We acknowledge the Traditional Owners/Custodians of the lands and waters on which we work and live on across Australia. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to collaboration that furthers self-determination and creates a better future for all. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website contains images and names of deceased persons.

The Australian Centre for Social Innovation

We work with: Commonwealth and state government

For over 16 years, we’ve partnered with Commonwealth and state governments to inform national and state-level policy and service reform.

We work with: Commonwealth and state government

Navigating complexity, delivering results

We have deep and broad experience working within the unique constraints and opportunities of government. We act as a trusted partner, creating collaborative spaces that bring together sector expertise, research rigor, and lived experience to inform national and state-level policy and service reform.

Talk to us about:

  • Leading or supporting projects and initiatives (navigating the constraints of government in the process)
  • Designing inclusive policies and services
  • Navigating complex systems to find leverage points for long-term, structural change
  • Building the capabilities of teams and sectors in co-design, systems innovation and other social innovation practices
  • Building reliable, evidence-based systems for continuous innovation and policy testing.
  • Partnering on long-term strategic initiatives

Our experience

We’ve co-designed over 10 state and Commonwealth policies across aging, housing, mental health, and justice. Recent government partnerships include:

  • Individualised Living Options Policy (NDIS): Partnered with the Commonwealth Government to design participant-led housing frameworks.
  • Aboriginal Justice Strategy (Victoria): A multi-year partnership with the Victorian Government and Koori Caucus to co-design systemic justice reform.
  • Statewide Ageing Strategy (South Australia): Facilitated a year-long statewide engagement and design process for the South Australian Government.
  • The Orange Door (Victoria): Developed the collaborative practice model for 17 domestic and family violence support hubs.

Listening to thousands of older people and consolidating what we heard into three strategic priorities necessary to reinvent how we age.


Image of the Koori Justice report

Featured case study:

Koori Justice Unit

Context: The Victorian government and Koori Caucus needed a self-determined approach to a systemic justice reform that moves beyond traditional, top-down public policy.

Scale: A five month intensive co-design process consolidating over 100 reform levers into 15 distinct structural opportunities for statewide impact.

The work: We facilitated deep co-design with Koori Caucus members and frontline staff to translate community voice into an actionable, Aboriginal-led model.

The outcome: Delivered five interconnected system initiatives designed to scale ongoing, Aboriginal-led justice innovation, and advance self-determination across Victoria.

Let’s design the programs, services and policies Australia needs next.

Whether you’re at the beginning of a policy review or looking to implement a large-scale service reform, our team is ready to help you navigate the complexity.

We also work with

Philanthropy

Philanthropy

We partner with philanthropic foundations on bold and future-focused projects, initiatives and strategies that centre innovation, lived expertise and outcomes for future generations.

Learn more
Primary Healthcare Networks (PHNs)

Primary Healthcare Networks (PHNs)

We work as strategic partners with PHNs across Australia, bringing social innovation practices to every stage of the commissioning cycle, with the goal to improve local healthcare outcomes.

Learn more
Not-for-profits and service providers

Not-for-profits and service providers

From ideas to implementation, we work alongside not-for-profit organisations to build the conditions for innovation and lived experience inclusion to thrive.

Learn more
Communities

Communities

We support community members and community organisations to strengthen capability for influencing and leading local change.

Learn more
Specialist partnerships

Specialist partnerships

We partner with values-aligned researchers and specialists agencies to enable them to use social innovation practices and examples/case studies in their work.

Learn more
Philanthropy

Philanthropy

We partner with philanthropic foundations on bold and future-focused projects, initiatives and strategies that centre innovation, lived expertise and outcomes for future generations.

Learn more
Primary Healthcare Networks (PHNs)

Primary Healthcare Networks (PHNs)

We work as strategic partners with PHNs across Australia, bringing social innovation practices to every stage of the commissioning cycle, with the goal to improve local healthcare outcomes.

Learn more
Not-for-profits and service providers

Not-for-profits and service providers

From ideas to implementation, we work alongside not-for-profit organisations to build the conditions for innovation and lived experience inclusion to thrive.

Learn more
Communities

Communities

We support community members and community organisations to strengthen capability for influencing and leading local change.

Learn more
Specialist partnerships

Specialist partnerships

We partner with values-aligned researchers and specialists agencies to enable them to use social innovation practices and examples/case studies in their work.

Learn more

TACSI Learning
Hub

Deepen your and your team's skills and understanding of social innovation – and your confidence to put it into practice. We run short and long courses for all skill levels in areas including: co-design, coproduction, allyship and working in systems.