Foundations in Social Innovation (FINSI) is a 20 week learning series based on everything we’ve learnt at TACSI about doing social innovation well.

After 4 years of development with the TACSI team we’re now opening it up to other participants. 

Hosted by TACSI’s Chief Innovation Officer Chris Vanstone, you’ll explore the fundamentals of social innovation – through TACSI’s work, key theory, thinkers, practitioners, and case studies from around the world.

The course is relevant to practitioners, leaders and funders who aim to do, support, or create the conditions for social innovation. Whilst the course is relevant for beginners, practitioners with decades of experience have also found it valuable.

Save $340 on the FINSI learning series, now available for $3,500 (or $292 per month for 12 months).

Your facilitator

Chris Vanstone

Chief Innovation Officer, TACSI

Chris started his career designing biscuits and razors before transitioning into social innovation over 20 years ago. As TACSI’s CIO, he’s responsible for keeping TACSI at the cutting edge of social innovation, playing a big role in the development of our practice, major initiatives and strategy. Chris’ goal is to democratise social innovation. He’s always striving to get important concepts into the world in ways that are clear.

Learning series summaries

Foundations for Social Innovation is made up of these 4 x 5 week courses.

  • FINSI 1: Social Innovation for a more Just Future (Friday 7 March - Friday 4 April). An introduction to the big ideas behind social innovation and the conditions to support social innovation at scale. Modules: What is good social innovation? Being a social innovator. Wellbeing economy. Systems for social R&D. Me, We, Us. Includes: An Aboriginal perspective on social-emotional wellbeing. A snapshot of First Nations social innovation in Australia

  • FINSI 2: Seeing, Thinking and Stewarding Systems (Friday 2 May - Friday 30 May). Understand your options for shifting systems: mindsets, processes and responses. Modules Thinking in systems, Modeling systems, Stewarding systems, Storying systems, Me, We, Us. Includes: First Nations perspectives on systems thinking

  • FINSI 3: Innovation, Imagination and Scale (Friday 6 June - Friday 4 July). Understand how to structure an innovation process to create and spread new responses. Modules: Innovation and ambition, From innovations to outcomes, Discovery and invention, Implementation and scale, Me, We, Us. Includes: First Nations frameworks for innovation

  • FINSI 4: Participation, Power and Allyship (Friday 1 - Friday 29 August). Understand how to bring together diverse expertise for innovation and systemic change. Modules: The what of participation, The how of participation, Co-design and peer to peer, Allyship and an Aboriginal perspective on participation, Me, We, Us. Includes: First nations perspective on co-design & Strategies for Allyship

Foundations in Social Innovation learning series

More detail on each of the four courses included

What learners said

“Learning about social innovation from people who practice it every day is the best way to get a comprehensive and applied view on the subject. The programme is curated in such a way that it is very easy to start applying concepts, models, theories to any project focused on social change. I highly recommend it.”

Andrea Corrales, Social Innovation Consultant and Academic

“Foundations in Social Innovation creates a much needed space for those practicing and interested in social innovation to explore in depth the current practices and methods in Australia and the world. The course foregrounds First Nations wisdom and masterfully weaves stories and practice with what these concepts mean for your context. Highly recommended for those looking for a well rounded, carefully crafted experience that prioritises learning, reflection and connection.”

Participant, 2021

“Chris casts the net of this course broad enough that both Social Innovators and people from adjacent fields will find new value and stretch within the diverse content but also deep enough that it will likely provoke revelations for all. The group dialogues accompanying each module allow the time to explore topics deeply and draw parallels with your own practice. I also don't know of another course that more comprehensively weaves First Nations storytelling throughout.”

Participant, 2022

“Cost effective and high value for money introduction that isn't a large time commitment and allows for further self guided exploration. ”

Manager, NDIS Services, Youth Options, 2024

“[What I liked most was] the diversity of the content. The podcast overview with the opportunity to dive deeper with links to other resources. Opportunity to learn with my team and others and the conversation in the weekly webinar. The deep expertise of the facilitator. ”

Participant, 2024

“I like the general presentation of information, sometimes dense topics are covered through audio, visuals and engaging conversations. Makes learning the material easier. I love!! weekly catch up with other students from diverse professions. I have learnt just as much from their experiences. [my ah-ha moment was] that thinking in systems comes naturally to us. We just need to vision a world where the "normal" structures are different or don't exist at all.”

Participant, 2024