Will more business-like social enterprises improve care?

As we hear more about looming federal public sector spending cuts and budget deficits, Australian governments seek new ways to meet diverse and growing human service needs. The challenges of an ageing population and a declining tax base combined with rising levels of disability in the community present an apparent perfect fiscal storm. Ministers, from Health to Treasury, repeat the mantra that government must radically adjust its spending priorities. In short, we are told we need to search continually for new ways of organising governance. The problem is this: how to make state and local government services more effective and efficient. In particular, the role of social enterprise is a cause for ongoing debate. The big opportunity on the horizon for social enterprise development in Australia may be the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).