ISSUE/17 MAY 2017 www.vcoss.org.au

Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION

THIS ISSUE - NEW CHALLENGES NEED NEW APPROACHES - A FUND FOR INNOVATION - DOING JUSTICE DIFFERENTLY - CATALYSING CHANGE - 2 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017 Contents

4 6 8 11 12 New A fund for Doing justice Sector Turning street challenges innovation differently Champion: talks into need new Mary Sayers Rob Hulls David Tennant streetwear approaches Kellee Nolan Nick Pearce Tom Bentley

13 14 16 17 18 Taking the Baking a Social Combining Coffee, cake initiative on difference enterprise health and and inclusion women’s Kate Barrelle through the justice Kate McKenzie housingAnon, blogger looking glass Tessa Boyd-Caine Kildonan UnitingCare Jeanette Large LisaAllan Boothby Martin Penny Harrison 20 24 26 28 30 Catalysing Question Making an impact Learning the Sector change time Helen Dickinson three Ps scenes Kristy Muir Kellee Nolan Victorian MPs

Insight

Publisher: Emma King Subscribe to Insight: Insight is the Articles are subject to copyright. Apart VCOSS raises awareness of the VCOSS membership magazine, from dealings under the Copyright Act existence, causes, and effects of Editor: Kellee Nolan published three times a year, taking 1968, permission must be obtained poverty and seeks to create a more Design: Renée Arstall/ThinkLab an in-depth look at social justice and from both VCOSS and the author. just society. Officeworks policy issues. Printer: Disclaimer: The opinions expressed www.vcoss.org.au Cover: STREAT cafe in Cromwell To become a VCOSS member by our contributors do not necessarily @vcoss Street, Collingwood. or subscribe to Insight, please reflect VCOSS policy. Alice Hutchison call 03 9235 1000, or email /VCOSS Photo: Victorian Council of Social Service [email protected] VCOSS Special thanks to all our contributors (VCOSS) for their time and expertise. Insight is printed on recycled paper Level 8, 128 Exhibition Street, Accessible format using vegetable-based inks, by an Melbourne 3000 VCOSS acknowledges the traditional If you would like to receive this ISO 1400-accredited printer. Tel: 03 9235 1000 owners of country and pays its respects publication in an accessible format, to Elders past and present. ISSN 1838 5184 please telephone 03 9235 1000 ISBN 978-0-949748-97-3 or email [email protected]. Contributors

Tom Bentley is an internationally Dr Kate Barrelle is co-founder and Wade Noonan is the Labor MP Fiona Patten is Member for renowned policy advisor and innovation Chief Impact Officer at STREAT for Williamstown, Victorian Minister for Northern Metropolitan Region, thought leader based in Melbourne Industry and Employment and Minister Australian Sex Party Leader Lisa Boothby is Head of Enterprise for Resources Mary Sayers is Deputy Chief Executive Development at Social Traders Associate Professor Helen Dickinson Officer at VCOSS is the Liberal MP for is Director Public Service Research Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine is Chief David Southwick Caulfield, Victorian Shadow Minister for Group at UNSW Canberra Rob Hulls is Director of the Centre for Executive Officer of Health Innovation, Shadow Minister for Energy Innovative Justice Justice Australia Professor Kristy Muir is Chief Executive and Resources and Shadow Minister Officer of the Centre for Social Impact David Tennant is Chief Executive Kate McKenzie is Marketing Manager for Renewables Officer at FamilyCare and Events Coordinator at Kinfolk Nina Springle is The Greens Member Nick Pearce is co-founder of HoMie Kellee Nolan is Insight Editor for South Eastern Metropolitan, Jeanette Large is Chief Executive Greens spokesperson for Women, Officer of Women’s Property Initiatives Family Violence Prevention, Families and Children, Multicultural Affairs and Waste Reduction Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 3

Victoria is at a junction. We are on The type of overarching “new the crest of a wave of major social consensus” we need is outlined in Editorial this Insight by , reforms. There is the landmark Tom Bentley Victorian Royal Commission internationally renowned policy into Family Violence and the advisor and innovation thought Government’s commitment leader. He describes a consensus to implementing all its where communities and people recommendations. At the same facing disadvantage are supported time we are embarking on the to design and deliver new solutions biggest social reform in Australia’s to social challenges. history: the rollout of the National RMIT Centre for Innovative Justice Disability Insurance Scheme. Director explores how Services will be delivered in ways Rob Hulls new restorative justice models are radically differently than in the past. combining education and research. Yet underlying even these great Centre for Social Impact CEO reforms, tackling deep and Kristy Muir outlines key steps to entrenched poverty and measuring social innovation and disadvantage in communities UNSW Professor Helen Dickinson Emma King and combating rising inequality analyses different ways of funding it. remains our next great challenge. VCOSS Deputy CEO Mary Sayers To do this, we need fresh thinking makes the case for a Victorian Social and social innovation to challenge Innovation Fund to empower local “the way it’s always been done”. community solutions, and we This edition of Insight delves into showcase a series of organisations several exciting new approaches, and social enterprises delivering Victoria’s community and explores the community innovative approaches across sector’s potential to embrace Victoria today. sector has long change and opportunity. Leaders of several key philanthropic analysed society We know on one level, social groups, Seri Renkin from Ten20 through different innovation is nothing new. Victoria’s Foundation, Lin Bender from Helen community sector has long analysed Macpherson Smith Trust and lenses, adopted fresh society through different lenses, Melanie Lewis from State Trustees perspectives on social adopted fresh perspectives on Australia Foundation describe how social challenges and developed philanthropic, community sector challenges and new approaches to solving them. and government bodies can drive developed new In many ways it’s what we do best. innovative approaches for long-term systemic change. approaches to solving But the very nature of innovation means there is always a new We’re also delighted to feature them... But the very challenge or opportunity to confront. FamilyCare CEO David Tennant as nature of innovation There is an endless supply of hard our Sector Champion, and bring truths to acknowledge—including you several Victorian MPs’ views on means there is about what might not have worked how governments can best foster well in the past—and there is always social innovation. always a new challenge something fresh to learn. As always, I thank our many or opportunity Many organisations are taking up contributors for their time and to confront. this challenge. Harnessing new expertise. Insight exists because business models, funding streams, of their generosity. power shifts and technologies, they are developing bold new strategies, backed up by thorough research, to tackle age-old challenges. They’re entering into collaborations and partnerships that were impossible or unthinkable just years ago.

Emma King Chief Executive Officer Victorian Council of Social Service May 2017 4 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

NEW CHALLENGES need new approaches

Victoria is in the grip of fundamental shifts and changes that challenge the fabric of our society. To emerge with strong solutions, we need to reshape our approach to complex social issues, TOM BENTLEY says.

Photo: Bert Kaufmann/CC

The people of greater Melbourne and As youth justice and bail supervision Victorian living standards are among Victoria make up one of the most issues dominate tabloid media, the the world’s highest. People around culturally diverse populations in the part played by educational the world view Melbourne as one of world. Over the last generation or disengagement and mental illness in the world’s most attractive and two, this diversity has become a creating Victoria’s prison population vibrant cities precisely because it source of dynamism and attraction, demands careful thought. combines prosperity with freedom, which itself draws more people to diversity with engagement; an visit and settle in Victoria. A more diverse, attractive shared environment which interconnected society offers the space and tolerance to This diversity mingles with other accommodate and welcome patterns of change – growing means many familiar newcomers. information intensity, networked approaches to solving digital technology, new spatial problems have become Yet past success does not guarantee patterns of job creation and housing the future. Since the global financial settlement, and volatile weather less effective, and crisis of 2008, governments and climate patterns, to create demand and appetite everywhere have struggled to adapt increasingly complex forms of for new solutions to a new set of conditions, in which social need. is on the rise. the familiar scripts do not seem to work as they used to. Challenges of affluence and poverty Why is this? For the last 30 years sit uncomfortably together. For Shared needs and challenges range Australian society has operated example, as competition for elite from the longstanding marginalisation within a powerful consensus, educational opportunities intensifies, experienced by many Aboriginal combining disciplines of a liberal people of all ages are increasingly Victorians, to the changing support market economy with shared benefits experiencing mental health and and care needs of an ageing arising from a social insurance-based psycho-social pressures associated population. They include pressures framework that ensures minimum with anxiety and social isolation. of anxiety and depression arising wages, healthcare and from a society more connected by superannuation. For some time, this communications and technology, has been a winning combination. but less rooted in relationships and traditions than ever before. Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 5

