For competition winner Joy Suliman, the social problem she aimed to solve was the loneliness, isolation and confusion often faced by refugees when they first settle in Australia.

Her idea was ‘Refugee Buddy', a website to help volunteers link up with refugees who are in need of local knowledge, support and friendship.
Open to anyone with a web-based social innovation idea, the competition was an initiative of the Australian Social Innovation Exchange, and sponsored by the Centre for Social Impact at the Australian School of Business and NonprofitAustralia.

The Centre for Social Impact provided the venue, expert assistance and the winning prize of an airfare and per diems to attend an international Social Innovation Camp.
Associate Professor Cheryl Kernot, Director of Social Enterprise at the Centre for Social Impact, announced the airfare prize and presented it to Ms Suliman. Professor Kernot said it was exciting to see innovative and socially beneficial uses of technology.

"The Australian Social Innovation Camp is the first competition of its kind in Australia. It not only encourages development of social enterprise activities but also assists in increasing awareness and understanding of the possibilities for online technologies in this field," she said.

From over 70 ideas submitted, a panel of judges, including Professor Peter Shergold, Head of the Centre for Social Impact, selected eight of the most promising proposals to be developed at the weekend camp with help from experienced software developers, designers and experts in marketing and business.
Other proposals included ‘Two Bobs Worth', a micro-volunteering project where busy people can offer their skills to the community on a short term basis, and ‘Interlocked Social Information Systems' (ISIS), a sophisticated information sharing site to allow service providers and researchers to share data.
The final winner was chosen based on the development of the idea over the weekend, with attendees expressing how excited they were simply to be with like minded people who were passionate about social innovation.

Professor Yunus established the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, fuelled by the belief that credit is a fundamental human right. Grameen Bank has lifted millions of people out of poverty by disbursing $6.6bn in millions of tiny loans to the poor. This concept of micro credit is now a mainstream approach in dealing with poverty.

In an interview on ABC Radio's PM program, Muhammad Yunus and CSI's Cheryl Kernot talk about the concept of micro-credit as a new way to look at solving long standing problems.

Listen to radio interview with Bronwyn Herbert (Mon 8th March).

Read the full article and give us your comments.

Read the Productivity Commission report

Decision Making for Third Sector Executives | Social Return on Investment

Graduate Certificate in Social Impact commences this semester

The Graduate Certificate in Social Impact commences this semester at UNSW, Melbourne Business School and Swinburne University of Technology. To date, 50 scholarships will be offered over the next five years.

Responses have been encouraging, with the program full at UNSW and the first course over-subscribed at MBS.

Thanks to our investors - AMP, Chief Executive Women, Clayton Utz, Louise Gourlay, MBS Alumni, Macquarie Group Foundation, NAB, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Shark Island Foundation for your generosity in providing scholarships for this program.

'Yakety Yakking' about social enterprise with Audette Exel

Audette Exel, ISIS Group co-founder and CEO of ISIS Asia Pacific spoke about her transition from banking and finance to setting up a social enterprise which supports women and children in poverty in Nepal and Uganda.

Audette spoke candidly about her passion for helping people in need, the lessons she has learned along the way, and the importance of her legal and banking experience in teaching her how power, money and capital works.

Thanks to PricewaterhouseCoopers for hosting this event. View the video.

Jonty Olliff-Cooper visits Australia

The Head of the Progressive Conservativism project at Demos, Jonty Olliff-Cooper was brought to Australia by CSI in February to speak at a number of events including the CSI/CISCO Australia & New Zealand Public Sector Summit.

Jonty talked about issues of engaging citizens in policy formulation and the need for new ways to deliver government services. Jonty is a Senior Researcher at Demos in the UK. His work focuses on community, childhood, welfare reform and public service innovation. Before joining Demos, Jonty was an adviser to the UK Conservative Party's Policy Unit.

• Listen to Jonty's interview with Radio National's Fran Kelly about Progressive Conservatism. 
• Read Jonty's bio.
  

