Newpin Social Benefit Bond

The Newpin Social Benefit Bond is providing funding to UnitingCare Burnside to deliver its Newpin program which supports children in out-of-home care to be restored to their families, or prevents at-risk children from entering care. Newpin is a long-term, centre-based, intensive support program that works with families to improve parenting so children can live safely at home. Parents and their pre-school children attend a centre between two to four times a week for approximately 18 months. The program includes a combination of therapy, parenting courses and parent/child relationship building.

The $7 million bond began operating in July 2013 and will run for seven years. The bond is funding four existing Newpin centres in Western Sydney and will pay for the expansion of the program to additional locations around the state.

Newpin has a solid evidence base and a track record of delivering successful family restorations. The restoration rate of children who enter the program is the key performance indicator which produces the interest rate and the repayment obligations of the bond. All family restorations are independently decided by the NSW Children’s Court. Neither UnitingCare Burnside nor investors make these decisions.

To participate in the program, families must have at least one child younger than six years old who has been in statutory care for at least three months, or who is at risk of entering care. Families can be referred by OOHC agencies, other government agencies, community organisations or they can self-refer but the referral must be approved by Family and Community Services.

Read more about Newpin.

For referral enquiries contact:

Adele Brookes Social Benefit Bond Contract Manager, Family and Community Services OOHCSocialBenefitBondsPilot@facs.nsw.gov.au