Social Enterprise Australia

✨ Member spotlight: @tabooperiodproducts ✨ A 2016 leadership conference sparked a school holiday project for best friends @izzygmarshall and @eloise___hall . They went on to launch TABOO - a social enterprise that exists to end period poverty. "Menstrual health is a cornerstone of gender equity, public health and human rights," says Co-Founder Eloise (pictured). "Yet a lack of access to period products continues to undermine the dignity, health and agency of millions who menstruate." The facts: - Up to 60% of people who menstruate in Australia face barriers to period products. - Period poverty leads to poor school and work attendance, health issues and shame. - It costs the economy billions. 🌱 TABOO's solution: sell sustainable, plastic-free period products with a vision that "wherever there is toilet paper, there is also period care". All profits go toward eradicating period poverty through advocacy and supply of products to people who need them. TABOO recently joined us as Social Enterprise Australia's first South Australian Member 🎉 "We joined Social Enterprise Australia to be active participants in conversations that support the emergence and growth of the social enterprise sector," says Eloise. 👉 Find out how to join via link in bio. 📸 @flashpointlabs @tessnewtonphotography #SocialEnterprise #PeriodPoverty #MenstrualEquity #SocialImpact

Today is World Social Enterprise Day 🎉 A day to celebrate the thousands of people working in and for social enterprise across Australia and around the world - turning care into action and ideas into impact. This work matters. Social enterprises harness the power of business to innovate for social and environmental good, testing and scaling new ideas that strengthen communities and our economy. And momentum is building. The visibility and impact of social enterprise is growing every year. As Assistant Minister @andrewleighmp said recently, organisations that do good are good business; social enterprises are making the economy fairer and stronger, and changing what productivity looks like in Australia. Today is for the people who do the work every day; who put their time, hearts and energy into building an economy that puts people and planet first. 📸 Re-Story by @relove_au @thebreadandbutterproject @twogoodco

We're starting new work to strengthen the national strategy for social enterprise, together. We’re asking people from across the social enterprise sector to help: ✅ Refresh what already exists ✅ Build out the challenge areas ✅ Set clear, concrete goals. Your input through a short survey will help shape the strategy and the focus of our first online workshop on 27 November, where we’ll start co-designing the next chapter. Take the survey (open till 12 November) and join the workshop via link in bio. Together, we can get clear on the future we want - and how we plan to build it. Hear more from our CEO Jess Moore in the video.

Two weeks on, we're still energised by @sxswsydney 2025 🚀 Social enterprise had a powerful presence this year, with @whogivesacraptp @thesocialoutfit @plateitforward_ @ozharvest Ventures and others showcasing the innovation and impact of our sector. Through our three-year collaboration with SXSW Sydney, we supported social enterprises, people living with disability, members of First Nations communities and others with free passes, to be part of conversations shaping the future. This community of creative and caring people built networks, deepened relationships and learned together. 📸 capturing the magic at our free pass holder meet-up.

Are you a social enterprise working with one of these groups? 💛 People living with disability 💛 Members of First Nations and culturally and racially marginalised communities 💛 Concession card holders in the screen, games, music, arts and social enterprise sectors. If so, help us spread the word! We’re distributing free passes to @sxswsydney 2025 for people who identify with these groups, to make the festival more inclusive and diverse. Full-time students, people living in regional and rural NSW, and travellers from interstate will also be considered for a free pass. SXSW Sydney (13-19 October) features 1600+ events across tech, games, music, and screen, showcasing global innovators and bold ideas to shape the future. Applications close at the end of this month (30 September), so now's the time to secure a spot. Apply now via link in bio! Images: SXSW Sydney 2024 (credit Jess Gleeson), free pass holders at the Social Enterprise Australia meet up on Gadigal land.

Dr Kate Barrelle, clinical and forensic psychologist, designs programs that go beyond training; they help people grow and heal. Kate and entrepreneur wife Rebecca Scott, OAM have helped thousands of young people through their Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) @streatmelbourne . Now their work is going national. STREAT is convening an online learning community connecting WISE practitioners across Australia, for sharing, problem-solving and peer support. For newcomers to the WISE space or seasoned professionals with deep wisdom to share, the sessions are free and structured to support dynamic exchange of expertise and diverse perspectives. Commissioned by Social Enterprise Australia as part of the Australian Government’s Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI), learning communities help build capability in the social enterprise sector to grow social impact. The next session is Tuesday 9 September. Sign up via link in bio. Pictured: Kate with Magic, STREAT’s therapy-assist dog and key allied health team member. Favourite learning community contributions from Magic so far: random keyboard mashing and dramatic sighs during long meetings ❤️

Excited to announce three new judges helping us distribute free passes for @sxswsydney 2025 (13-19 October). Louise Tran (@ozharvest Ventures), food systems change-maker: "Different perspectives make ideas richer and solutions bolder." @shaunchristiedavid (@plateitforward_ ), employs 250+ people from marginalised communities: "Diversity on panels, stages and in audiences is key for change to happen." @drjudytang (@invictushealthau ), neuropsychologist and diversity advocate: "True innovation thrives when we embrace the full spectrum of human experience." They join Sarah Agboola, @realdiananguyen and @_bigrickenergy on the judging panel. To improve attendee diversity and inclusion at SXSW Sydney 2025, free passes are available for: 💛 People living with disability 💛 Members of First Nations and culturally and racially marginalised communities 💛 Concession card holders in the screen, games, music, arts and social enterprise sectors. Full-time students, people living in regional and rural NSW, and travellers from interstate will also be considered. If this sounds like you or someone you know, apply now via link in bio!

