Evaluation of Transition Funding for Successful Try, Test and Learn Projects

Transition Funding for Successful Try, Test and Learn Projects (the Program) was a payment by outcomes (PBO) program trialled by the Department of Social Services from 2021 to 2023 following the completion of the Try, Test and Learn (TTL) Fund.

The Program funded TTL service providers to deliver projects with a PBO approach, from a total of up to $10 million in administered funding over 2 years. The projects had been evaluated as achieving employment outcomes for participants during the TTL Fund.

The Program trialled a PBO model to generate evidence for future policy and program development in a social services setting.

The intent of the Program was that:

  • The department would, through undertaking the trial, generate evidence for what works in PBO programs, to inform future program and policy decisions.
  • The PBO approach would lead to improved services from providers and better employment outcomes for project participants.

The department commissioned Social Ventures Australia from January to July 2023 to evaluate the extent to which the Program had achieved its intended objectives. The evaluation focused on the application of the new PBO approach to the Program grants, and the process of building partnerships and co-operating with service providers during the trial.

The evaluation used both qualitative and quantitative methods to look at the impact of the Program overall as well as project-level analyses. The evaluation provided findings relating to the department, services providers and project participants.

The report presents the findings from the evaluation, together with lessons learned to inform future policy and program decisions.

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