ADVOCACY
Social enterprise works.
The Payment By Outcomes trial is the first of its kind in Australia. The Department of Social Services is partnering with White Box Enterprises and 17 social enterprises to measure the effectiveness of jobs-focused social enterprises in creating long-term meaningful employment for people who face barriers to work.
The trial specifically focuses on individuals living with a disability or those eligible for the Community Development Program, who have been out of work for at least nine of the last 12 months.
Social enterprises are being paid for the first time for job outcomes they create at six, 12 and 18 months. These payments are designed to cover the costs of wrap-around supports.
Almost two years into the trial and results show social enterprises are incredibly effective in creating meaningful employment for people who have previously been out of work for at least nine of the last 12 months.
Further research undertaken by White Box shows how social enterprise compares to existing Disability Employment Services (DES) with a social enterprise outperforming on retention, individual earnings and cost savings to government. The full report is available below.
Comparable retention rates: social enterprise v Disability Employment Services (Taylor Fry report, June 2024)
Progressive results of the Payment By Outcomes Trial
As at 30 June 2024, there were 132 participants who re/entered work and enrolled in the PBO Trial.
88
participants are in
award-wage employment with a social enterprise
24
participants have
transitioned to mainstream employment
66.7%
retention rate,
higher than the predicted retention rate of 62%
44
individuals have left
the trial or are inactive
17
participating social enterprises
Of the 132 participants:
67%
are aged 16-29 years
29/71
the percentage of
females to males
85.6%
live in a major city
– 14.4% live in
rural/regional areas
$863
Average fortnightly income earned by participants working with a social enterprise
390
outcome payments
have been earned*
*13-fortnights working with a social enterprises and earning at least $558 per fortnight,
and/or 26-fortnights working with a competitive employer and earning at least $929 per fortnight).
Data talks
Our mission at White Box is to mainstream social enterprise.
To do this we’re building our case with data so our country’s key decision makers can see just how valuable social enterprises are to individuals, our communities and the economy.
Year 2 CSI Evaluation
CSI Swinburne completed its second year independent evaluation of the PBO Trial. This is what they discovered:
2024 Taylor Fry Report
An updated report comparing social enterprise with Disability Employment Services. The findings present a compelling case for social enterprise to play a more permanent role in our national employment services system.
Year 1 CSI Evaluation
CSI Swinburne completed its first year independent evaluation of the PBO Trial. This is what they discovered:
How Social Enterprise Compares
We engaged Taylor Fry in 2023 to compare social enterprise with Disability Employment Services. The results are extraordinary:
Participating social enterprises
Impact Investors
This is the third PBO trial launched under the Australian Government’s Social Impact Investing Initiatives, however the first involving impact investors. A special thanks to Macquarie Group Foundation, Tripple and Hand Heart Pocket Foundation, the trial would not have been possible without your support.
