector complements rather than replaces the formal sector due to limited family capacity. Families are not an underutilised reservoir of potential support.
http://www.msd.govt.nz/publications/journal/21-march-2004/21...