Muhammad Yunus to talk on abolishing poverty - March 8 and 9

We are delighted that Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Muhammad Yunus will talk at two public events on 'Abolishing Poverty - The Human Rights Priority', next Monday March 8 in Sydney and Tuesday March 9 in Melbourne.

Professor Yunus established the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh, fuelled by the belief that credit is a fundamental human right. Grameen Bank has lifted millions out of poverty by disbursing $6.6bn in millions of tiny loans to the poor. This concept of microcredit is now a mainstream strand in dealing with poverty.

Limited places still available.

• Sydney eventsession now closed
  
• Read more about Melbourne event.

Decision making for third sector executives course - March 24, Sydney

Do you want to learn how to improve decision making in your organisation? Presented by Jon Huggett, this executive course will show you how your teams can make better decisions more efficiently and how this can improve the culture of your organisation. Scholarships are available.

It will be particularly useful for executives in organisations where decision-making is shared: with other executives, among employees, and with the board.

• Read more or register.
• Read Jon's bio.

Introduction to Social Return on Investment (SROI) executive course - March 24, Sydney & April 7, Perth

With the increasing interest in measuring social value creation, we are offering an introductory executive course In Social Return on Investment (SROI) in both Sydney and Perth.

SROI is an approach to understanding and managing the impacts of a project, organisation or policy. Based on stakeholders, it puts financial value on the important impacts identified by stakeholders that do not have market values.

This course is for leaders and managers from the third sector and social investment sectors who want to understand the scope of SROI and impact mapping, and how to apply the principles within their own organisations.

It will be led by Jeremy Nicholls - Director of SROI UK, and accredited facilitator.

• Read more or register.

Read about our SROI accredited training courses in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

Measuring Social Impact is a key focus area for CSI in 2010, so stay tuned for more related news and events.

Subscribe to our CSI Update E-news.

Shergold urged the opposition to ensure that beauracratic red tape did not prevent policy innovation. He called for not-for-profit service providers to have the opportunity to be involved in policy development and to negotiate the contracts and guidelines under which they work instead of having them imposed.

"Make sure the public servants are monitoring the program, ensuring public accountability and then, the most important stage, get out of the way."

Read article in The Australian, by Christian Kerr

Jonty Olliff-Cooper was brought to Australia by CSI in February to be a speaker at the CSI/CISCO Public Sector Summit. Those who heard Jonty commented that he challenged in a positive way about issues of engaging citizens in policy formulation and the need for new ways to deliver government services.

Jonty is a Senior Researcher at Demos in the UK and head of their Progressive Conservatism Project. His work focuses on community, childhood, welfare reform and public service innovation. Before joining Demos, Jonty was an adviser to the Conservative Party's Policy Unit. Outside Demos, he runs a network that connects disadvantaged teenagers to young professionals willing to offer careers advice. Jonty is widely published.

While in Australia, Jonty presented at a joint CSI/Sydney Institute event in Sydney and at a CSI/Australian Public Service Commission event in Canberra. He also met with senior public servants and politicians before presenting at the CSI/CISCO Public Sector Summit.

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Jonty's reading list

Jonty mentioned many books and resources during his visit. Following is a list of readings and websites Jonty enjoys and recommends. You will find a list of general sites, followed by suggestions in the areas of behaviour, collaboration, data, social design, social return on investment, and progressive conservatism.

Good general websites | Twitter | Behaviour | Collaboration | Data | Social Design

Social Return on Investment | Progressive Conservatism

The second survey by the Centre for Social Impact (CSI), PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and the Fundraising Institute Australia (FIA), Managing for Recovery, reveals that in the face of the worldwide financial crisis, Australian charities generally expect a positive year ahead.

Professor Peter Shergold, CSI's Macquarie Group Foundation Professor and report co-author emphasised that the second survey provides an opportunity for the third sector to see how they have fared since the initial impact of the economic downturn and to get a snapshot on what their future outlook is likely to be for the next 12 months. Listen to the interview with Professor Shergold on Radio National. Read article in The Australian on Tues 23rd Feb.

