The Department of Treasury and Finance leads work across the South Australian Government in social impact investment.

Social impact bonds (SIBs) and ‘pay by results’ contracts are about better outcomes for individuals and communities. Under these arrangements governments agree to share the financial benefits delivered through innovative social programs. Private investors may then provide the capital to pay for the program delivery, and then receive a rate of investment return that is linked to the success of the program, as measured against clearly defined outcome objectives.

Newpin

Newpin is a family reunification program, aiming to strengthen family engagement and functioning so that children in out-of-home care are able to be safely returned to their families.

The program is being delivered in South Australia by Uniting Communities. The first Newpin centre at Smithfield opened in July 2021, followed by a second centre at Port Adelaide in January 2022 and a third centre at Morphett Vale in January 2023.

More information about Newpin:

Resilient Families

The Resilient Families program is an Intensive Family Service providing families with support to keep children safe at home, in community and culture.

The program is being delivered by The Benevolent Society, which has developed and successfully delivered it through social impact investment in New South Wales. Resilient Families is funded in South Australia though a pay-by-results contract, and operates in the Local Government Areas of Marion, Onkaparinga, Murray Bridge and Mid-Murray (to complement other programs operating in Northern and Western Adelaide). Service delivery commenced in July 2021.

More information about Resilient Families:

Researchers at the University of Adelaide analysed data on baseline service usage, to support the development of both the Newpin and Resilient Families social impact investments. The background research is published here (external site).

The Young Parent Project

The Young Parent Project (TYPP) is a Family Support Service for young women, aimed at growing parenting capacity, enhancing community connections and reducing isolation, and facilitating trust and early access to support services. A pilot program was funded by the Paul Ramsey Foundation.

From March 2025, TYPP has been co-funded by the South Australian and Commonwealth Governments.
The program is currently delivered in Hackham, with plans for expansion to two further sites over the coming years.

WorkPlace

WorkPlace is a post-custody release program that provides short-term accommodation and wrap-around support that aims to improve employment, housing and reintegration outcomes for people exiting custody.

The program commenced in February 2025 and is being delivered by OARS Community Transitions, in partnership with WorkSkil Australia, at Cavan.

WorkPlace is also co-funded by the Commonwealth Government through the Outcomes Fund.

Aspire

South Australia’s first social impact bond, the Aspire program, commenced in 2017 and concluded in 2024. The program aimed to improve the lives of homeless people in Adelaide with the Hutt St Centre the lead service provider.

Over the life of the bond, 575 South Australians experiencing homelessness received support through the Aspire program.  The program achieved better life outcomes for these people, as well as significant reductions in their use of crisis services (including hospital bed days, convictions and emergency accommodation support periods).

An independent evaluation of the Aspire program was undertaken by the Centre for Social Impact, Flinders University and the University of Western Australia, and launched on 1 August 2022.

The Aspire program has continued separately to the social impact bond, with extensions through direct funding in the 2021-22 MYBR, and the 2023-24 and 2024-25 State Budgets.

More information about Aspire:

(external site)