NSW Community Services Minister Brad Hazzard has called on the corporate sector to invest more funds and expertise in social safety nets, saying the government and non-profit groups cannot be expected to address growing welfare needs on their own.

While he acknowledged some corporates were collaborating well with welfare groups, he said Australian businesses lacked the philanthropic culture of their counterparts in the US.

"This program puts us on a more equal footing": Ahmad Ali and Samy Gafour. Credit:Dean Sewell

"We need a lot more of these combined efforts from government, the non-governments and also, particularly, the private sector," he said.

"There are some amazing partnerships happening but nowhere near enough. Philanthropy is top of the pops in the US. Here it's on the charts but it's not top of mind for companies."