Underpinning all these challenges even when a good idea, is and analytics, but reliant on highly is the rapid restructuring of the increasingly expensive and stretches skilled, intensively engaged workers. economy, centralising knowledge- the organisational capabilities of To create those solutions, we need based jobs in urban centres, the state to provide genuinely methods that cast a wider net for while automation and globalisation personalised and preventive services. new ideas, and can be tested and strip jobs out of sectors like This is one way to view the sense of prototyped effectively using the same manufacturing, logistics and churn and frustration surrounding systems and settings through which office administration. today’s politics, as the pressures of they will be implemented. These problems are worsened by 24-hour media, internal party ructions There are many ways in which rising economic inequality, for which and unpredicted social events citizens and service users can use the 1980s consensus has provided destabilise governments of both their voice to help design and no answer. In particular, Victoria’s stripes. These political limitations improve services, contributing to dependence on private housing debt, are not a primary cause of our ‘open’ problem-solving methods that and speculative growth in house problems, but actually symptoms use transparency and collaboration prices, is driving inequalities that of a society and its institutions to accelerate the learning process. distort people’s life chances, struggling to adapt. mis-shape the development of our Many hands make light work, as the Flogging the existing institutions and cities, and undermine our ability proverb says. But connecting many decision-makers harder and to invest in more productive and hands and minds coherently around expecting familiar answers to innovative activities. shared problems, and building results generate novel solutions will only lead in ways that can have cumulative Precisely the qualities that are so to exhaustion and disillusionment. impact, remains a complex highly valued in Victoria’s community Instead, we need a broader and challenge. The answers are unlikely life are under threat, both from the more creative repertoire to help solve to come from just adopting standard dilemmas of economic and challenges which are themselves scientific or corporate approaches population growth, and from deep complex and widely dispersed across to innovation. existential conflicts like those we our society. see overtaking American and Methods that allow the visualisation Where can we find this richer, more European politics. of whole systems and emerging open, problem-solving repertoire? patterns of behaviour, and analysis of These latter conflicts are between Partly the answers come from large data sets, are increasingly part authoritarianism, democracy and recognising the heart of problems of the mix. So are those which open the rule of law. Between established and challenging ourselves to address up new conversations and elites and migrant newcomers, them. Victoria’s leadership on family deliberation among various between dominant vested financial violence is a good example, moving communities, for example through and class-based interests and a centuries-old cultural problem into citizens’ juries and panels, climate change challenges, global the public realm and demanding a participatory budgeting, and human rights, and the voices of the more effective response from the collaborative networks of agencies marginalised and dispossessed. whole community. and service providers. Without innovative This agenda also highlights vital Entrepreneurship is also vital, and not approaches based on aspects of today’s social problem- just through start-ups and individual a new community solving: it’s about culture and entrepreneurs. The role of mediating consensus, these behaviour as much as financial institutions, long-term investors, and conflicts will potentially incentives or hard infrastructure. sectoral collaboration to deepen evidence and specialist expertise all tear apart the fabric of Tackling family violence depends on sharing expert knowledge and play a profound role in influencing our Victoria’s community life. evidence across a widespread innovation performance. workforce of police, social service Well-trodden responses offered by The next decade could be an workers, and the wider community. Australia’s 1980s consensus, incredibly fertile time for thinking Information and communication pioneered in different ways by through and acting on a new technologies will be important in figures like Bob Hawke, Bill Kelty, generation of complex social coordinating effective solutions. John Cain and Jeff Kennett, are no challenges. Making it so depends on But privacy, safeguarding personal longer working. how well we pool and share our information and involving each family problem-solving resources, and apply Cutting the company tax rate will not in creating their own best solution them to designing a new set of create hundreds of thousands of are fundamentally important. new jobs. Extending free trade and shared institutions to underpin our economic deregulation does not So many of our contemporary social diverse, interconnected society. automatically increase productivity. problems share these characteristics Tom Bentley is an internationally Following a hundred-year-old model – widely distributed across renowned policy advisor and writer on of federalism, Commonwealth-State populations, but needing learning and innovation. He is based in relations are reproducing stalemate personalised and localised responses Melbourne, where he leads RMIT’s year after year. More social insurance where community engagement is Policy and Impact Team and works for health, disability and aged care, vital to the outcome. Information- with institutions around the world. intensive, using high-tech therapies 6 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

A FUND for innovation

It’s time to start addressing the causes of entrenched disadvantage through innovative approaches led by communities across Victoria, and to establish a Social Innovation Fund to do it. MARY SAYERS explains.

Photo: bob/CC

Victoria is a tapestry of different communities and with people facing social service organisations.1 communities. Colourful and diverse, disadvantage and vulnerability to This leads to a significant burden it is made up of hundreds of places— understand what will make a of reporting red tape and compliance each which its own unique character, difference in their lives. It involves obligations.2 strengths and challenges. Some trying new things that may fail, but Increasingly, funding for community communities thrive while others have along the way learning and service organisations is becoming experienced deep and entrenched discovering what might work. less certain, due to person-centred disadvantage and need support to The community sector is already a individualised funding, competitive find solutions. But all of them have major driver of social innovation and tendering processes, federal and the potential to re-energise and uses its ‘on-the-ground’ experience state relations, (particularly with become vibrant again. to identify emerging trends and National Partnership Agreements The threads of industry, government devise fresh ways of tackling complex being changed or ended without and community services interweave disadvantage. But many community consultation or sufficient notice), through these communities, and play organisations lack the funding to and changing government priorities crucial roles bolstering different areas take the next step and act on these and funding commitments.3 This as challenges emerge. But with many bright ideas. makes it hard for communities, and parts of Victoria now battling organisations that work with them, Victoria’s policy and program long-term poverty, it’s time for fresh to experiment with new ideas to implementation cycle is driven by thinking and new ideas. address seemingly intractable piloting programs. Programs that social problems. We can’t keep trying the same things show promise are scaled up more over and over, expecting different broadly, without reference to the results. We need new ways of context of what else is already A Victorian Social addressing the causes of complex delivered in different communities, social problems, rather than old their capabilities, and the specific Innovation Fund would models that address the symptoms. conditions that may help a program What we need are new ways of work in a new context. Programs that enable communities addressing the causes of complex fail are abandoned, without ever to work around these social problems, rather than old discovering why they didn’t work, models that address the symptoms. and what might need to be modified, challenges and We need social innovation. And we retried and re-evaluated. experiment with need a fund to help deliver it. At the same time, there has been “out of the box” Social innovation requires new ways an increasing government push for of thinking, working deeply with greater accountability of health and approaches.

_ i Victorian Primary Care Partnerships, Navigation Health & Social Service Reform, 2017, adapted from the Loddon Mallee Primary Care Partnerships Road for Health & Social Service Reform, prepared by Victorian Council of Social Service, 2016. Victorian Council of Social Service, More than charity: Victoria’s community sector charities, July 2016. Victorian Primary Care Partnerships, Op. cit. Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 7

It would be a dedicated fund to In social innovation, the initiatives, The Victorian Social Innovation which not-for-profit organisations activities and intended outcomes are Fund would be an investment, not could apply. It would focus on unknown at the outset. Projects are a cost to government. It would be prevention, early intervention and designed, trialled, allowed to fail if insurance against greater costs in the social inclusion initiatives. Importantly, necessary, and learned from. Things future. Every dollar spent establishing it would not fund service delivery or that do work are continued and and administering the fund would be replace core government funding. scaled up quickly. Things that don’t repaid over the long term by thriving The fund’s scope would be limited to work are ceased immediately. communities, reduced disadvantage supporting innovative, community- So measuring the outcomes of a and more productive members driven and collaborative place-based Victorian Social Innovation Fund of society. approaches. requires rigorous and innovative A Social Innovation Fund can help evaluation methods that encompass A Social Innovation Fund would be deliver this brighter future. “design, test and try, evaluate and effective because, when resourced to redesign” methodology. Every project Mary Sayers is Deputy Chief do it, community organisations are funded under the Social Innovation Executive Officer at VCOSS highly effective at developing Fund would have evaluation built bespoke approaches to social into funding. challenges, with the involvement of local people, businesses, government agencies and other public services. There is growing recognition that truly understanding the needs of people facing disadvantage—and partnering with them—significantly assists in tackling complex social problems holding back different communities. The perspectives and realities of people who face social disadvantage essentially helps determine whether initiatives will actually be effective. However, traditional feedback methods only ask for these perspectives and feedback after a program or service has been planned or implemented. At this point, practitioners have already formed a clear idea of the problem and the range of possible ‘solutions’ that follow.4 A Victorian Social Innovation Fund would enable deep co-design with people facing disadvantage from the beginning. Of course, it’s no good just funding something without measuring the results. Traditional research and evaluation methods start with defining the intended outcomes and later evaluating whether they were achieved. If the desired outcomes are not achieved, it is considered a failure. However what if the wrong outcomes were chosen in the first place, or there were unintended The Victorian Social Innovation Fund positive or negative outcomes that would be an investment, not a cost weren’t measured, or the wrong to government. It would be insurance strategies and activities were chosen against greater costs in the future. to meet the outcomes? Every dollar spent establishing and

_ 4 Victorian Council of Social Service, Walk alongside: Co-designing social initiatives with people experiencing vulnerabilities, July 2015. 8 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

DOING JUSTICE differently

It’s not rocket science and it’s not Pollyanna land, doing justice differently is just about taking a cold, hard look at the evidence and acting on it, ROB HULLS says.

