Social Network Analysis

We map the relationships between people and organisations within a system to reveal how information flows, where influence sits, and where there are opportunities to strengthen collaboration.

With over 25 SNA projects delivered across government, health, emergency management, and community sectors, we bring sector-leading depth in applying SNA to real-world policy and program challenges.

Explore how SNA could help your work

Services  /  Systems Thinking & Strategy  /  Social Network Analysis

Understanding connections within complex systems

Social Network Analysis is a research method that maps and measures the relationships between actors in a system. Rather than looking at organisations or programs in isolation, SNA makes visible the patterns of connection, collaboration, and information flow that shape how a system actually operates.

We use SNA to answer practical questions: Which organisations are well-connected and which are isolated? Where are the gaps in referral pathways? How has a network changed since a program was introduced? Is information reaching the people who need it? These insights help our clients make better decisions about where to invest, who to partner with, and how to strengthen the systems they work within.

What makes our SNA practice distinctive

We've delivered more than 25 SNA projects since 2014, making us one of Australia's most experienced SNA consulting teams in the government and community sectors. Our approach goes beyond producing network maps. We design SNA processes that are participatory, combining quantitative network metrics with qualitative interviews and workshops to build a rich picture of how relationships function in practice.

We also design our SNA work to be repeatable, so clients can track how their networks evolve over time. Several of our projects have included baseline and follow-up measurements, giving organisations genuine evidence of whether their efforts to strengthen collaboration are working.

SNA as part of broader systems work

SNA is one of several systems methods we use. Depending on the challenge, we combine it with systems mapping, causal loop diagrams, or System Effects to give a more complete picture of how a system operates. Our broader systems capability means we can help clients move from network insights to strategy and action.

How we use social network analysis

SNA is a flexible method. We apply it in different ways depending on the questions our clients need to answer.

Mapping partnership networks

Identifying who is connected to whom, the strength and nature of those relationships, and where key actors sit within a network. This gives clients a clear picture of their collaboration landscape.

Measuring network change over time

Designing repeatable SNA processes with baseline and follow-up rounds, so organisations can track whether their programs and partnerships are actually strengthening the networks they aim to influence.

Informing strategy and investment

Using network data to guide decisions about where to target funding, who to bring together, and how to structure partnerships for greater collective impact.

Identifying structural gaps

Revealing where there are missing connections, isolated actors, or bottlenecks in information flow. This is particularly valuable for service systems and referral pathways.

Evaluating collaborative programs

Using SNA as part of program evaluation to assess whether initiatives designed to build collaboration are achieving their intended network outcomes.

Building knowledge broker evidence

Demonstrating the value of knowledge brokers, intermediaries, and boundary-spanning roles by mapping the networks they create and sustain between research, policy, and practice.

Sectors where we've applied SNA

Health & Wellbeing Emergency Management Environment & Climate Employment Community Development Local Government Philanthropy State & Federal Government Sport & Recreation

SNA capability building and training

Alongside our project work, we invest in building SNA capability across the sector. We've delivered SNA training and mentoring for a range of organisations, from universities running research programs through to government departments looking to apply SNA within their own evaluation and policy work.

We regularly deliver the "Practising Systems: Introduction to Social Network Analysis" workshop through the Australian Evaluation Society, and have adapted versions for university research teams and government agencies. Our training covers the foundations of SNA, practical guidance on survey design and data collection, and hands-on analysis using network visualisation tools.

We also provide ongoing mentoring for teams applying SNA in their own contexts, supporting them through study design, data collection, analysis, and reporting.

Australian Evaluation Society Griffith University University of Melbourne Charles Darwin University Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

25+

SNA projects delivered

Across government, health, emergency management, and community sectors since 2014

SNA projects

A selection of our social network analysis work across different sectors and applications.

Featured Project

Climate Systems Hub Knowledge Broker Network SNA

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

We mapped and analysed the networks created and sustained by the Climate Systems Hub's Knowledge Brokers, who connect climate scientists with state and territory decision-makers to ensure research is translated into practical action. The work produced interactive network maps and evidence of the Brokers' contribution to knowledge mobilisation across jurisdictions.

Social network analysis Knowledge brokering Climate adaptation Federal government

Featured Project

Safer Together: SNA for emergency management networks

Country Fire Authority & Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Over multiple years and phases, we used SNA to evaluate and strengthen the collaborative networks at the heart of Victoria's Safer Together program. This included mapping local government partnerships, tracking network change over time, and facilitating SNA workshops with emergency management agencies to build their own understanding of how their networks operate.

Social network analysis Emergency management Bushfire preparedness Network evaluation

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Workforce Australia Employment Services SNA

Mapping the social networks of Workforce Australia Employment Services in selected regions to inform a broader evaluation of service appropriateness, effectiveness and efficiency.

