Breakfast by the Bay – The Funding of the Social Purpose Sector: Addressing Australia’s Social Challenges Effectively

The Centre for Social Impact UWA ( CSI UWA ) hosted an insightful Breakfast by the Bay at the The University of Western Australia Club on the critical topic of the Funding of the Social Purpose Sector. Our distinguished panel members included Debra Zanella (Ruah Community Services), Gail Dodd (Aboriginal Family Legal Services) and Mike Rowe (Department of Communities WA) and the discussion was faciliated by CSI UWA Director Paul Flatau .

The Banquet Hall of the Uniclub was packed and it was a pleasure to meet and reconnect with collaborators and leaders of the Western Australian social purpose sector.

Australia faces far-reaching social challenges at the present time: persistent poverty, high rates of family and domestic violence, the disparity in health and life outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous Australians, and significant housing affordability issues and homelessness.

The core mission of the social purpose sector is to address these critical social challenges.

To effect the social change we want to see, the social purpose sector needs to be resourced.

Key takeaway points

• Fund the social purpose sector at the level necessary for long-term sustainability and to achieve our social goals.
• The funding of the social purpose sector is not an end in itself. It’s a means to an end – the end being to make a significant difference to Australia’s social challenges.
• Funding isnt a cost its an investment with a return in societal impact.
  
• Its not just the level of funding that matters but how we fund to get the highest ROI in terms of demonstrable outcomes.
• A Priority Reform in Closing the Gap is Building the community-controlled sector with a target to increase the amount of government funding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander programs and services going through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations. And we are seeing this growth come through in Western Australia but there is more that can be done.
• Fund more for outcomes and systems-based collaborative responses, and ensuring higher levels of collaboration between services funded directly by state-based departments and services funded directly by Commonwealth departments. The Australian federal system can inhibit joined up action to meet Australia’s social challenges.
• Using a mix of funding not only acts as a risk mitigation strategy but also creates opportunity for reserves (absolutely vital for sector sustainability), and resourcing activity such as research and development which is not fully funded in individual service agreements with government.
• In recent years we’ve seen significant increases in investment for family and domestic violence services, social housing, and out-of-home care in WA and the benefits will continue to flow.

PANEL

Gail Dodd

Gail Dodd is Director of Legal for AFLS, Australia’s largest Family Violence Prevention Legal Service, having eight (8) offices throughout Western Australia. Gail completed her law degree as a mature aged student, in 2004 and brings 21 years of experience in both the private and community legal sectors, having worked in regional areas throughout Australia. Gail has extensive experience of predominantly working with victims of family violence and representing clients in Court, including Family Law, Child Protection, Magistrates Court and various other Courts.

Mike Rowe

Mike Rowe is Director General of the WA Department of Communities, leading services across child protection, domestic violence prevention, disability, homelessness, and more. With 30 years in the WA public sector, Mike has held senior roles across portfolios including environment, Aboriginal affairs, and regional development. He holds a degree in Environmental Science and postgraduate qualifications in social research and public sector management, and previously served as President of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (WA).

Debra Zanella

Debra Zanella is CEO of Ruah Community Services and a long-standing advocate for justice, equity, and innovation in housing, mental health, family violence, and homelessness. A founding member of the WA Alliance to End Homelessness and Co-Chair of Reconciliation WA, she has led major reforms including Australia’s first youth suicide service. Debra is known for her culturally safe leadership approach, deep partnerships with First Nations leaders, and commitment to systemic change across sectors.

Paul Flatau

Alongside his research and teaching work, Paul is leading the Centre for Social Impact UWA and provides leadership support for the broader CSI network. Paul has made significant contributions to the analysis of social and economic outcomes, and social impact and the effectiveness of programs and interventions in Indigenous housing, poverty, unemployment, homelessness, housing, and the assessment of social innovations. Paul holds a PhD in Economics from Murdoch University, an M.Ec. from UWA and a B.Ec. from Sydney University.