What do we mean when we talk Someone once said the definition of small minority of very serious about justice? insanity is doing the same thing over offenders from whom the community and over and expecting a different needs protection. The vast majority of Too often we think of justice – or result. Yet if we start to base our people who hit our criminal justice what is fairly loosely termed our approach on the evidence system, however, are from justice ‘system’ – as a tertiary concerning what works; and if we backgrounds of profound intervention, something that activates start to understand the profile of disadvantage and marginalisation. only after things have gone wrong. the users of the system better, we What’s more, significant numbers What’s more, we separate the might start to get different and experience mental illness, substance concept, particularly in the context of better results. addiction or acquired brain injury; criminal justice, from the people who while between 70-90 per cent of go through this system. Then we The reality is contemporary Australian inmates of any women’s prison, and wonder why this system – designed criminal justice systems are a many in our male prisons as well, largely in the abstract without the manifestation of the way in which the have been victims of family violence majority of its users in mind – isn’t community has failed certain sectors or childhood sexual abuse. more effective. of the population. Yes, there are a

Keeping people connected in the community means they are less likely to fall on the wrong side of the law. Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 9

What does this mean, though, for Meanwhile, once we look at the how we might do justice differently? profound levels of intergenerational unemployment amongst offenders, It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to we might call for them to be linked realise we should work harder to with job opportunities and housing. prevent this disadvantage and Once we understand the severely low vulnerability in the first place – that levels of educational attainment of justice systems should be as much most offenders, we might use the about preventing poverty and opportunity that connection with the disaffection, family violence or sexual justice system presents, to put abuse as they should be about people on a more constructive path punishment. After all, it’s pretty hard of education and training. to reintegrate a prisoner into the community after sentence if they Doing justice differently is not have never been integrated in the Pollyanna stuff, it’s about using first place. This includes women who evidence, it’s about understanding find respite in a prison environment what works. from the appalling violence they Nor is doing justice differently experience in the community. It a complex formula. First, it’s even includes some men who about recognising our collective commit horrific crimes, yet who may responsibility to prevent have emerged, distorted, from disadvantage, disaffection and profoundly damaging childhoods, trauma from occurring to begin with. completely ill-equipped to function in the community. Second, it’s about understanding Doing justice that, where this responsibility fails, This means we need to follow the it fails certain disadvantaged, rather surprising lead of some differently is disenfranchised and disconnected conservative jurisdictions in the US, sectors of the population – that who have discovered it makes far not Pollyanna people who commit crime usually more sense to invest in education have myriad issues which have and services than to pour money into stuff, it’s about contributed to their offending. prisons – keeping kids connected using evidence, with school and integrated in the Third, it’s about recognising that community so they are less likely to contact with the criminal justice it’s about fall onto the wrong side of the law. In system is a unique opportunity to Victoria, this is a lead we desperately address these issues – one which understanding need to follow, with the Ombudsman can harness judicial authority or the recently warning we are in danger of services of a Corrections environment what works. spending more on prison beds than to function as a positive intervention, hospital beds. rather than to warehouse the disenfranchised. Where people do offend, however, we need to use the evidence about Finally, it’s about acknowledging what works, as well as about the evidence which indicates that, unless profile of system users, to deliver a we do all of these things – unless we better response. For example, once do justice differently and do it to scale we recognise that 44 per cent of – we won’t get any better results. male inmates in our prisons have an Rob Hulls is Director of the Centre for acquired brain injury, we might realise Innovative Justice the standard justice process will seem pretty overwhelming to them, and demand instead that prison and remand staff be trained to work in a disability environment. Once we recognise the huge number of offenders who are also victims of violent crime and trauma, we might similarly expect that services be delivered in a way that concurrently helps them to heal and rehabilitate. 10 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

sometimes you just want more

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Issued by H.E.S.T. Australia Ltd ABN 66 006 818 695 AFSL 235249, the Trustee of Health Employees Superannuation Trust Australia (HESTA) ABN 64 971 749 321. This information is of a general nature. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or specific needs so you should look at your own financial position and requirements before making a decision. You may wish to consult an adviser when doing this. Before making a decision about HESTA products you should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (call 1800 813 327 or visit hesta.com.au for a copy), and consider any relevant risks (hesta.com.au/understandingrisk). *Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance and should never be the sole factor considered when selecting a fund. Comparisons modelled by SuperRatings, commissioned by HESTA. Modelled outcome shows 10 year average difference in net benefit of the main balanced options of HESTA and 75 retail funds tracked by SuperRatings, with a 10 year performance history, taking into account historical earnings and fees – excluding contribution, entry, exit and additional adviser fees – of main balanced options. Outcomes vary between individual funds. Modelling as at 30 June 2016.

HESTA-Somtimes you just want more-210x297.indd 1 20/02/2017 10:49 AM Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 11

DAVID TENNANT Sector champion It was FamilyCare’s commitment to the local community that enticed David Tennant to shift his young family from Canberra to Shepparton in 2010 to lead the organisation. By KELLEE NOLAN

After seven years as David says Shepparton is a proud, David believes activities that bring FamilyCare CEO, David resilient and diverse community out people’s strengths are much Tennant still loves coming with enormous challenges and better. He recalls a recent youth to work. “I love the people incredible strengths. video competition run by FamilyCare, Berry Street and Shepparton It is one of Australia’s major refugee I work with and I like what I Council, won by students from an resettlement areas and has one of do. I’m just as interested in alternative school. it as I was when I started the highest per capita Aboriginal populations in Victoria. “The entry was just terrific. Even the journey.” better was the look of pride on However the town is too often the faces of the kids, their families, Providing family services, carer and targeted as a trial site for welfare friends and teachers as we made disability support services in the programs and dictated to by the presentation. This was not a Shepparton, Seymour, Cobram, “experts” who descend from afar group for which this would have Kinglake and Wallan regions, without recognising other work been a familiar experience.” FamilyCare has about 100 staff, already underway, creating “a 60 volunteers and provided services degree of chaos”. He says people don’t want “more to about 7000 clients last year. than their fair share”, but instead Shepparton has been a want their region’s value recognised, “We try very hard to incorporate the Commonwealth welfare reform and to be involved in designing voice of the people we’re providing trial site since 2011, but David says programs that enhance it. services for in everything we do,” rather than helping, this has become David says. one of the community’s greatest “It’s not always about money or more challenges, disempowering people of it, it is very much about voice.” “It’s an ongoing challenge, but and creating distrust. we’ve worked really hard on it.” David believes the community sector “Much of the focus of welfare needs to back its ability to connect The agency publishes six-monthly reform seems to blame people for with people, despite often being client feedback reports, holds their disadvantage, require them to “lectured” about being more community forums, builds deliver their own solutions and competitive, or more efficient. connections, and tries to evaluate its penalise them if they don’t. I think success from clients’ perspectives. “I think the community sector that’s a fundamentally unfair and should be trying to be more like the “If they feel happy and a growing flawed approach.” community sector. And most of that’s sense of confidence with the about values, about ethics, about things they’re doing ... I think how you build trust.” that’s success.”