Employment Federal government Service networks

Paul Ramsay Foundation

Mt Druitt Place-Based Services SNA

A highly localised SNA of services and organisations in the north of Mt Druitt, piloting the use of network analysis to explore a community context before targeted investment.

Place-based Philanthropy Disadvantage

Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Regional Engagement Network Mapping

Trialling an innovative SNA method to map engagement networks in regional Victoria, documenting relationships and common interests with a process designed to track change over time.

Community engagement NRM Methodological innovation

Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation

Local Prevention Program Evaluation

Leading the evaluation of a $6.5 million grants program across 17 funded projects, using SNA alongside case studies, focus groups, and surveys to assess network and prevention outcomes.

Health promotion Grants program Mixed methods

Maroondah City Council

ReadyMaroondah Community Resilience SNA

Mapping networks between community organisations in Maroondah to identify opportunities to strengthen relationships and improve community resilience to extreme weather and emergencies.

Community resilience Local government In progress

EPA Victoria

Hazelwood Mine Fire Emergency Response SNA

Using SNA to map EPA Victoria's community engagement networks in the Latrobe Valley following the 2013 Hazelwood mine fire, assessing how connections had been strengthened through recovery efforts.

Emergency response Community engagement Environment

Thriving Queensland Kids Partnership

Country Collaborative SNA and Systems Capability

Embedded as a learning partner with TQKP's Country Collaborative, using SNA and systems mapping to measure the role of partnerships within Queensland's child, family, and youth ecosystem and build staff capability in systems methods.

Child wellbeing Place-based Capacity building

View the SNAP Toolkit

Explore more of our systems work

SNA is one part of our broader systems capability. See how we combine it with other methods.

Systems Thinking & Strategy Our full systems capability overview

Systems Mapping System Effects, causal loops & participatory mapping

Strategic Planning for Complex Systems Embedding systems thinking in strategy & planning

Interested in what SNA could reveal about your network?

Whether you're exploring SNA for the first time or looking to build on previous network mapping, we'd welcome a conversation about how it could support your work.

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Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Climate Systems Hub Knowledge Broker Network SNA

Social network analysis Knowledge brokering Climate adaptation Federal government NESP

The Climate Systems Hub is part of Australia's National Environmental Science Program (NESP). Its Knowledge Brokers play a critical role in connecting climate scientists with state and territory decision-makers, ensuring that research is co-designed and translated into practical action for climate adaptation.

We were engaged to demonstrate the value of the Knowledge Broker network using Social Network Analysis. Working closely with the Knowledge Broker team, we designed a tailored and repeatable SNA methodology, collected and analysed network data, and conducted interviews to build a narrative of how the network had evolved.

The project mapped and analysed the networks that Brokers create and sustain, highlighting how knowledge is shared, strengthened, and mobilised across jurisdictions to inform climate adaptation and decision-making. The outputs included interactive network maps, quantitative network metrics, and a final report capturing both the quantitative and qualitative value of the Brokers' work.

These insights provided robust evidence of the Knowledge Brokers' contribution to the Hub's mission and supported ongoing reflection, strategic planning, and advocacy for the network's continued role.

Methods & Approach

Social Network Analysis Interviews Interactive network maps Network metrics

Country Fire Authority & Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning

Safer Together: SNA for Emergency Management Networks

Social network analysis Emergency management Bushfire preparedness Network evaluation Capacity building

The Victorian Government's Safer Together program brings together agencies, partners, and communities to reduce bushfire risk through collaborative action. A central challenge in emergency management is that effective response depends on strong networks between organisations that often sit across different jurisdictions and levels of government.

We were engaged across multiple phases of the program to apply SNA as both an evaluation tool and a strategic planning resource. Our work spanned several distinct but connected projects over three years.

Strengthening Local Government Partnerships evaluation

The Strengthening Local Government Partnerships program funded initiatives that supported local government, community groups, and agencies to work collaboratively to address bushfire risk. We evaluated the program using SNA to map the partnership networks, combined with case studies, surveys, and interviews. This was repeated across two rounds, allowing us to track how networks changed over the life of the program and demonstrate the value of the collaborative delivery approach.

Emergency management SNA workshops

Recognising the complexity of Victoria's emergency management landscape, CFA and DELWP engaged us to facilitate SNA workshops with emergency management agencies. These sessions helped participants understand how their networks operated, identify where relationships could be strengthened, and build internal capability to apply network thinking in their own planning and evaluation.

Methods & Approach

Social Network Analysis Online surveys Phone interviews Case studies Workshops Document review Summit workshop