CENTRE FOR SOCIAL IMPACT
The Centre for Social Impact (CSI) is one of Australia’s most influential thought leaders in the area of philanthropy, social investment and sustainable communities.
In 2006, following an approach by Baillieu Myer AC and Peter Fritz AM to Prime Minister John Howard, the Australian Government commissioned a working party to research the development of philanthropy in the higher education sector.
The Working Group on Education and Training in Philanthropy and Social Investment comprised a number of senior executives from business, academia, government and non‐profit organisations. The Working Group was jointly chaired by Peter Fritz AO, Managing Director of Global Access Partners (GAP), and Prof Ian Young AO, Vice-Chancellor and President of Swinburne University. The Working Group operated under GAP’s ‘Second Track’ process that offers a ground-breaking approach to government consultation, allowing previously ad-hoc mechanisms for stakeholder engagement in policy development and decision making to become an accepted method of ‘fast-tracking’ solutions to key issues.
The results of the Working Group’s extensive research into opportunities for grantmaker education in Australia formed the basis of two major reports to the Government. The Working Group’s key recommendation was to create the Centre for Social Impact (CSI), a national center for philanthropy and social investment. Following the Group’s recommendation, the Australian Government has provided an endowment of $12.4 million (matched by industry funds) for the establishment of the CSI.
The Centre for Social Impact (CSI) brings together Business Schools of Swinburne University, University of New South Wales (UNSW) and University of Western Australia. It provides managerial education, executive support and research for the not‐for‐profit sector. The Centre is located at the UNSW and its inaugural head was Dr Peter Roger Shergold AC FRSN.
The value of and support for the Centre was recognised by a public lecture delivered by the Australian Prime Minister (then Deputy Prime Minister) Julia Gillard MP hosted by the Centre on 28 February 2008 and the official launch of the Centre at the University of New South Wales by the Governor‐General, Major General Michael Jeffery, on 16 July 2008.
One of the most significant initiatives of the CSI was the launch of the NSW Social Impact Grants in 2010.