WHAT I’M READING NOW... MY FAVOURITE SEASON... MY FAVOURITE DESSERT... Arthur & George, Football season! Go We love stonefruit and by Julian Barnes Hawks. Shepparton produces Down time the best peaches and WHAT I DO TO RELAX... A MOVIE I LOVE... nectarines on the planet! Spending time with my The Karate Kid, it’s still two wonderful daughters. good 30 years on.

If you know of someone working at a VCOSS member organisation who would make a great ‘Sector Champion’, please contact Insight at [email protected] 12 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

TURNING STREET TALKS into streetwear

By NICK PEARCE HoMie is a streetwear clothing social enterprise that provides brand-new clothing, training and job opportunities for people experiencing homelessness.

HoMie has taken a unique We began to sit down and chat with The key to this project is the quality approach to tackling an extremely countless more people who had a and care delivered by a group of prevalent (and complicated) issue story just like this man: they were collaborative partners within the in our community. This focus was essentially in this position through no homelessness sector. Each plays not solidified overnight, but rather fault of their own. The stereotype of a to their respective strengths and through a series of learnings drug addict or alcoholic didn’t add up engages in meaningful collaboration that stemmed from one key with the people we were speaking to ensure the necessary components notion, curiosity. with. Even though they may have had for a young person’s bright future are a dishevelled appearance, they were tended to. Ultimately, providing these As the founders of HoMie, Marcus fundamentally a person first and young people with the skills, Crook, Robert Gillies and myself foremost. Each with their own story, competence and confidence to would be the first to wholeheartedly and level of complexity. become ‘self-sufficient’, contributing attest to the fact we had next to no members of society through a basic experience (or understanding) of Evidently, homelessness is an (yet highly considered) approach: homelessness when we began our extremely complicated issue as no living, learning and earning. journey. We would also openly admit two experiences are the same. we often made uninformed However, at the end of the day, It won’t happen overnight, but assumptions as we walked past homelessness is a situation or providing a comprehensive level of people living rough on the streets of circumstance that someone can support, care and opportunity that Melbourne. One day, we decided to get out of if afforded the support tends to every aspect of one’s life finally challenge our preconceived and care they require (as well as (including social, emotional and notions towards people living on the personal determination). The financial) is a genuine way to create streets by striking up a conversation approach to solving this issue long-term, meaningful change. Even with an elderly man who appeared to needs to be on a case-by-case, if we start to address these people be “homeless”. one-person-at-a-time basis. as people, we’re on the right track to making a real, lasting difference. It was during this conversation we Rather than viewing these people Breaking the cycle may sound came to a stark realisation, that this as ‘have-nots’, HoMie is about clichéd, but it couldn’t ring any was not a “homeless person”, but collaborating and being innovative truer for the issue of homelessness. rather a “person experiencing in a way that empowers some young homelessness”. He had been people experiencing homelessness Nick Pearce is co-founder of afforded many of the opportunities to become ‘haves’. HoMie, along with Marcus Crook that we had in life (including a good and Robert Gillies. Our retail clothing store in Fitzroy education, a family who loved him, uses its net proceeds to provide a www.homie.com.au stable employment), but had been “pathway out of homelessness” wrestling with a severe mental for a small group of young people illness for quite some time. experiencing homelessness or This had significantly affected his disadvantage, through training personal health and wellbeing, and employment opportunities. which as a result, eventuated in him living rough on the streets, experiencing homelessness. Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 13

TAKING THE INITIATIVE on women’s housing

By JEANETTE LARGE Women’s Property Initiatives provides new beginnings for women facing homelessness by providing affordable, long-term homes. We believe everyone has the right to a safe and secure home and that women face the greatest barriers to being able to afford one.

Only six per cent of properties in the In 2015, we founded a social From a start-up position, Property private rental market are affordable enterprise, Property Initiatives Real Initiatives is almost at the point of for people on low incomes, of which Estate, to create an income stream returning a profit to WPI – a real a disproportionately large number are that will help provide more homes for milestone for the business. To women. Women have less access to vulnerable women. All company achieve this, and because we are employment, as carers they often profits are returned to WPI to build so confident people will be satisfied have greater limits on their ability to or acquire housing. Over time, with our service, we are offering three work, and they earn less than men. this will enable us to house many months of free property management more women. for a limited time. Please contact us if Women’s Property Initiatives currently you are interested. houses more than 200 women and Property Initiatives offers ethical and children across Melbourne, enabling high quality property management We are passionate about the them to rebuild their lives. Rents are and, in less than two years, we have role social enterprise can play no more than 30 per cent of built a rent roll of 120 properties. in improving communities and household income and give women Landlords should not see our agency addressing social problems; in this the financial capacity to do more than as a compromise. Even though it case, women’s access to secure just exist. Through this, we have seen exists to fund more affordable homes and affordable housing. Commercially women transform. Many return to for women and children, the point is viable businesses that provide work or study, or focus on parenting to make a profit by delivering employment and exist to benefit children who have suffered trauma property investors the best possible the community, rather than through the instability of their living return. However, by simply listing a shareholders and owners, are a situation. They can live with dignity property with us, they can make their win-win for society. and contribute to their communities. property management fees count Jeanette Large is Chief Executive and generate positive social impact. Many of these women have Officer at Women’s Property Initiatives It is profit for purpose. experienced family violence or are wpi.org.au migrants fleeing conflict in their propertyinitiatives.com.au country of origin. Some are older women who have worked their whole lives but can’t afford market rents. Others, simply through circumstance, find themselves living with relatives or on a friend’s couch. Crisis services and short-term housing are critical in sheltering vulnerable women, but often there is no next step towards a stable future. WPI offers this next step. However, providing long-term homes for women requires capital, in an environment where philanthropic and government funding is increasingly hard to source. That’s why WPI is very focused on finding innovative ways to expand its housing stock and social impact. 14 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

BAKING a difference

By KATE BARRELLE STREAT is a Melbourne-based social enterprise that provides homeless and high-risk youth aged 16-25 with a supported pathway to careers in the hospitality industry and independent living. Our goal is to help these young people feel they belong and to thrive in life.

Starting with two small food carts in how much they value their sense of To achieve this, we work closely with 2010, STREAT now operates seven belonging at STREAT. In their most the social services and youth sector, hospitality businesses, including recent program review, our young receiving referrals from more than cafes, a bakery, coffee roastery, people rated their sense of 90 agencies across Melbourne. catering kitchen and functions belonging at 98 per cent. We deliver transformational youth venue at our new flagship site in work through equal doses of STREAT is currently 70 per cent Cromwell St, Collingwood. Here reliability, boundaries, kindness and self-funded through its business trainees gain genuine work fun. We are not a treatment or clinical revenue, and aims for this to be experience and mentoring from our program per se, but we do support 100 per cent by 2020. We’ve now professional hospitality staff, while young people with multiple, complex trained and supported more than studying for accredited certificates in and high needs. 800 amazing young people. Our hospitality. These businesses also 2022 goal is to help one young help fund the Youth Program team, person every mealtime – that’s STREAT sees itself as who provide integrated, tailored, 1095 each year. wrap-around support. the glue that holds The importance of employability things together when skills, job opportunities and stable a young person can’t. housing is clear, but from listening to our young people we’ve also learnt

Photos: Alice Hutchison Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 15

The Board, along with our primary benefactor, Mr Geoff Harris, have personal support. As a employment, Allie decided to expand STREAT into result of childhood abuse, identified friendships and areas with serious need in Victoria. Allie had significant a sense of belonging at We have commissioned Social Allie’s story mental health and STREAT as key to her Ventures Australia to map the level emotional issues, as do ability to move forward. of youth homelessness and more than 80 per cent of She said the hospitality disadvantage across the state. STREAT’s young people. mentors “made things fun and educational even The three main population groups Kirsten from STREAT’s Allie is a young woman, when there was lots to be at high risk of unemployment and Youth Program Team who with the support done”, and that the Youth homelessness are young migrants, provided holistic and of police, a women’s Program Team were those emerging from out-of-home flexible day-to-day shelter and Frontyard “good listeners”. care, and those engaged in Youth Services, was support, while helping criminal behaviour. able to leave a violent Allie attend her other Allie graduated from appointments. Allie STREAT in 2014 and now Young people facing these three relationship, and was referred to STREAT. slowly became more works in hospitality while challenges are over-represented confident, made friends studying to pursue her in regions like Greater Dandenong Almost two thirds of in the program, and dream of becoming an and Brimbank. Responding to this STREAT’s young people quietly aced her work aged care nurse. need, STREAT has begun research are homeless, or are at experience shifts. Allie and planning to set up operations risk of homelessness. and STREAT were so near Dandenong. Allie was eligible for proud when she landed transitional housing her first job as a waitress. As an integrated social enterprise, because she was engaged STREAT is dedicated to working Now she is self-sufficient in STREAT’s 17-week and feels in control of her closely with the rest of the sector Main Course program of to bring about a positive future own life. In addition to the work experience, TAFE for marginalised young people critical importance training, group life skills in Victoria. of skills, experience and sessions, and individual Dr Kate Barrelle is co-founder and Chief Impact Officer at STREAT streat.com.au 16 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

SOCIAL ENTERPRISE through the looking glass By LISA BOOTHBY Social Traders is helping drive change at the intersection of traditional business and welfare, supporting social enterprises to find new ways to solve old problems. Often responding to a market failure, these enterprises provide people with employment and access to essential products and services, through innovative business models.

