Australian Research Papers, Evaluations, and Research in Progress

Australian Research  

• Research Reports and Papers
• Evaluations
• Research In Progress 

Research Reports and Papers

Financial Inclusion, Market Failures and New Markets: Possibilities for Community Development Finance Institutions in Australia.

This Foresters Community Finance Occasional Paper written by Ingrid Burkett and Belinda Drew explores the nature of financial exclusion in Australia and argues that the development of specific and independent Community Development Finance Institutions could make a significant contribution to addressing this exclusion.

http://www.foresters.org.au/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/PossibiltiesforCommunityDevelopmentFinanceInstituionsinAustralia.pdf

Health, Wellbeing and Community Enterprise: The Role of Local Government

This research report details the research methodology and findings of a research project led by Jo Barraket which aimed to (1) examine the relationship between health and economic participation through the case of community enterprise; and (2) develop a set of practical resources to assist local governments to facilitate the development of sustainable community enterprise in Victoria. In addition to the research report, a resource guide and checklist were developed to provide practical ideas for local governments considering engaging with community enterprise development.

Report, resource guide, and checklist available at https://wiki.qut.edu.au/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=89757743

Investing in People: ILMs as Pathways to Employment

Getting the long-term jobless into mainstream employment is a major challenge for Australian governments, especially in areas of concentrated disadvantage.  The Brotherhood of St Laurence’s approach, also used effectively overseas, is to use an Intermediate Labour Market (ILM) as a bridge between long-term unemployment and the mainstream labour market.  This research report, by Kemran Mestan and Rosanna Scutella with the Allen Consulting Group, presents initial findings about the effectiveness of the Brotherhood’s ILM programs, drawing on interviews with staff and participants and also proposing a framework for a cost-benefit analysis.

http://www.bsl.org.au/pdfs/investing_in_people_ILMs_print.pdf

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust of Australia fellowship report

This report, by 2008 Churchill Fellow Joanne McNeil, outlines the role of government in supporting and promoting the growth of social enterprise, and the associated practice of social impact assessment, with specific recommendations for public sector involvement in Australia.

https://wiki.qut.edu.au/pages/viewpage.action?pageId=89757676

Evaluations

Growing Community Enterprise: An evaluation of the Community Enterprise Development Initiative

Written by Sharon Bond and published by the Brotherhood of St Laurence, this is the final evaluation report of the Community Enterprise Development Initiative, piloted in 2005 and operating from 2006-2007.  In addition to publishing the evaluation’s findings, this report concludes with recommendations to inform future community enterprise development programs and the development of a community enterprise sector.

http://www.parracity.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/22572/BSL_Growing_community_enterprise_CEDI_evaln_2008.pdf

Mission Australia's Working for Renewal ILM Evaluation

An evaluation of Mission Australia’s UREEP, a social enterprise and transitional labour market program.

http://www.missionaustralia.com.au/document-downloads/doc_details/78-working-for-renewal

Research In Progress

To review more research on social enterprise in Australia and overseas, we recommend you visit QUT's Social Enterprise Wiki QUT’s social enterprise wiki https://wiki.qut.edu.au/display/se/Home.