This week Australia’s social enterprise leaders shared an invitation for the Federal Government to join an event in Canberra, focused on the contribution of social enterprise to a wellbeing economy.

As well as business for good leaders attending, we were joined by key Federal MPs, advisors, and public servants. And there were positive responses to what we said is needed, and new pathways raised. Tara Anderson from Social Traders and Jess Moore from Social Enterprise Australia shared the sector’s key asks of Government.

The Hon Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities & Treasury), presented on how business for good is driving a fairer Australia. Rebecca Scott OAM, CEO & Cofounder of social enterprise STREAT and Co-convenor of Moving Feast, also shared a motivating and unifying message - on how social enterprises solve Australia’s greatest challenges and social difficulties.

Key quotes from the event

“What you do has support from across the parliament. For those on the business side, you’re celebrating businesses. And for those who go into politics to help the most disadvantaged, you’re doing just that. The work of social enterprise spans the economy.”

-Dr Andrew Leigh MP, Assistant Minister for Competition, Charities and Treasury (read more)

“The passion, commitment, drive and knowledge was palpable at this morning’s social enterprise round table at Parliament House. Social enterprises exist to do good; they must have a social, cultural or environmental purpose. So it was inspiring hearing how companies are turning around the lives of people by removing barriers to employment, or tackling waste through innovative recycling methods among many other goals’.

- Dr Daniel Mulino, Member for the Federal seat of Fraser, Chair of Standing Committee on Economics (Australian Labor Party) (read more)

“Australia faces social, environmental and economic challenges that demand new responses. The social enterprise sector can help. However, it sits between traditional business and charity and does the job of both without the enablers of either. As a result, it is not realising its potential. We seek a social enterprise national strategy to change this; one powered by a partnership between the sector and Government. We see this as being challenge-led, focusing on national priorities where social enterprise can make a big contribution.” - Jess Moore, CEO, Social Enterprise Australia

“We have a huge and exciting opportunity to unlock the impact of social enterprise to create more opportunities for more Australians. The social enterprise sector and government have an agenda of wellbeing in common. But working together has been ad hoc. Imagine what could be possible if we partnered to supercharge the potential of social enterprise to solve our biggest social, environmental, and economic challenges? Now is the time. -Tara Anderson, CEO, Social Traders

Our message

There are an estimated 12,000 social enterprises in Australia. They employ about 206,000 people and make a shared economic contribution of $21.3b each year. They invest 29% of their revenue into impact, and 45% of their employees are people ususally shut out of the workforce.

We back sector-wide calls for a national social enterprise strategy that is:

• Powered by genuine partnership between the sector and Government.
• Challenge-led, focusing on national priorities where social enterprise can make a significant contribution.
• Underpinned by data and certification.
• Incorporates social procurement, access to finance, outcome payments, and capability building.

We invite our sector collaborators, partners and champions to join us in activating a national social enterprise strategy, powered by genuine partnership between the sector and government. Together, let’s continue building conversations around the role of social enterprise in building a strong wellbeing economy. Access the key materials provided below.

Learn more about the sector and its calls for a social enterprise national strategy:

• Business for Good: The size and economic contribution of social enterprise in Australia
• Dive deeper on the impact of social enterprises through Pace (Profile of Australia’s certified social enterprises)
• Understand what the sector needs through Social Enterprise Australia’s 2023-24 Pre-budget submission: a budget to unlock the impact of social enterprise
• Discover the opportunity of social procurement and the importance of social enterprise certification in Social Trader’s 2023-2034 Pre-budget submission: a better future through social enterprise.