Helping social enterprises start, Crunch enterprises and the chance recommendation that came through transform and scale by validating to take part in national social the Crunch program, and they’ve all their business models and preparing enterprise leadership events via the been successful.” them to access capital and Social Enterprise Conference and Positive Charge is an independent customers is what Social Traders’ Social Enterprise Awards. business unit of the Moreland Energy (ST) Crunch Accelerator program Once they’ve completed the Start-up Foundation, delivering services to is all about. Almost 90 enterprises Accelerator program, enterprises can local governments and providing have completed the Crunch program, enter Social Traders’ Crunch Growth residents and businesses with with a high start-up success rate of Accelerator – a more advanced sustainability advice and access to 60 per cent. program that helps enterprises products that reduce energy Two streams of start-ups will go further develop. This might include consumption. through the ST Crunch program taking the next step towards being Positive Charge completed ST in 2017, each bringing forward a investment-ready, enabling new Crunch in 2016 and now aims to diverse range of ideas. contracts, or scaling up activities. engage 40,000 households to Berry Street enterprise, Momentum, Several examples show the diverse reduce 150,000 tonnes of carbon aims to employ and give voice to range of social enterprises that have pollution in five years. marginalised young people. already worked with Social Traders Director Major Projects at Moreland over the years. Energy Foundation Australia wants Energy Foundation Bruce Thompson to deliver environmental benefits on Melbourne Farmers Markets took says having access to Crunch a large scale. Southern Refugee and part in ST Crunch in 2016. provided a strong basis for Positive Migrant Org’s enterprise – Bi-lingual Strengthening the relationship Charge’s success. Home Maintenance and Garden between consumers and Victorian “Social Traders has been really critical – will help older people with culturally food and producers, Melbourne to the success of Positive Charge in diverse backgrounds live in their Farmers Markets now operates at helping us get a business plan own homes for longer. These are eight sites. CEO Miranda Sharp links together,” Bruce says. just a few of the enterprises currently the group’s success to accelerator participating in Social Traders’ programs like ST Crunch. “They have supported us in investing Crunch Start-up Accelerator program and providing the right advice at the “I understand food and have great in the first half of 2017. right time, to actually take what was ideas, but I can be shocking when it just a plan and put it into practice. At Through the ST Crunch program, comes to saying ‘yes’ to a great idea each stage Social Traders has been over four months these enterprise without understanding its viability. there to support us and encourage proposals will be subjected to I’m sure I’m not alone, and I’m us in making the right step to where vigorous customer testing, social sure many businesses grow in an we are today.” impact and financial viability unstructured way because they assessments, matching with mentors don’t have the opportunity to do Lisa Boothby is Head of Social and industry experts, a ‘fail-fast’ something like Social Traders’ Enterprise Development at approach and a strong focus on Crunch,” Miranda says. Social Traders developing a sustainable business “Crunch was an incredible way to socialtraders.com.au/crunch model. The entrepreneurs will have really identify what was viable and access to an alumni of previous ST profitable. We’ve adopted every Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 17

COMBINING health and justice By TESSA BOYD-CAINE Health justice partnerships are improving access to legal services that not only meet people’s legal needs but also address the factors that often distract from or undermine people’s health.

It may sound odd, but across solve it. And because legal problems Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine is Chief Australia, people who need legal can affect health, it means patients Executive Officer at Health Justice Australia advice are more likely to raise it with receive better, more holistic a GP, nurse or social worker, than healthcare too. Working together, healthjustice.org.au with a lawyer. The reasons for this health and legal professionals can vary, but include cost, distance and better identify and respond to accessibility.1 People may feel it is people’s needs, helping improve their too hard to access a legal health – and preventing their existing Ritchie’s story professional, and instead feel more problems from reaching crisis point. _ comfortable raising the issue with a Health Justice Australia is supporting health professional they trust, and Providing health the expansion and effectiveness of who they know they can reach. This care and legal advice these exciting new collaborations. is even easier to understand when Ritchie was receiving care at We do that through research and we consider it’s more often those Bendigo Community Health evaluation; by developing resources who are vulnerable and marginalised Service following a heart attack. to support practitioners working in in our community who are likely He blamed his heart attack on the partnership; and by connecting our to face legal issues, with fines, stress he was under from a evidence and experience in policy consumer issues and housing guardianship order which, he advocacy. among them. thought, meant he could no longer Victoria has played a central role in do things like make minor repairs That’s why, since 2012, health and developing this approach. Research in his home. legal organisations have been by Victorian community lawyers building collaborations called ‘health The health service had a lawyer provided key evidence of improved justice partnerships’. onsite from Loddon-Campaspe justice outcomes from these kinds of Community Legal Centre as part 2 This exciting innovation builds collaborations. This sparked a $2.6 of their health justice partnership. partnerships between lawyers, health million commitment from the Legal The lawyer helped Ritchie workers and other professionals, to Services Board in 2014 to establish understand the purpose of the help them identify and respond to the eight new health justice partnerships order and how to navigate it to get broad range of needs people may across the state. the resources he needed. present with. It is not about expecting Most excitingly, by building the trust Ultimately, the lawyer worked with people to do more with less, but is and understanding necessary to Ritchie to have his guardianship about supporting professionals’ forge lasting relationships across order overturned completely. skills, and building capacity across services, health justice partnerships Ritchie said the support he these sectors. are part of a system-wide received from the health justice Adding a lawyer to a healthcare team transformation in how our health and partnership made him “feel like a means healthcare professionals can human services meet the needs of human being again” and able to more easily spot a legal problem some of the most vulnerable people get “back in control” of his affairs and have someone nearby who can in our communities. and his life. _ _ 1 Legal Australia Wide survey, Law and Justice Foundation of NSW, 2012. 2 See for example P Noble, Advocacy-Health Alliances: Better Health through Medical-Legal Partnership, 2012; and L Gyorki, Breaking down the silos: Overcoming the Practical and Ethical Barriers of Integrating Legal Assistance into a Healthcare Setting, Churchill Fellowship report, 2013. 18 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

COFFEE, CAKE and inclusion

By KATE McKENZIE Kinfolk is a busy Melbourne café serving up seasonal produce on a daily menu, with the mission to create better access and inclusion for those facing disadvantage in our community.

