Social Ventures Australia

10/06/2026

Student disengagement is one of the most pressing issues currently facing our schools.

Until now, educators have relied mostly on attendance records to identify when a young person disengages, but by the time a student starts consistently avoiding school, it’s often too late.

“We now have the right people with the right information at the right time.”

Clayton Reedie is part of a group of educational leaders piloting a new education innovation in 40 Australian schools which uncovers early warning signs of disengagement at school.

The findings are already informing new strategies to ensure kids stay in school and thrive. Find out how 👇 https://www.socialventures.org.au/ways-to-support-sva/acting-early-to-improve-education-outcomes-for-australias-young-girls/

🤝 We are seeking philanthropic partners to help us expand the pilot so more teachers and school leaders have access to these critical insights. Please get in touch if you’re interested in supporting this work, or in learning about our other innovations tackling disadvantage across the early years, housing and employment.

New data to help educators identify early warning signs of disengagement long before they appear.

02/06/2026

Are we making a difference? What difference?

In partnership with SIMNA, SVA is once again hosting the 2 day accredited Social Value and SROI practitioner training in 📌 Melbourne, on 15 & 16 June.

Led by Simon Faivel, this course is interactive and focused on applying a practical framework to understand, measure and value the most important outcomes to inform better strategic decisions.

This is the perfect time to build your skills to support the implementation of your organisation's strategy.

Find out more 🔗 https://www.socialventures.org.au/about-us/consulting/social-value-sroi-training/

26/05/2026

Labour market conditions are tough right now, and many young people feel uncertain for their future.

At the same time, too many tech roles still rely on university degrees as the default entry point. That leaves capable young people locked out before they even get a chance.
Then there are organisations like DXC Technology that are actively creating different pathways.
Our latest case study from the Employer Innovation Lab follows DXC Technology’s work to explore new entry points into tech for young people without degrees.

Read the full story 👇

DXC Technology is removing barriers for young people without degrees to enter the tech workforce with the Employer Innovation Lab.

24/05/2026

Social Ventures Australia has been selected as a grant recipient under the Workforce Australia Local Jobs program. A total of 49 organisations will work on local employment needs, supporting individuals and helping people get jobs, access training, and create pathways leading to jobs across Australia.

For our team, this grant will help deliver the next Employer Innovation Lab in Western Melbourne. We’ll be working directly with employers to remove barriers that young people in Melbourne's West face to accessing sustainable employment.
We’re currently seeking medium to large employers with early career opportunities in the area. Participation is free and places are limited - the next Lab cohort starts in June.

For more information, contact the Social Ventures Australia Employment Team: [email protected]

Workforce Australia Local Jobs is funded by the Australian Government Department of Employment and Workplace Relations.

22/05/2026

Student engagement is one of the most pressing issues facing Australian schools. Right now, it’s largely measured using attendance data, but an innovative new program we’re piloting is picking up early warning signs of disengagement, before they start affecting attendance or academic results.

Today the Education Engagement Taskforce (a partnership led by SVA and The Engagement Platform (TEP)) published the first national report on student engagement in Australian schools. It reveals that primary school girls in Australia are showing surprisingly early signs of disengagement from school. This new data is critical because it gives our educators and principals a chance to act early to keep more kids learning and thriving at school.

Find out more here 👇

First findings from the Education Engagement Taskforce, drawing on 16,000 student responses across five states and territories, show warning signs of disengagement long before they appear in absence data, including a sharp engagement cliff between Year 7 and 9.

14/05/2026

SVA welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to end the youth housing penalty through the introduction of the new Youth Housing Supplement in this year’s budget.

A big congratulations to the campaign for their tireless advocacy efforts, and to everyone who has championed the need for better housing outcomes for young Australians.

We’re proud to have contributed to the evidence base for this reform, through our ‘Youth Housing in Australia’ paper. Our research investigated the economic productivity case for investing in youth housing, demonstrating that stable housing combined with the right supports can lead to transformational outcomes for young Australians, particularly across education and employment.

Read the full report: https://www.socialventures.org.au/about/publications/youth-housing-in-australia/

We know there is no single or simple fix to the housing crisis, and that a wide range of solutions will be needed in the years ahead. But today, we celebrate the dedication and success of the advocates who have brought the need for every young Australian to have a a safe place to call home to the forefront of the national agenda.

Melbourne City Mission - MCM

An evidence review of youth housing, its impact on young peoples’ employment and education outcomes, and the economic case for investment.

08/05/2026

📢 Massive win for children and families

We welcome the Albanese Government’s announcement today to begin consultations on a national Early Childhood and Care Commission to steward a more coordinated early learning system that delivers better support for children and families.

This is an important milestone and reflects the collaboration and advocacy of families and our early years sector partners over many years. We look forward to engaging in the consultation process to ensure the Commission has the authority and tools it needs to shape a world‑class early years system that puts children at the centre.

A Commission is one of the key elements discussed in the ECEC Reform Blueprint we contributed to earlier this year: https://bit.ly/4tp8Isi

Thrive by Five, Minderoo Foundation, Anthony Albanese, Jason Clare

17/04/2026

Two months on from its launch at Parliament House, the evidence in our recent research continues to resonate strongly.

Commissioned by Melbourne City Mission - MCM for the Home Time campaign, SVA explored the impacts of youth housing from a productivity lens. The research demonstrates how homelessness disrupts education and workforce participation, and how the right housing responses unlock long-term economic and social gains.

The evidence shows that dedicated youth housing models deliver transformational outcomes. For young people accessing youth tenancies with appropriate supports:
- Housing stability increased from 27% to over 70%
- Educational engagement rose from 28% to as high as 77%
- Employment participation increased from 26% to as high as 70%.

Investment in supported youth housing delivers high returns for government, the community, and most importantly, young people themselves.

If you haven't yet read the report, explore the evidence here:

An evidence review of youth housing, its impact on young peoples’ employment and education outcomes, and the economic case for investment.

07/04/2026

The Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia is one of the most trusted and vital health services in Australia. It provides critical health care for people in remote and rural Western Australia.

In such a vast area as WA, it’s good to know how you’re making the difference that you are, and who is contributing to it.

The theory of change we co-developed with Royal Flying Doctor Service (WA) does just that. It allows everyone within the organisation to understand how they are contributing to the impact created and helps leadership make strategic decisions to improve service delivery.

Find out how: https://www.socialventures.org.au/our-impact/a-theory-of-change-as-expansive-as-rfds-wos-impact/

SVA built a theory of change that represents and captures every part of RFDS in WA.

26/03/2026

What does it take to shift workplace systems?

An independent evaluation of our Employer Innovation Lab has identified real practice change and positive outcomes across participating employers.

Over three years, the Lab worked with more than 40 employers across Australia to test practical ways to change everyday workplace practice. Collectively, these organisations are now employing 445 young people who previously faced significant barriers to finding work. More importantly, many have changed how their workplaces operate.

If you are an employer interested in shifting workplace systems, the report is worth a read.

An independent evaluation of Employer Innovation Labs, run by SVA, has identified practice change and positive outcomes across participating employers, collectively employing 445 young people who faced barriers at critical stages of their employment journey.