@impactnorthcommunity_ has launched its new membership model, connecting social entrepreneurs across the Northern Territory, and nationally through reciprocal arrangements with Social Enterprise Australia. As the Northern Territory’s social enterprise representative organisation, Impact North empowers Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander entrepreneurs to transform their communities through social enterprise. Through reciprocal membership arrangements, people and organisations based in the Northern Territory can apply to join both Impact North and Social Enterprise Australia with a single application at no extra cost. They can also apply to join peak bodies in Queensland, Victoria and Tasmania at half price. More on Social Enterprise Australia membership via link in bio - or get in touch with Kate Kutty, Membership and Engagement Lead: [email protected] Beautiful images provided by Impact North ❤️

Building an economy that puts people and planet first takes people working together to make it so. That’s the opportunity of a social enterprise national strategy, and the reason that Social Enterprise Australia exists. Social enterprise is a powerful and underused tool. To unlock its potential, we work with the sector to lead a national strategy, developed through research and sector co-designs and consultations that established: ⭐ Shared direction - vision and mission ⭐ Four priority areas - environmental care, people-centred services, access to decent work and community-led innovation ⭐ Agreed ways to work together - values and principles ⭐ A map of what we’ll build to support the sector to achieve our shared vision and mission and to live our values and principles ⭐ A commitment to active support for First Nations leadership, knowledge, and self-determination. Based on this work, we're coordinating and further developing the national strategy with diverse stakeholders. As part of this, we call on the Federal Government to partner with the sector on a national strategy - because it will take the knowledge, skills and perspectives of both sector and government to work. Stay tuned for more on how you can get involved. #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia

Award-winning social entrepreneur @eloise___hall of @tabooperiodproducts will join Lara Stephenson of Social Good Outpost and others for Wednesday's free webinar on impact measurement for social enterprise. Don't miss this one! 📅 Wed 13 Aug 2025, 12:00pm AEST ⏰ 90 minutes 💻 Online via Zoom link Join us for practical tips on: 🎯 Impact evaluation process and practice 🎯 Good data collection and analysis habits 🎯 Communicating impact 🎯 Delivering strong impact while being financially sustainable. This is a free webinar hosted by Social Enterprise Australia and funded under the Australian Government's Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI), to build capability in the sector to grow social impact. Register for this and explore other webinars via link in bio. Pictured clockwise from left: Eloise Hall, Lara Stephenson, Ishara Sahama, Daniel Teoh. #socialenterprise #socialenterpriseaustralia

Inspired by the concept that something as simple as buying a coffee can change lives and communities, @hamlet_hobart is tackling unemployment among people with disability and a skills shortage in tourism and hospitality. Hamlet has delivered more than 53,000 hours of targeted training and work readiness support to 765 Tasmanians with disability, neurodivergence and mental health concerns who face barriers to employment. At the same time, it's diversified its business from a cafe to catering and retailing, to build financial sustainability. As part of its commitment to the social enterprise movement, Hamlet has joined both the Social Enterprise Collective of Tasmania and Social Enterprise Australia as a Member. “Social enterprises need clear definitions, models and greater recognition, to unlock their potential,” CEO and Co-founder Emily Briffa says. “We want to work with our state and national social enterprise peak bodies to create a pathway for that, and to be involved in advocacy and policy work at state and federal levels.” Social enterprises in Victoria, Queensland and Tasmania can apply to join both Social Enterprise Australia and their state/ territory peak body through a single application, at no extra cost, thanks to our reciprocal membership model launched this year. This will soon include the Northern Territory, and we hope others in time too. Find out how to join via link in bio. Pictured: Emily, a Hamlet graduation, trainee Blanche. #socialenterprise

Join us for a free webinar exploring how to scale the impact of rural social enterprise. The Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) is bringing together different voices from across the social enterprise ecosystem on Wednesday 30 July. They will share insights, explore co-design opportunities and invite collaboration on the next chapter of building the structures that rural communities need to thrive. Webinar details: Title: Building and Strengthening Rural Social Enterprise Networks Date and time: Wednesday 30 July, 12pm AEST Duration: 60 minutes Location: Online via Zoom link About the speakers: ⭐ Ishani Chattopadhyay is CEO of socialenterprise.network.vic with more than 25 years of global experience in strategic advisory, impact entrepreneurship and innovation. ⭐ Florence Davidson is CEO of Christie Centre who has led development of four social enterprises in the Mildura area and champions place-based solutions and employment pathways as vehicles to improve equity. ⭐ Belinda Morrissey is CEO of the English Family Foundation and Deputy Chair of Social Enterprise Australia, bringing a focus on philanthropy's role in developing the sector to scale social change. ⭐ Fiona Smith is a design leader and Principal at @make_studios_hcd , working alongside government, education and social enterprise partners to co-design better outcomes for people and the planet. ⭐ Meg Allan is a rural advocate based in Mallacoota who works with ACRE to drive rural renewal, bringing her lived experience to supporting community-led action. This is a free webinar hosted by Social Enterprise Australia and funded under the Australian Government's Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI), to build capability in the sector to grow social impact. Register now via link in bio. Pictured clockwise from top left: Ishani, Belinda, Florence, Meg and Fiona.