Core Principles for Social Innovation in Public Policy: insights, risks, and challenges from research in Australia

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What does social innovation mean and why are governments buzzing about it? This seminar will showcase the insights of an exploratory research study conducted with civil society and civil servants in Australia on the strengths, weaknesses, and value of social innovation in public policy.  

The talk will centre on presenting: the lack of conceptual clarity surrounding ‘social innovation’ in the Australian public-sector and issues that poses when it comes to public engagement, further, how civil servants emphasized the value of social innovation approaches lay in process, and lastly, seven key challenges for social innovation approaches in government to orient future research. 

The presentation will conclude with sparking a discussion around six core principles for social innovation to unite the field and address its lack of conceptual clarity. Arguably core principles are less rigid and more useful than a definition for social innovation; orienting practice and safeguarding public engagement with a flexible form of accountability in an emerging and evolving field.