What is the TTL Fund?
The Try, Test and Learn (TTL) Fund was established in 2016 to design, implement and test new ideas or policy responses to improve workforce participation or work capacity for priority groups identified as being at high risk of long-term welfare dependence. Drawing on insights from the Australian Priority Investment Approach to Welfare, the fund supports projects aimed at developing, implementing and trialling new and innovative ways to assist some of the most vulnerable in society onto a path towards stable, sustainable independence.
The 2016-17 Federal Budget allocated $96 million to the TTL Fund over four years. This allocation comprises $80 million for the delivery and evaluation of projects trialling new programs and interventions and $16 million for other implementation costs including data analytics, new technologies, stakeholder consultation and improved public data access.
A key aspect of the TTL Fund is developing a sound evidence base to support the design, implementation, and outcomes measurement of the overall TTL Fund and the individual projects that it supports.
The TTL Fund is guided by the following principles:
- New ideas, innovative approaches, experimentation and flexibility
- Accessibility, collaborative, co-development (including with members of the priority groups) and user-focused design
- A focus on outcomes and responsiveness to evaluation, data and stakeholders.
The TTL Fund will help achieve the objectives of welfare reform - that is, to develop a modern welfare system that supports individuals and families in Australian communities to live independently of welfare, improving their lifetime wellbeing, while maintaining a sustainable welfare safety net for those unable to fully support themselves.
Who is conducting the TTL Fund Evaluation?
The Australian Government Department of Social Services (DSS) Canberra, commissioned the Institute for Social Science Research (ISSR) at The University of Queensland in association with the Melbourne Institute: Applied Economic and Social Research (MIAESR) at The University of Melbourne to undertake an evaluation to assess the effectiveness of the TTL Fund in achieving its intended outcomes.
The evaluation comprises four key components: client journeys, stakeholder experiences, client outcomes and value for money.
The TTL Evaluation Team
The TTL Evaluation Team consists of researchers from ISSR and MIAESR. The team is led by Professor Janeen Baxter, Group Leader in ISSR and Director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Children and Families over the Life Course (LCC) and managed by Dr Jenny Povey, Principal Research Fellow in LCC and ISSR.
Project Timelines
The Australian Government Department of Social Services, commissioned the TTL Evaluation Team to undertake the evaluation in March 2018. The final report was delivered in mid-2021.
Final Report
Click here to access the TTL Evaluation final report and executive summary, via the DSS website.