March newsletter
Our first read of last night’s Budget shows three dedicated social enterprise initiatives. What a step change to see social enterprise valued in the Federal Budget year-on-year. So many enterprises and advocates, over many years, have created this shift. Love and respect to all who work to create an economy that puts people and planet first.
The initiatives are:
$7.7 million to extend the Economic Pathways for Refugee Integration (EPRI) program for one year.
$1.2 million for a loans fund for jobs-focused social enterprises.
Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR) status for Social Enterprise Australia.
EPRI funds social enterprises to create employment opportunities for refugee and humanitarian entrants who face barriers to work. It was due to end in June this year and extending means continuity of service and outcomes in communities. Huge congrats to the enterprises involved. This extension is a testament to your work. You can read more about how EPRI is changing lives and communities here.
Congrats to White Box Enterprises for partnering with government to establish the Social Enterprise Loans Fund for jobs-focused social enterprises. This fund partly met our Budget ask of government, to pilot low-interest, flexible loans that enable social enterprises to sustain and grow their impact. About 13-16% of social enterprises are jobs-focused and all need access to capital.
DGR status through a specific listing by name in the tax law is enabling for Social Enterprise Australia. It’s also significant recognition by the Federal Government of the value of social enterprise and the importance of a national peak.
It’s positive to see ongoing support for social enterprise in a Budget focused on cost-of-living. The Budget commitments reflect part of what is needed to grow social enterprise in Australia. And there are still big gaps. A holistic approach - a national strategy for social enterprise - can bring existing commitments together, fill these gaps, and scale the impact of social enterprise.
Read what we called for in this year’s Budget here.
Two workshops on social procurement
In April, procurement experts from ArcBlue and Gov Ready will lead a dynamic two-part workshop series for social enterprises that want to secure contracts that drive business growth and social impact.
Workshop 1
Title: Preparing Your Social Enterprise for Procurement
Date and time: Wednesday 2 April, 12pm AEDT
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: Online via Zoom link: Register here.
Workshop 2
Title: Tendering and Applying with Confidence
Date and time: Wednesday 30 April, 12pm AEST
Duration: 90 minutes
Location: Online via Zoom link: Register here.
Speakers are Thomas Pollock, the Founder of Gov Ready which supports organisations pursuing government contracts, and Elisabeth Lette, sustainable procurement leader and QLD-NT Director of specialist procurement consultancy ArcBlue.
The workshops will be facilitated by Adele Laughton, CEO of Queensland Social Enterprise Council and Head of Government Relations at Social Enterprise Australia.
They are part of a series of free webinars 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.
Free tickets for Social Enterprise Jobs Summit
If you’re active in jobs-focused social enterprise but can’t afford to get to Melbourne for the Social Enterprise Jobs Summit on 11-12 June, we can help.
With support from Westpac Foundation, we’ve set aside a small number of Social Enterprise tickets for people based in WA, NT, SA or QLD. Applications close at 5pm on 17 April. More information here.
We’re partnering with our friends at White Box Enterprises to deliver the summit. It will bring together social enterprises, intermediaries, government and funders to learn from each other and build common ground to shift systems, for a future where all have access to decent work. More on the summit here.
Cheers,
Jess Moore
