Here’s a concise guide to socially responsible investing (SRI) in Australia — what it means, who the key bodies are, how to find trustworthy products, risks to watch for, and practical steps to get started.

What SRI/ESG/impact investing means in Australia

• SRI (socially responsible investing) in Australia covers approaches such as negative/positive screening, ESG integration, thematic/impact investing, and active stewardship (voting & engagement).
• Many investors access SRI through retail and institutional investment products (including dedicated “ethical” superannuation options). (responsibleinvestment.org)

Key organisations and standards to know

• Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA): industry body that publishes research, runs a Responsible Investment Certification Program, and maintains directories of certified products and advisers. Look for the RIAA certification symbol as one signal of independently assessed claims. (responsibleinvestment.org)
• Responsible Returns (RIAA tool): searchable directory that helps compare certified ethical super, funds and banking products in Australia/NZ. (responsiblereturns.com.au)
• Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI): investor advocacy group that sets governance expectations and stewardship guidance for companies and super funds. Useful for understanding institutional stewardship practices. (acsi.org.au)
• Regulators: ASIC and other regulators have pursued enforcement where ESG/“green” claims were misleading — a reminder to verify claims and disclosures. (Example: regulatory action and penalties for misleading ESG marketing have occurred.) (Reuters.com)

Where to find SRI products in Australia

• RIAA’s certified-products directory and Responsible Returns are the primary consumer-facing places to find funds whose claims have been independently assessed. (responsibleinvestment.org)
• Many major superannuation funds now offer “ethical” or “socially aware” options — compare their exclusions, holdings and stewardship policies (not just names). RIAA and fund product disclosure statements (PDS) are useful. (responsibleinvestment.org)

Common approaches and examples

• Negative screening (exclude tobacco, gambling, weapons, fossil fuels above a revenue threshold).
• Positive or best‑in‑class screening ( tilt toward companies with stronger ESG scores ).
• Thematic/impact funds (clean energy, affordable housing, social enterprise finance).
• Active ownership/stewardship (voting, engagement with company management). (responsibleinvestment.org)

Risks and issues to watch for

• Greenwashing / misleading marketing: some funds have been found to overstate sustainability claims; verify with independent certification and underlying holdings. (Reuters.com)
• Concentration & performance risk: thematic or narrowly focused “green” funds can be more volatile; check diversification and suitability. (theaustralian.com.au)
• Inconsistent labelling and reporting: ESG definitions and metrics vary between managers — compare methodology, exclusions, engagement outcomes and voting records. (acsi.org.au)

Practical steps to invest responsibly in Australia

1. Decide your objective: exclusion-only, ESG-integrated risk management, or targeted impact (social/environmental outcomes).
2. Use RIAA/Responsible Returns to shortlist certified products and advisers. Verify the RIAA certification and read the fund’s PDS and reporting. (responsiblereturns.com.au)
3. Review holdings, exclusions and engagement/voting policies (look for published voting records and stewardship reports). (acsi.org.au)
4. Check fees, diversification and how the option fits your retirement or investment goals (especially for superannuation).
5. Watch for evidence of outcomes (impact reporting, proxy voting, escalation of engagement) rather than marketing language alone. (responsibleinvestment.org)

Further resources (good places to read/search)

• Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) — certification, market reports and finder tools. (responsibleinvestment.org)
• Responsible Returns (directory of certified super/funds). (responsiblereturns.com.au)
• ACSI (governance guidance and stewardship expectations). (acsi.org.au)
• Mainstream news coverage and regulator actions (ASIC/press) — check for recent cases about misleading ESG claims. (Reuters.com)

If you’d like, I can:

• Search for RIAA‑certified funds matching a specific theme (climate, health, Aboriginal enterprise, etc.), or
• Compare the “socially aware” options of a few named Australian super funds and summarize holdings, exclusions and recent performance (would require looking up current fund documents).