The survey finds that although conditions have been tough for charitable organisations, there is now a mood of cautious optimism returning and a shift in focus from cost cutting to revenue raising. 

Professor Shergold said, "The Australian third sector has been through a tough period but has not done as badly as anticipated six months ago. Stable support from government and less severe declines from other sources such as corporates has helped lessen the impact."

"In the six months since the last survey, more than half of the respondents experienced the pain of declining revenue, but now only a quarter (28 per cent) are expecting further declines going forward. While these figures are still not good, they are considerably better than was previously expected and an increasing spirit of cautious optimism now exists in the sector. The economic upturn we're seeing in Australia is being mirrored in the incomes of the third sector."

"Government funding has been very important in providing some stability of revenue to the sector over the last 6 months but fundraising income is bouncing back reasonably strongly and is expected to continue to do so. In particular corporate funding for the sector fell much less steeply than many anticipated, is now recovering and is expected to continue to do so. The sentiment of the third sector towards government is a positive one with only 8 per cent characterising their relationship with government as poor."

"Looking forward there is a clear difference in expectation between small and large organisations in the third sector with the latter being much more confident about accessing increasing government income into the future."

Survey co-author and PricewaterhouseCoopers partner Rick Millen said, "Last year's survey showed 64 per cent of not-for-profits anticipated a drop in income from corporates. But corporates have continued to support the sector more strongly than anticipated 6 months ago, and we're seeing much more optimism with 82 per cent expecting corporate fundraising will remain flat or begin to grow again. It has been really encouraging to see that despite budgetary pressures corporates have not abandoned the not-for-profit sector. This perhaps reflects deeper and more sustainable cross sector relationships that have been established in recent years."

According to the survey, the outlook for all types of fundraising income has improved significantly and is expected to continue to do so. Third sector organisations are now looking to leverage this trend by applying more resource to increasing public awareness and fundraising activities.

Fundraising Institute Australia CEO Chris McMillan said the survey clearly showed how swift action by the third sector in the first half of 2009 in putting sustainable business strategies in place ensured the sector successfully weathered the financial storm.

"It's imperative not-for-profits continue to have a clear financial plan and strategy over the next 12 months to ensure their sustainable future in a competitive market," Ms McMillan said.

Mr Millen said larger organisations have fared better than their smaller counterparts in the last 6 months, with two in five (39 per cent) of large respondents experiencing an increase in income compared to a quarter (25 per cent) of small organisations. This trend is expected to continue across all sources of funding.

"There are pluses and minuses to this as large not-for-profits are likely to obtain more government funding than small not-for-profits," Mr Millen said.

"On the other hand, larger organisations are more likely to have investments, and therefore suffered greater falls in investment income as a result of the downturn."

The Managing for Recovery survey was conducted in December 2009. In total, 119 third sector organisations responded to the survey. It is a follow-on from the Managing in a Downturn survey conducted in April-May 2009.

View media coverage

Pro Bono Australia News 22.2.10

Mr Hems states:

• "The recommendations will provide a much needed stimulus for the development of an evidence base that will lead to better public policy, more effective practice, and higher levels of social and corporate community investment.

• "The report states that Australian non-profit organisations employ 8 per cent of the paid workforce and contribute $43 billion to Australia's GDP; and also provide the platform for the work of 4.6 million volunteers with a wage equivalent of $15 billion. A sector of this scale needs a robust and sustainable evidence base.

• "Academic institutions - including the Centre for Social Impact - have a crucial role to play in building this evidence base. One of the recommendations tasks the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to formulate an Information Development Plan. To achieve this, the ABS must harness the efforts of the existing network of researchers and help them access resources to expand their research programs.

