State and Territory Partnership Trials

The Australian Government committed $22.3 million from 2017-18 to 2026-27, to work with state and territory governments on social impact investments.

The State and Territory Partnership Trials (state partnerships) aim to increase the Government’s:

  • understanding of the benefits and disadvantages of SII initiatives
  • experience in developing and managing SII contracts
  • ability to share data with other governments; and
  • understanding of savings at different levels of government that may come from SII projects.

The state partnerships are established under the Project Agreement for Commonwealth State Social Impact Investments. The Agreement supports the state partnerships to co-develop SII Bilateral Schedules for:

  • people at risk of homelessness; and
  • other priority groups.

Bilateral Schedules have been executed with 2 state governments, New South Wales and South Australia, and outline:

  • the eligible client group
  • the expected outcomes
  • the data to be used for outcome measurement
  • the payments made by the Government to the state government; and
  • other partnership details.

South Australia

In March 2021, the Government committed funding for two South Australia projects. Service delivery started in July 2021. Both projects are children and family focussed:

Resilient Families

  • A family preservation program for children at risk of being placed in out of home care (OOHC).
  • SA Government has a Payment by Outcome (PBO) contract, also called Payment by Results, with The Benevolent Society.
  • Australian Government funding contributes to outcome payments:
    • based on the rate of children who remain residing safely with their family and are not placed in OOHC.
  • Australian Government data will be used to support the evaluation of the project Services will end in 2026-27.

Further information on Resilient Families is available at
https://www.benevolent.org.au/services-and-programs/list-of-programs/resilient-families
DHS - CFSS services
Social Impact Investment | Department of Treasury and Finance

Newpin SA

  • A family reunification program for young children in OOHC.
  • SA Government has a PBO contract, also called Payment by Results, with Uniting Communities.
  • A social impact bond funded the establishment of the Newpin program
  • Australian Government funding contributes to outcome payments:
    • based on the rate of children reunified and who remain residing safely with their families  18 months after starting the program.
  • Australian Government data will be used to support the evaluation of the program Services will end in 2027-28.

Further information on Newpin SA is available at
Bringing families together | Uniting Communities
Newpin SA | Department for Child Protection
Social Impact Investment | Department of Treasury and Finance
Newpin SA Social Impact Bond (socialventures.com.au)

New South Wales

In August 2021, the Government committed funding for a New South Wales project, Foyer Central. Service delivery started in March 2022. A second project, Opportunity Pathways, was entered into in June 2023. Both projects invest in people at risk of homelessness.

Foyer Central

  • Supported accommodation for young adults who have a lived experience of OOHC as teenagers, and who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
  • NSW Government has a PBO contract with Uniting NSW/ACT.
  • A social impact bond funded the establishment of Foyer Central.
  • Uniting NSW/ACT provide 24 hour support on-site with a focus on education, employment, and moving into independent housing.
  • St George Community Housing manages the Foyer Central building, including lease agreements and tenancy support.
  • Commonwealth data will contribute to measuring successful outcomes in the 12 months after a person moves out of Foyer Central and the evaluation of the project
  • Services will end in 2031 (Commonwealth funding ends in 2027).

Further information on Foyer Central is available at
About Foyer Central (uniting.org)
Foyer Central and City Road - SGCH - St George Community Housing
Foyer Central · Office of Social Impact Investment (nsw.gov.au)
Foyer | Family & Community Services (nsw.gov.au)
Foyer Central Social Impact Bond - Social Ventures Australia

Opportunity Pathways

  • Assists social housing tenants and their household members, Rent Choice recipients and applicants on the NSW Housing Register.
  • Supports participants with assistance to access education, training and work.
  • Encourages and supports people to positively exit social housing and move into full housing independence.
  • Four service providers, contracted by NSW Government will deliver services across NSW, including:
    • active case management,
    • provision of wrap-around support,
    • flexible individualised case planning, continuity of service delivery,
    • pre-employment preparation and employment and post-employment support,
    • and housing independence support.
  • Service delivery will occur from 2023 to 2025, however, the partnership between NSW Govrenment and the Commonwealth is in place until June 2027.

Further information on the Opportunity Pathways Social Impact Investing Program is available at
Opportunity Pathways Social Impact Investment | Family & Community Services (nsw.gov.au)

Contact:

SocialImpactInvesting@dss.gov.au

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