The spirit of collaboration, innovation, and excellence took centre stage at the Ninth Annual SIMNA Awards virtual ceremony on Thursday, 30 November. Participants from across Australia came together to honour the champions of social impact measurement. The evening was marked by insightful discussions, a compelling opening address, and the recognition of outstanding contributions to the field.

The ceremony commenced with a warm welcome from SIMNA Board member Benjamin Jardine, and general housekeeping from SIMNA’s Executive Officer, Laura Glynn.

Opening Address by Hon Dr Andrew Leigh

Hon Dr Andrew Leigh, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities, and Treasury, and Federal Member for Fenner in the ACT, delivered a compelling opening address. Dr. Leigh emphasised the crucial role of social impact measurement in achieving positive outcomes for Australian communities. He highlighted the significance of effective measurement, robust data sets, and ongoing research, stressing, “You can’t manage what you can’t measure.”

Panel Discussion on “Growing Pains” in Social Impact Measurement

A thought-provoking panel discussion on the “growing pains” in social impact measurement followed. SIMNA Board member Aden Date led the conversation, joined by panellists Anthony Cavanagh, CEO of Ganbina; Kathy Richardson, Executive Director of Our Community; and Siobhan Henderson, Strategy & Impact Manager at Australian Unity.

Aden initiated the dialogue by proposing the notion that social impact measurement is currently in its adolescence, grappling with the typical challenges of this developmental stage. He then invited the panellists to share their perspectives on the aspects that excite them and the challenges they see within the field.

This paved the way for an in-depth exploration of the nuances of the adolescent nature of the field. The discussion covered the difference between social impact measurement and evaluation, delved into the role of technology in the field, and reflected on the growing interest and support for social impact measurement by government and funders.

Award Categories and Winners

After a short break, SIMNA Co-Chair Sarah Barker resumed the proceedings, introducing the award categories, and explaining that the closeness of the scoring this year resulted in having a winner and two runners-up in each category. Then it was time to reveal the winners and runners-up.

Outstanding Collaboration in Social Impact Measurement Award – Presented by Jess Dart from Clear Horizon Consulting.

Winner: Monash Business School | Measuring the Impact of The One Box Program

Runner-up: National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) | NDIS Co-design Developmental Evaluation

Runner-up: Redkite | Multi-Stakeholder Collaboration to Develop a Client Outcomes Framework

Innovation in Social Impact Measurement Award – Presented by Caroline Tomiczek from Urbis.

Winner: Hayball and Australian Social Value Bank | Measuring Social Value in Practice – A Pilot Study on CRT + YRD

Runner-up: GOAL College | Measure What Matters Survey Suite

Runner-up: ReachOut | ReachOut’s Social Impact Framework

Excellence in Social Impact Measurement Award – Presented by Lou Campbell from SVA Consulting

Winner: For-Purpose Evaluations | Guide Dogs Australia Social Impact Measurement Framework

Runner-up: Milk Crate Theatre | Milk Crate Theatre Social Impact

Runner-up: The Salvation Army | The Salvation Army’s National Youth Services Outcome Measurement

Celebrating Achievements, Inspiring the Future

The 2023 SIMNA Awards not only recognised the achievements of the winners and runners-up, but also highlighted a collective commitment to making a positive impact on Australian communities through improved social impact measurement and evaluation practices. The collaborative spirit, innovation, and dedication showcased during the ceremony illuminate a path toward a brighter future.