The café also donates 100 per cent Over the last year, Kinfolk has baristas. Then, there will be a knife of profits to charity every year. These supported 57 people experiencing skills workshop in the kitchen with large sums of donated money make circumstances that challenge them chefs who have sharpened their skills a big difference to their two partner in finding employment. at venues such as Vue de Monde, charities – the Asylum Seeker Noma and Silo. The cafe provided training and Resource Centre and Urban Seed. support to people living with disability These are all formal aspects of The biggest impact, though, is the or mental illness, those facing the training program, but a large diverse and inclusive environment long-term unemployment, and men proportion of Kinfolk’s strength is of the café. transitioning from prison amongst the ability to work alongside the Kinfolk offers a place where many personal challenges. Twenty six volunteers each day, observe and volunteers can find inspiration to of these volunteers have now gained influence their progress. contribute to something bigger than employment elsewhere and 11 As a purpose-driven business, themselves whilst gaining hospitality of them were employed directly. Kinfolk aims to create more inclusive training, building their confidence and Kinfolk helped all these people gain communities. Everything that establishing friendships and support. employment skills and training, but happens is underpinned by this also a sense that they belonged and mission. Every day, local produce is that their contribution was valued. served by volunteers who wish to These are all Success can look very different contribute efforts to supporting the from person to person. Often two partner charities, while achieving formal aspects disadvantaged volunteers are seeking their personal goals. of the training employment or to develop relevant Kate McKenzie is Marketing Manager skills and training, but how success and Events Coordinator at Kinfolk program, but a is measured is dependent on each person’s circumstances. The kinfolk.org.au large proportion of inclusive volunteer program works with everyone equally to set goals Kinfolk’s strength they are excited to achieve. This helps to de-stigmatise minorities is the ability to and helps build confidence within work alongside the their roles. Volunteers have access to some volunteers each extraordinary training opportunities on a regular basis. One week, they day, observe and might be visiting a salt farm and influence their shovelling natural, pink salt into crates. The next, they could be progress. learning world-class coffee skills from one of Kinfolk’s veteran Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 19 When it rained, I shone. a

It was one of those fierce summer storms that comes after a week of hot weather. Worst of all, the storm hit the clinic during the night, so nobody realised the roof was damaged. The next day, we found the reception counter drenched. But I was all over it. I got hold of our Officeworks Business Specialist, who helped me organise what we needed to replace. She recommended plastic filing cases instead of cardboard folders, and a wireless keyboard that could be put away each night. And because everything was ordered online before 11.30am, it was delivered the same day.

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Catalysing change

A new wave of philanthropy is funding innovative ways of tackling social problems. KELLEE NOLAN spoke to several groups on the crest of the wave to find out what it’s all about.

Taking risks, asking new questions, The new foundation gave itself Each community has a funded putting communities at the centre, 10 years to catalyse and convene ‘backbone leader’ coordinating collaborating, and catalysing community-led collective impact people, resources and programs. long-term systemic change. efforts to reduce the vulnerability of Key findings about what works and 65,000 children across Australia. These are just some of the things what doesn’t are channelled through key Victorian philanthropy groups It provides core funding and the “lab” for broader policy and say the new wave of social innovation overarching guidance to “de-risk” systems change. While each is about. the prospect for other funders to community is different, some key get involved in a new approach to principles are shared by all. For Ten20 Foundation managing preventing childhood vulnerability. director Seri Renkin, it requires “We were quickly able to see there organisations being brave and “In systems change work often you were some common themes. All the putting communities’ needs first. need one or two early adopters from communities needed support around a funding point of view to help de-risk how to build a collective approach, “Social innovation is not new, but this it for everybody else, so that’s the and how to measure it,” Renkin says. is about the long-term and about role of the catalytic funder, and we’re changing systems,” Renkin says. Ten20 also provides a “leadership the catalytic funder,” Renkin says. container” of boundaries and “The questions for organisations are “Our board has been prepared to decision-making principles, for – what are you trying to achieve, is it take that risk, because we know learning from mistakes and possible, and how can you organise that it has to be done.” successes, shared measurement differently to leverage all the models, project evaluation and resources across the community to The approach led to business, accountability for investment. achieve change?” philanthropy, not-for-profits and Data is important, as is ensuring government all providing further Ten20 formed in 2008, when the the community is at the centre. funding for Opportunity Child, an board of GordonCare, a Melbourne “innovation lab” catalysed and It is still early days for measuring organisation with a 125-year history convened by Ten20. community outcomes, but progress running homes for neglected and so far is positive. abused children, asked itself just that. It supports six communities across Australia to improve early childhood Finding the answer was it wanted to outcomes collectively from the Each community has leave a legacy of systemic change, ground up, while learning from GordonCare ended its service a funded ‘backbone and scaling up their experiences delivery and liquidated its $10 million for systemic reform. leader’ coordinating in assets to form Ten20. people, resources and programs. Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 21

“You’re bringing together all their expertise and their client mix and processes … so it’s sharing resourcing as well.”

“We’ve been able to achieve a “We need to be brave enough to say “It is a two-generation model learning community of people all old models aren’t working, so what aiming to break the cycle of family aligning with a common practice can we do to address those disadvantage,” Bender says. and purpose – a shared outcomes problems, and what can we do to “Services and support are framework, a collective structure build a fence at the top of the hill, coordinated using a central database and shared governance, and we’ve rather than simply park an ambulance to share data and methodology. been able to feed learnings up into at the bottom.” It’s a wonderful model, very exciting.” federal policy.” Established in 1951 from a bequest There is also the West Justice Another Victorian philanthropic group by its namesake, the Helen program, employing a lawyer at The supporting innovative approaches is Macpherson Smith Trust distributes Grange P-12 College in Hoppers the Helen Macpherson Smith Trust. about $4.5 million in grants each Crossing to provide students and year, and funds several innovative Chief Executive Lin Bender says to their families ready access to legal projects. be innovative, organisations must be assistance by informing them of their brave, conduct extensive research, The Epping Community Services rights, and providing advice around collaborate with each other and with Hub, established in 2016 by the issues including family violence, fines communities, reframe failures as Brotherhood of St Laurence in and energy disconnection. learnings, and be prepared for the collaboration with the Whittlesea Almost two years in, Bender says long haul. Council, is a 150-desk site the program is reaping great results, accommodating more than a dozen “Innovation needs a lot of strategy. with a very strong rapport between organisations, providing total It’s not just a lightbulb moment one lawyer Vincent Shin and students. wraparound services for clients. has while sitting at one’s desk,” She hopes further evaluation might Bender says. lead to it becoming a model to follow elsewhere.

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A third is Project REAL Executive General Manager Melanie Lewis says the panel’s success (Reengagement in Education and Lewis said growth in the last five illustrates how innovative Learning), a community-led initiative years led STAF to review how it could grant-making can bring about responding to an increase in maximise its impact through strategic systemic change. primary and high school student and innovative grant-making. “We’re seeing better outcomes, absenteeism in the Hume region in “It’s about having the ability to make seeing how people look at issues Melbourne’s north. Banksia Gardens a difference, and not just granting more broadly, not only fixing Community Services, Outer Urban with a narrow focus, but looking at problems, but also making sure projects and state schools have how we can contribute more broadly, projects are sustainable in the linked to provide alternative across sectors, and in a way that is long-term.” education settings and specialist collaborative and sustainable,” services to reengage students. For all these philanthropic groups, Lewis says. supporting social innovation is an “It’s an extraordinary example of This has led to a new Elder Abuse important way to bring about social collaboration,” Bender says. Prevention and Response grants change. But it cannot be done “There’s no way Banksia Gardens program, responding to growing without risk, without trial and error, or Outer Urban projects could community need and building without the community leading it, possibly have had the impact they awareness and prevention. without collaboration, or in a are having without the collaboration short time. of the local schools.” It also led to the Ageing, Disability and Mental Health Collaborative They urge other philanthropic and Bender says philanthropy is in a Panel, formed in 2014. Leading community groups to ask themselves prime position to drive social groups across several sectors those questions around how to best innovation because it is more willing have joined forces to prepare for work with communities, disrupt the to take risks than government. government reforms, share status quo and catalyse change. “We can be more patient and we experiences and collaborate. “There’s a really important role for don’t look at failure as something “The panel is making sure the catalytic philanthropy, and then bad, but as a learning. And it is voice of clients from the different there’s a really important role for other these learnings that lead to smart, sectors is represented across all types of funders to come in and work new innovative solutions.” these industries, because they all with catalytic philanthropy, to build State Trustees Australia Foundation is consistently have very similar these social innovations that are another Victorian philanthropic group needs,” Lewis says. focused on systems change and looking more and more towards longer term change,” Renkin says. “You’re bringing together all their funding innovative projects. Founded expertise and their client mix and “This is systems change, that’s in 1994 by Sir Zelman Cowen, STAF processes… so it’s sharing the difference.” distributes about $2.5 million a year resourcing as well.” from trusts and sub-funds, with a Kellee Nolan is Insight Editor focus on supporting people disadvantaged by ageing, disability and mental health. Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 23

NATIONAL CONFERENCE In partnership with VCOSS

SAVE THE DATE

Australia in 2030 Creating the future we want

24-25 October 2017 | Melbourne 24 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

Insight asked four Victorian MPs what governments can Question time do to support social innovation in communities.

What role should governments play in supporting communities to develop innovative solutions to social problems?

