Centre for Social Impact

We share a vision for a better world where people have the opportunity to achieve their goals free of discrimination and social inequality, where complex social problems are addressed, communities are diverse and thriving, and where organisations across sectors work together to grow positive social impact.

Flinders University is the Centre for Social Impact (CSI)'s fourth university partner, joining UNSW, The University of Western Australia and Swinburne University of Technology in its national network.

Established in 2008, CSI is a national education and research collaboration which catalyses positive social change through transformational research and education that is rigorous and purpose-driven, and by working with people, communities and organisations across Australia to grow their capabilities.

(National) Centre for Social Impact

Graduate Certificate in Social Impact

MBA (Social Impact)

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The way we work

We work with partners and communities which share our vision, bringing learned experience, lived experience and practice wisdom together in pursuit of an inclusive future.

CSI Flinders is part of the College of Business, Government and Law (CBGL) at Flinders University. Our activities are integral to achieving the College mission: to embrace innovative knowledge and practice to tackle the challenges of our time, with a strategic focus on technology, health and social impact.

Our shared vision with the national CSI network and CBGL positions us as part of a significant community of practice which is invested in our purpose of catalysing positive social change through research, education and leadership development.

Our broader community of practice includes our longstanding partner organisations in the government and non-government sectors, along with the people and communities which they serve. We work with vulnerable people, marginalised communities and the organisations which serve them to make sure that people who are experts in their own lives and the life of communities are heard.

A snapshot of our recent work

We build partnerships aimed at service and policy improvement and systems change. Much of our recent work has focussed on human service systems reform, including Collective Impact initiatives, alliancing, and orientating systems towards evidence and outcomes for people and communities.

Social Impact Bond evaluation

With the Department of Treasury and Finance (SA) we designed and are undertaking the evaluation of the Aspire Social Impact Bond, a pioneering social policy reform in South Australia. It is expected that about 600 adults who are experiencing homelessness will be referred to the Aspire Program over a four year period and offered support for up to three years.

Homelessness systems reform using Collective Impact and alliance models

We have a longstanding history of working with the South Australian Housing Authority (SAHA) and the housing and homelessness sector. This work includes our involvement in redesigning the South Australian homelessness service sector as a reformed outcomes-focussed alliance system. We also have a long association since inception with a large Collective Impact initiative to end homelessness (the Adelaide Zero Project). Currently, Associate Professor Selina Tually is embedded on a part time basis within SAHA to co-design the strategic outcomes framework for the specialist homelessness sector with SAHA and non-government and client stakeholders.

Outcomes-focussed social service systems reform

Our team co-designed the Department of Human Services' Social Impact Framework with multiple government and non-government stakeholders. The purpose of the work was to enable the orientation of the SA Human Services budget towards procuring outcomes rather than services. Elements of the work are ongoing – we worked on the large-scale piloting of the framework through the design of the Community Connections program guidelines, and we continue to lead the projects to design and undertake the Community Connections evaluation and to review sector support and advocacy.

Food relief service and systems reform

Through rigorous research we informed and guided a reform process to systematise the food relief sector through co-developing of a Charter with stakeholders including the Department of Human Services, Wellbeing SA, Anglicare SA, Foodbank SA and The Food Centre. We have co-designed a pilot social enterprise food relief program as a subsequent component of this work, as well as designing the monitoring and evaluation framework and undertaken the evaluation for the service. Our ongoing work in food relief reform, research and evaluation is funded by a prestigious Australian Research Council Linkage grant and numerous government and non-government partners.

Supporting lived experience governance

With the SA Lived Experience Leadership & Advocacy Network (LELAN) we are co-designing the monitoring and evaluation framework for LELAN’s work to advance lived experience leadership and governance. This co-design exercise also involves deep engagement with lived experience stakeholder groups.

Designing culturally safe services for remote Indigenous visitors to Adelaide

Drawing on our work on Aboriginal mobility which established the foundation for the Puti on Kaurna Yerta (PKY) project to accommodate remote Indigenous visitors to Adelaide in a culturally and physically safe way, we are working with the Department of Human Service to design the PKY monitoring and evaluation framework and undertake the subsequent evaluation.