NSW Social Impact Investment Expert Advisory Group visits Newpin Centre

The NSW Social Impact Investment Expert Advisory Group, which provides independent strategic advice to the NSW Office of Social Impact Investment, recently visited Uniting's Newpin Centre in Doonside.

The Group met to discuss recent achievements and upcoming work for the Office before taking a tour of the Centre, which works to bring families and children in out-of-home care safely back together.

"Meeting the program's staff and participants was a great experience.

"We've been very pleased with the program's results to date, and seeing a Newpin centre first-hand gave us insight to the positive impact the bond is having on people's lives," said Trevor Danos, the interim Chair of the Expert Advisory Group.

The Newpin program is funded by one of the NSW Government's two social benefit bonds, which aim to bring together the government, private and social sectors to achieve better social and financial outcomes.

At the end of June 2015, almost 62 per cent of children who have participated in the Newpin program over the first two years of the bond have been reunited with their families, compared to a baseline of 25 per cent.

The results of the second bond, The Benevolent Society (TBS) bond, will not be known until the end of its five year term. However, an annual progress report will be provided to investors shortly. The NSW Government remains encouraged by the early results of both bonds and the long term outcomes they aim to achieve.

The Expert Advisory Group will look for opportunities to engage with and learn more about TBS' Resilient Families Service in the near future. It will also continue to guide the Office in its work to build on the success of the bonds in 2016 with the private and social sectors.

3 Nov (from left): Jeremy Harris, Tim Bayl, Trevor Danos AM, Kirrin Winning, Patrick McClure AO, and Daniel Zeaiter visit a Newpin Centre.