The Centre for Social Impact
The Centre for Social Impact is an Australian research and education body created in 2008. It assesses and promotes integrated social change across a range of issues including health, children and young people, ageing and , and employment, population diversity and mobility, and housing.
CSI was founded to meet the main recommendation of a taskforce on philanthropy in higher education co-chaired by Peter Fritz AO and Professor Ian Young AO. Its inaugural CEO was Peter Shergold AC. The Centre is currently headed by Professor Kristy Muir. It is a collaboration of academics and researchers based at three Universities in New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia - UNSW Sydney, Swinburne University of Technology and The University of Western Australia.
CSI is funded by a Government of Australia endowment of $12.5 million and matching funds from private partners including the Macquarie Group Foundation, AMP, National Australia Bank and PwC.
CSI has worked with government agencies, commercial firms and not-for-profit organisations on over 30 research projects and has developed an extensive post-graduate program as part of its work in assessing the social impact of government and philanthropic activities. Its projects include a map of Australia's "Social Pulse" to assess national progress on social issues.