I think governments by their very automotive industry worker or a nature are problem solvers, and it’s barista, every Victorian – regardless important we continue to drive of their background – has a right to initiatives and outcomes that support the dignity of a job. people and communities of all No one in our community should backgrounds. be left behind. As Minister for Industry and We’re also proud to be leading the Employment, it’s my role to develop country in our efforts to strengthen programs that change lives – from Victoria’s social enterprise sector – supporting disadvantaged jobseekers which is currently made up of 5,000 and encouraging more young people businesses employing 75,000 into the workforce – through to people. We recently announced the inspiring the industries and innovators of tomorrow. first Social Enterprise Strategy to build a network of social enterprises, We know many Victorians face Wade Noonan create procurement opportunities barriers to employment. In response Minister for and provide people with employment to this challenge, we’ve created Industry and and skills training. opportunities through the Jobs Employment, You can’t solve every social problem Minister for Victoria Employment Network Resources (JVEN) to connect employers and overnight, but we can make a disadvantaged jobseekers. It’s not difference day-to-day by putting in Labor Member for place the building blocks that change Williamstown only about putting people into a job, but ensuring they can sustain it. lives. We need to keep working I’ve had the tremendous opportunity to ensure every Victorian can feel to meet many people who are counted, reach their potential and making a valuable contribution to make a difference in our community. their community. Whether you’re an

To overcome society’s biggest governments tend to address a hurdles, we cannot rely on social issue through funding to government services and intervention remedy the symptom rather than alone, but must have government address the cause. As a result, embrace innovation and cross-sector governments continue to miss the partnerships. The pieces of the big opportunity to improve their own puzzle for many social issues exist, services, such as health, education and all levels of government have the and transport, by leveraging the opportunity to piece them together knowledge and work from educators and facilitate the delivery of solutions and businesses. – they just need to change the way Last year, I attended a hackathon they operate. which included business and tech The private sector, educational gurus, community organisations, institutions and community members of the public sector and David Southwick organisations all work to fix the new immigrants, looking at how to problems, but in many instances improve services and language Shadow Minister for lack collaboration: this is where programs for new arrivals to Innovation, Shadow governments need to lead and Australia. Over just a weekend, Minister for Energy and Resources, Shadow assist. If there is a united effort to problems were put on the table, and Minister for Renewables develop and implement innovative ideas flowed and were built upon to solutions, society will achieve its help overcome this particular barrier Liberal Party goals far quicker. in Australian society. Member for Caulfield In relation to supporting ‘innovation’, If we can do this for one problem, governments have traditionally why can’t governments collaborate narrowed their scope by funding only and solve the big issues? incubators and start-ups in a hit-or-miss approach. Similarly, Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 25

What role should governments play in supporting communities to develop innovative solutions to social problems?

Our communities are teeming with It is equally important that innovative ideas, the commitment to government is connected with develop them, and the leadership to communities to help identify implement them. So rather than promising initiatives early on. government assisting communities to To stand the best possible chance develop new solutions, often the best of success, social enterprises need starting point is to seek out existing to be championed, adequately initiatives and support these. funded and well connected.

Nina Springle Community-driven initiatives are Governments are the primary grounded in a deep understanding of mechanism through which many The Greens local context, and driven by people social programs are developed, Member for South with a huge stake in their success. funded, evaluated and scaled up. Eastern Metropolitan Many of them achieve significant But all elected representatives – Greens’ spokesperson impact within their communities, but including those in opposition, minority for Women, Family the ability to share and amplify their parties and independents – have Violence Prevention, success is limited. a role to play here. MPs not in Families and Children, government can connect, champion The role of governments in Multicultural Affairs and and promote these kinds of initiatives supporting social innovation is Waste Reduction in their constituencies to good effect. two-fold. Accessibility is key. Community leaders need to know Many initiatives have the capacity to how to access financial and structural thrive and effect change with limited support at multiple levels of external support, but many do not. government. This is often a challenge Meeting this challenge is a task for small community groups and for government and all elected social enterprises. representatives, at all levels.

To put it in a phrase: decentralise, Community-based, flexible solutions localise and listen. can also be worked into legislation. I recently proposed a trial of a Communities face vastly different medically supervised injecting social issues, and responses based centre in North Richmond after in the local community almost always listening to local residents and have the best chance of success. traders who are constantly worried For example, there was a fantastic about drug deaths and amenity. anti-family violence program in my A critical part of my bill is that an region focused on migrant boys aged organisation must be approved for 11-15, administered through local a licence, with a trial period that can soccer teams. That micro-community be stopped at any time. solution had a significant positive It doesn’t impose the solution, but effect, with lessons of respect for Fiona Patten provides a framework for local women and girls flowing through Member for Northern organisations to take charge if the to local schools, wider families and Metropolitan Region option is right for that community. other social groups. Unfortunately the Australian Sex Party program only received pilot funding. Governments should look at setting Leader the right policy framework to That ‘pilot only’ scenario continually enhance the great work done by plays out. Innovative approaches people in their local communities, gain initial funding but must reinvent rather than try to sweep in with themselves to meet the next grant ‘solutions’ that sound great from criteria, where they often struggle lofty offices, but don’t always work against large non-government in practice. To put it in a phrase: organisations. We need to recognise decentralise, localise that sometimes small is best and look . at stable long-term funding for small and listen. community-focused programs. 26 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

MAKING an impact

Innovation funds and impact investing are some of the models now being used to drive change across Victoria and around the world. HELEN DICKINSON goes behind the jargon to explain how they work.

Rarely a day goes by without a call The PSIF provides grants ranging Social Impact Bonds (SIBs) are for more innovation across public from $50,000 to $400,000, to another example of impact investing. services. The reasons are well support small-scale collaborative In one sense SIBs are what you get rehearsed, and linked to range of projects testing new approaches to when you cross ‘Payment by Results’ fiscal and social pressures. delivering better outcomes for mechanisms with Public-Private Victorians. Projects need to be led by Partnerships (PPPs).5 An investor For those working in and around a Victorian government department (typically a bank or investment fund) the design and delivery of public agency or statutory body, but can provides financing to tackle an services, it’s clear that ‘business as involve a mix of collaborating identified social challenge. An usual’ is not an option, and we need organisations, including for-profit intermediary organisation facilitates to find fundamentally different ways and not-for-profit bodies. the relationship between the investor, of working. We also know innovation the government and the service typically costs before it pays. Before The PSIF is an example of a fund provider (typically a community we can release cost savings, money backed by government dollars, but organisation). Together they agree on needs to be invested to develop new there are also other approaches the outcomes to be achieved for the products and services, as well as to that seek to leverage resources project to be considered a success. train and develop staff and beyond this. consumers to navigate these. So The investor receives a return on its In recent years ‘impact investing’ has what approaches are at the forefront funding depending on the outcomes emerged as an option for funding of funding for innovative public and achieved through the project. innovation. Impact investing relates to community services, and will they investments made with the intent of For example, if there is a 7.5 per cent deliver the step-change required? generating measurable social and/or reduction in reoffending rates when One of the most traditional environmental outcomes in addition measured against a control group, an approaches to funding innovation is to a financial return.2 investor may see a return of 2.5 per to set up a dedicated pot of money cent.6 If reoffending rates are cut Social Impact Investment Funds, to which individuals and groups apply further, investors can receive greater also known as Social Innovation to fund improvement efforts. returns, up to a maximum of 13.3 per Funds, have been developed in cent. However they may lose their Victoria has its own Public many parts of the world with varying capital if reoffending rates do not fall Sector Innovation Fund (PSIF), an degrees of success. Notable by 7.5 per cent. $11 million grants program designed examples are in the UK and USA.3 to drive new, more effective solutions These differ to Victoria’s PSIF in the The important point here is that to complex policy and service sense that private investors are money is only paid out where delivery changes.1 typically looking to make a specified social outcomes have been financial return.4 met – which makes them less like a traditional bond product (where investors take on debt) and more like an equity product7 (where investors become like owners and have voting rights). _ 1 See Victorian Government, Public Sector Innovation Fund, accessed March 2016. 2Australian Government, Social Impact Investing Discussion Paper, January 2017, p. 8. 3‘Social Innovation, Let’s hear those ideas’, The Economist, 12 August 2010. 4 Impact Investing Australia, 2016 Investor Report, 2016, p. 29. 5 H Dickinson, Social Impact Bonds: The best of all worlds? Power to Persuade, 27 August 2015. 6 R Cohen, ‘Big Society Capital Marks a Paradigm Shift’, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Summer 2012. 7 See Social Finance, Mobilising Capital to Drive Social Progress, accessed March 2017.

Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 27

Photo: Tim Geers/CC

Where governments pay additional Evaluation can also come at a There is a growing body of returns based on higher outcomes, significant cost, drawing attention literature that critiques both the it’s with the idea that they are paying away from the focus of these theory and practice of impact from savings that will accrue from endeavours. These initiatives investing.9 One of the fundamental reduction of future liabilities. Victoria are typically associated with challenges is while they offer different is following other states like NSW significant costs and can have ways of funding services, and in and South Australia in seeking to incredibly complex and detailed theory some increased flexibility establish SIBs in the areas of youth application processes. around processes and practices of transition programs and drug and innovation, will the changes really With all these approaches a key alcohol treatment programs.8 drive significant innovation? challenge emerges in relation to All of these approaches focus on whether innovations can be ‘scaled- Many initiatives focus on complex outcomes (not inputs or outputs), up’ and at what speed. We know issues that governments around the placing a high value on evaluation. successful innovations tend to world have been trying to address In theory this is a welcome change. spread slowly, and it’s not always for many decades. It might therefore Not only does it free up services to straightforward to scale them up. be unrealistic to think that slightly design innovative ways of working, different modes of funding will Context is crucial when delivering but it also forces us to focus on address these complex issues, public services, and innovations what does and doesn’t work when it which often have underlying may not fit in a different setting, comes to services. structural determinants. or be sufficiently sensitive in terms Yet it’s notoriously difficult to specify of their model to be adaptable to For these reasons it may be wise the outcomes that an initiative aims other applications. to adopt a degree of caution in to achieve, and measuring them in approaching these models of a timely way can be even more of innovation funding. a challenge. Associate Professor Helen Dickinson is Director Public Service Research Group, UNSW Canberra Rarely a day goes by without a call for more innovation across public services. The reasons are well rehearsed, and linked to range of fiscal and social pressures.

_ 8 D Donaldson, ‘Victoria’s first social impact bonds to tackle youth, drugs’, The Mandarin, 22 July 2016. 9 H Dickinson, Social Impact Bonds: The best of all worlds? Power to Persuade, 27 August 2015. 28 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

LEARNING the three Ps

Measuring social innovation is a complex task, involving technical, leadership and cultural challenges. KRISTY MUIR says those who take it on will thrive, and explains just how to go about it.

There’s undoubtedly a lot of focus on What to measure requires • New technology platforms to ‘social innovation’ these days. It’s prioritisation based on the purpose, better understand and measure easy to see why. The promise of processes and approach (a theory social change over time; and social innovation is big, bold, and of change is a really useful • Professional development around alluring. Finding a “novel solution to a mechanism for this). The methods outcomes measurement. social problem that is more effective, should be determined by what it is efficient, sustainable”, and creating a you’re measuring (don’t fall into the These are technical challenges. value that will “accrue primarily to trap of picking a method before Effectively measuring social society as a whole rather than private you work out what you need to outcomes requires exceptional individuals” sounds great.1 know). Another CSI publication, leadership: People who are willing Orienting your journey3, can help to work for shared social purpose, But a big question stands out: guide you. try new ideas, work with others, How do we know whether social embrace a learning culture, fail, innovation is achieving the outcomes Maintaining the interconnections adapt and improve. we want? between purpose and processes is also critical to understanding why If we are truly going to be person- And, more specifically: How do we an outcome may or may not have centred, we need to consider measure which social innovations are occurred, and for improving or measuring outcomes from a more likely to succeed, under what scaling innovation. For example, if the person centric perspective, rather circumstances, when and for whom? outcomes from a new idea, policy or than an organisational one. Take the Understanding outcomes achieved program are poor, is it because the example of the NDIS for a person through social innovation is based on innovation isn’t effective, or its with disability who is now using similar principles to measuring social implementation wasn’t successful? multiple providers and having to outcomes for any intervention, policy complete an evaluation for all those Similarly, if an innovation relies on or program. Outcomes should only providers, rather than just one. collaboration, are the outcomes be measured after first determining being affected by the quality of the Integrated systems need purpose (what are you trying to partnership? integrated shared measurement. achieve?) and processes (how are There are some great examples of you going to do it?). Building capacity is key in social shared measurement in collaborative innovation. To accelerate change and In the Centre for Social Impact’s initiatives. But we need to compare measure it, we must build capacity in guide to measuring social impact, different types of innovations that aim our people, our processes and The Compass,2 we talk about to achieve the same types of practices, technology and leadership. following the three Ps – purpose, outcomes. Only when we use shared Much of this is building technical process and then performance. outcome measures will we be able to skills, tools and resources. Effective work out what’s most effective and Following the three Ps in order outcomes measurement needs: efficient and for who. helps integrate social outcomes • Clear definitions for outcomes measurement into organisational If we are serious about embracing and measurement; strategy, narrative and operations. systems change, we’re going to have Without understanding what the • Evidence pathways; to be willing to let go of attribution purpose is and how it will be and focus instead on contribution, • Theories of change for achieved, it’s not possible to and different groups having different organisations, interventions, determine what should be measured roles in generating change. If we innovations, policies and and, in turn, whether, to what extent accept the premise that complex programs; and why change has occurred. problems require complex solutions

_ 1J A Phills Jr., K Deiglmeier and D T Miller, ‘Rediscovering social innovation’, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Fall 2008. 2 Muir, K and Bennett, The Compass: Your guide to social impact measurement, Centre for Social Impact, November 2014. 3 S Bennett et. al., Orienting your Journey: an approach for indicator criteria and selection, Centre for Social Impact, September 2016 4 (The CSI Amplify Social Impact project aims to achieve this. If you’d be interested in knowing more about this or contributing, we’d love to hear from you.). Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 29 and a range of integrated supports, improve transparency and learn from Organisations need effective then it is distracting to focus on the failure. The big question for the future outcomes measurement proportion of the outcome that is: How do we establish safeguards to demonstrate they’re a ‘supplier belongs to one particular group in payment by outcomes and return of choice’. From a demand or organisation. on investment initiatives, to make perspective, individuals will want sure failures are shared? to know: Which service will help Outcomes-based funding is coming deliver the outcomes I need, want and it should help drive outcomes- Innovative finance models are here and choose for me, my family and/or focused behavior. However, we will and growing, and there is exciting my clients? need appropriate application of potential for unleashing new sources outcomes-based funding, and of capital for social change. This Compared to a few years ago, there need to avoid unintended makes it important to hold on to the is a far wider understanding of ‘why’ consequences, such as inaccurate difference between social value outcomes measurement matters, apportioning of funding and picking and financial value. Not everything and an impressive commitment to the ‘easiest’ client base. that matters socially can or should measuring change. It’s the ‘how’ have a financial value attached. And that is sometimes stuck, and this We need a culture of acceptable sometimes services and supports is especially true in measuring failure, learning and improvement, cost more to provide than the innovation. It’s time to focus on this. and a system that reinforces and savings they offset. However this supports that. The future has to be The leaders who take this on, not doesn’t mean they aren’t important a learning future, where there is only as a technical challenge, but to improving people’s lives and willingness and permission to fail also as a leadership and cultural building stronger communities. and to share lessons. There is a change piece, will thrive. history of avoiding sharing negative Professor Kristy Muir is Chief outcomes. I’ve worked on many Executive Officer of the Centre evaluations and research projects for Social Impact that weren’t approved for public release, and I’ve seen failures repeated because lessons weren’t shared. Leadership is needed to

DESIGN TRAIN RESEARCH EMPOWER

Learn more futuresocial.org 30 ISSUE/17 MAY 2017

VCOSS Sector

To see more images scenes of these events visit VCOSS 70TH VCOSS marked its 70th anniversary with an official reception at Government House in December, hosted by VCOSS Patron, ANNIVERSARY the Governor of Victoria, Linda Dessau.

VCOSS 2016 The Choir of Hard Knocks performed at the 2016 VCOSS AGM, where Alison McClelland was also awarded VCOSS Life Membership. AGM Insight SOCIAL INNOVATION 31

CO-DESIGN People from across the community sector explored the ‘ins and outs’ of co-design at an interactive forum in December. FORUM

CEO AND ‘Planning for the care workforce of the future’ was the hot topic at VCOSS’ 2016 CEO and President Forum, where VCOSS’ PRESIDENT ‘Communities taking power’ report was also launched. FORUM www.vcoss.org.au

@vcoss /VCOSS