• "It is also essential that non-profit organisations are actively engaged in the development of the evidence base and that it is not perceived as an imposition on the sector. A considerable amount of the current work of the Centre for Social Impact is focused on engagement and knowledge transfer.

• "Ideally the evidence base should be seen more as a Knowledge Exchange - where non-profit organisations are helping shape the information requirements, contributing information, and most importantly are benefiting from the knowledge created. Whilst the Productivity Commission report acknowledges the role for the internet, it probably does not fully articulate the power and also efficiency of a web based Knowledge Exchange.

• "The report also recommends significant changes to the regulatory and institutional framework of the non-profit sector, including the establishment of a Registrar for Community and Charitable Purpose Organisations, an Office for Nonprofits Sector Engagement, and a Centre for Community Service Effectiveness.

• "The Productivity Commission rightfully acknowledges that these changes will take time to implement and academics can play a key role by building and sharing knowledge that both government and non-profit organisations can use to develop a better understanding of each other. A realistic timescale will also provide an opportunity to test the efficacy of alternative models for regulatory oversight and capacity building.

• "The Centre for Social Impact looks forward to playing an active role in these initiatives going forward.

• "I'd also like to acknowledge the pivotal role of Professor Mark Lyons, the previous Director of Research at the Centre for Social Impact who passed away in November 2009. He devoted himself unstintingly to the development of non-profit studies, and the Australian non-profit sector has been deeply enriched by Mark's work."

The Productivity Commission report on the ‘Contribution of the Not-for-Profit Sector' can be downloaded here

Les Hems is available for comment on this statement.

Contact

Les Hems

Director of Research

Centre for Social Impact

UNSW Sydney NSW 2033

Tel: +61 2 9385 9896

Mobile: +61 401 710 41

Read article in the Illawarra Mercury- ‘Illawarra Connection shows caring side'

Cheryl also visited a social enterprise run by Mission Australia which recycles old mattresses in Wollongong. The initiative is a great example of making ‘profit for purpose', with all components of the mattresses being sold, rather than being used as landfill, and profits reinvested into delivering Mission Australia's core social services. Cheryl spoke at the dinner about the benefits of supporting and initiating social enterprise.

Sandy Rendel of RMB Lawyers, sponsors of the TIC dinner, said Ms Kernot's speech made many people think about what they had done individually, what all businesses in the room had done collectively and what might be possible if they took up her challenge.

Read article in the Illawarra Mercury -‘Charity feathers its nest by recycling mattresses'

The UWA Business School has recently embarked on an ambitious program of strategic change, designed to further extend its reputation and influence as the premier institution in the region. The Centre for Social Impact WA - thought leader in social investment and sustainable communities - is a joint venture between the national Centre for Social Impact (CSI) and UWA Business School. The CSI is headquartered at The University of New South Wales, with sister centres at The University of Melbourne and Swinburne University of Technology. Each centre around the country has unique strengths and collectively the mission is supporting and strengthening the social enterprises of today and the social entrepreneurs of tomorrow. Through top class teaching and world class research, the aim is to position Australia as one of the world's best at delivering community benefit and generating social innovation.

The appointee is expected to have:

• An established reputation in a relevant discipline with an outstanding record of research, teaching and academic leadership
• A track record in attracting research grants
• A sustained record of building research teams and contributing to a collegiate environment across disciplines.

For further information regarding the position please contact Winthrop Professor Tracey Horton, Dean, UWA Business School, on (08) 6488 2883, or Winthrop Professor Izan, Deputy Dean, on (08) 6488 2627, email izan.izan@uwa.edu.au.

The appointment is for an initial fixed term of four years with the intention for extension as mutually agreed. The University offers a flexibly constructed remuneration package with attractive benefits including generous leave provisions,superannuation and fares to Perth (if applicable) for the appointee and dependants along with a relocation allowance.

Closing date:Friday, 19 February 2010
Application Details: The Information for Candidates brochure contains details to
submit your application.

Read more about the Centre for Social Impact (WA)