Evaluation of the Payment by Outcomes trial 3: year 2 report
Overview
This report details an evaluation of the Federal Government's Payment By Outcomes (PBO) trial – an initiative that trials outcomes-based funding for employment services that support people experiencing complex barriers to work. It highlights the significant impact of social enterprise employment on individuals facing complex barriers to work.
The trial also includes three impact investors and 17 jobs-focused social enterprises. A unique characteristic of PBO3 is that people are supported into the workforce via employment in ‘jobs-focused social enterprises’, sometimes known as Work Integrated or Integration Social Enterprises (WISEs). During their employment by jobs-focused social enterprises, people have meaningful, award-wage work as well as ongoing wraparound support within the workplace.
The report illustrates the outcomes of employment in jobs-focused social enterprise that PBO3 participants experienced in Year 2. It then outlines the service innovations amongst social enterprises that PBO3 funding contributed to in Year 2. To conclude, the report highlights what this evaluation tells us about positioning jobs-focused social enterprises in a reformed employment services system.
Key findings
- Social enterprises outperform traditional employment services.
- Social enterprise employment has a positive ripple effect in individuals’ lives.
- Social enterprises have varying unique employment transition models.