Deloitte Access Economics Evaluation 2011

PilchConnect is pleased to release the Deloitte Access Economic report on the economic contribution of the PilchConnect program, which estimates the economic contribution PilchConnect's work in 2010-11 to be approximately $4.3 million.

This involved a direct contribution from program delivery of around $1 million, comprising about $300,000 from in-house functions (for example, the provision of training and telephone advice) and approximately $670,000 arising from brokering private sector legal advice provided on a pro bono basis. This contribution does not include the considerable economic value of policy and law reform activity undertaken by PilchConnect.

The service operates with a small team of lawyers and in 2010-11 cost less than $600,000.

Importantly, the report found that the reach of the PilchConnect program extends far beyond its direct economic contribution. It is the spillover impacts - generated as operational improvements to the NFP sector flow through to end clients and the wider community - which are the most fundamental dimension of the PilchConnect program. It is this effect which is the ‘efficiency dividend' of the program.

It was estimated that approximately 3,500 additional client services will be provided over the next three years as a result of efficiency gains in NFP organisations assisted by PilchConnect in 2010-11.

At PilchConnect, we appreciate the essential part that NFP organisations play in our community - whether by providing community services to people at risk of social exclusion or advocating for social change, the work of NFPs affect the lives of everyone. By helping NFPs with their legal and regulatory issues, we aim to ‘help the helpers' and support NFPs to get on with what they do best - furthering their missions and providing vital services to those in need. More information regarding the work of PilchConnect and how we can help your organisation is available here.

We would like to thank those who provided funding for PilchConnect is 2010-11, namely the Legal Services Board Grants Program, the Office of the Community Sector (Department of Planning and Community Development) and PILCH members. We would also like to thank those organisations that provided input to the evaluation process.

The Deloitte Access Economic report on the economic contribution of the PilchConnect program is available below: