Social Enterprise News

Announcing NSW's first Social Enterprise Festival!

Social enterprises are businesses, for good. They trade like any other business but exist to make the world a better place. And that kind of impact deserves to be celebrated and amplified!

Thanks to the City of Sydney and UTS, and with the help of lots of SECNA members who have volunteered to be part of the organising committee, we're putting on our very first Social Enterprise Festival in the heart of Sydney.

More than 60 social enterprises have already registered to run a market stall, workshop, food service or provide entertainment. Expressions of interest are still open so please spread the word.

We are also looking for 1-3 more sponsors so please ask any value-aligned organisations you know to get in touch with us about sponsorship opportunities for the festival.

We're expecting more than 1,000 attendees, looking to discover how their purchasing decisions can make a positive difference, and to be inspired by and connected to the social enterprises behind some incredible goods and services.

Bring your friends, families, neighbours and colleagues along for a fun day out.

When: 10am-3pm, Saturday 27 May

Where: UTS Business School, Sydney

Cost: Free

Based on the sector's pre-budget submission to the Federal Government, we're taking the message to Canberra.

Together with our friends at Social Traders, Social Enterprise Australia have organised a social enterprise breakfast event at Parliament House on March 27. 

The event will focus on the contribution social enterprise makes to Australia, the challenges it can help with, and the offer and ask to work with the Federal Government to unlock further impact.

Currently, 18 MPs and 10 senior Government staff have said they're coming.

People from the social enterprise sector - the state peaks (including QSEC), other intermediaries, practitioners, and philanthropy - will also join the conversation.

What will we say, in short?

Australia faces social, environmental and economic challenges that demand new responses.

The social enterprise sector can help.

However, social enterprise sits between traditional business and charity, so many fall through the gaps in the supports that exist. It 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 co-designed and 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.

We see the strategy being underpinned by data and certification. Dependent on these things, we also see it incorporating social procurement, access to finance, outcome payments, and capability building.

QSEC will be following up with local MPs on return to help spread the word about the advantage social enterprise creates for our communities. 

Expression of Interest applications for Ignite Ideas Fund Round 10 are now open.  Ignite Ideas funding is available to commercialise highly innovative and new products or services that are at minimum viable product stage or beyond.

The Ignite Ideas Fund supports Queensland-based small to medium businesses that have high-growth potential to undertake commercialisation projects that will strengthen key industries in Queensland, diversify the Queensland economy, compete in domestic and global markets, engage and/or benefit regional Queensland, and to create new jobs, now and into the future.

Two tiers of funding are available.

• Tier 1 - Up to $100,000 (excluding GST) for projects of up to 12 months duration.
• Tier 2 - Greater than $100,000 and up to $200,000 (excluding GST) for projects of up to 24 months duration.

For Round 10, successful applicants will be eligible for additional business development support through our new Ignite+ program. This program will provide support across sales and marketing, customer acquisition, competitor analysis, intellectual property (IP)/legal support, financial structure, connections to mentors and sponsors, and access and introductions to business and investment networks.    

Expression of Interest applications will close at 10.00am on Monday 27 March 2023.  For eligibility and application process details please refer to the QSEC Members Grants page or the website link.

A funding round has opened for applications to support action-based projects that address workforce issues and skills shortages across the Health and Community Service sectors. 

The opportunity to apply for funding is open to not-for-profit organisations, industry organisations, an enterprise of group of enterprises, to work collaboratively to design and implement sustainable place-based attraction, development and retention activities to meet gaps in local workforce planning and development efforts. Applications close on Friday 24 March. 

This funding is through the newly formed Queensland Care Consortium (QCC). CSIA is part of the QCC with Jobs Queensland, CheckUP Australia, Queensland Council of Social Services and The Services Union

Further information can be found at this link or on the QSEC Members Grants page.

Applications for Social Enterprise Growth Grants – round 2, 2022–23 opened on 1 March 2023 and close at 5pm, Thursday 27 April 2023.

This round of Social Enterprise Growth Grants will be the final grant offered under the Social Enterprise Grants.

Applications for Social Enterprise Growth Grants – round 2, 2022–23 are now open.

Grants will provide funding for activities, services or expenditure that build the skills, capability and capacity of the social enterprise. Funding requested must have a direct link to increasing business sustainability and/or employment.

Funding is available for the purchase of:

• production equipment
• digital equipment and systems
• consumables, resources or materials (specific to an identified growth opportunity)
• skills development and coaching programs
• business and strategic planning advice
• website development and upgrades
• marketing strategies.

Funding of between $5,000 and $25,000 (excluding GST) may be provided for eligible organisations to purchase equipment and resources, or access business services, to enable them to move their social enterprise to the next stage of growth.

MORE DETAILS AND APPLY 

On Monday we held our monthly webinar and were grateful for Community Management Solutions (CMS) and their Senior Consultant Craig Pollard who joined us to discuss important changes to Fair Work Act which will impact our members.

Heavily discussed were the administration considerations of the new family and domestic violence laws as well as changes to fixed term contracts, as well as change to Enterprise Bargaining, Respect at Work, Pay Secrecy, Flexible Work Requests, and Remuneration of work of equal or comparable value.

The recording is available for our Members under Learning Centre/QSEC Webinars & Recorded Resources.

Over the next two years, $4 million in funding will be available under the Palaszczuk Government’s Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program. The program aims to create training and employment opportunities for up to 800 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples This program seeks to ensure First Nations Queenslanders are linked to qualifications which lead to good jobs in their communities. This new grant program is a key action under the Paving the Way – First Nations Training Strategy and aims to support and respond to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ local and community employment, and skills development needs. Queensland’s Indigenous organisations are invited to apply for a grant to develop projects that address training and skills challenges or create job opportunities for Indigenous peoples in their communities. Up to $250,000 is available to these organisations delivering Indigenous-led projects that respond to local training and workforce needs in remote communities, regional areas, and Southeast Queensland. Up to $4 million will be available under the program until 30 June 2024. The first two rounds of the program are now open and will close on 4 May 2023. The guidelines for these grants have also been released today. Quotes attributable to Training Minister Di Farmer: “Queensland is leading the nation in job creation, and we want to make sure all Queenslanders have access to new and exciting opportunities,” Minister Farmer said. “Our Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant program will provide an opportunity for Indigenous-led projects to respond to local skills and employment challenges. “Collaboration and connection to communities will be key to this program’s success and I encourage Indigenous organisations with strong local relationships and partnerships to develop creative solutions and apply. “We know that jobs change lives and this program will help more Queenslanders develop skills, find meaningful work and contribute to their communities.”   Explainer/fast fact and or further information: The Queensland Government’s $8.3 million Paving the Way – First Nations Training Strategy is a key commitment under the $200 million Future Skills Fund. The projects will create opportunity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples that are Indigenous led, responsive and community focused. The grants program focuses on providing direct training and support to local First Nations people within their communities to ensure enduring pathways from training into employment within their local communities. Paving the Way also supports the Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-23 which seeks to ensure Queensland has trained people to strengthen our communities and keep the state at the forefront of new economic opportunities. Paving the Way includes actions and initiatives to help drive job opportunities through Indigenous-led training and workforce solutions, skills and training pathways that meet local workforce needs, and cultural awareness skills and competency. For more information or to apply for the Indigenous Workforce and Skills Development Grant visit: https://desbt.qld.gov.au/training/community-orgs/iwsdg ENDS Media contact – Nicola Field – 0497 940 285

If you are wanting to increase your knowledge and capability, this tools will help you gain an insight into your next steps.

The link to the tool is available here: https://spcp.thesocialdeck.com.au/assessment

White Box Enterprises are excited to share a progress update on the Payment By Outcomes Trial for social enterprise. This landmark three year trial is underway and providing us with the data we need to demonstrate the value jobs-focused social enterprise to people living with a disability, their communities, and the economy. As expected, participating social enterprises have started strong with employee retention rates at 93%.

Please see links below for further information:

PBO Trial webpage

Social enterprises start strong in PBO Trial

Luke’s story, ReBuild case study

Skilling Queenslanders for Work information sessions are held at metropolitan and regional locations across Queensland for each funding round.

The information sessions are open to community-based organisations with not-for-profit objectives, local councils and school Parent and Citizens' and Parent and Friends' associations.

View the current schedule of information sessions (PDF, 113KB) for the 2023–24 first funding round. Register to attend a session.

South East

• Scenic Rim 16 February 2023
• Logan 21 February 2023
• Gold Coast 14 February 2023
• Redlands 22 February 2023

Metropolitan

• Brisbane/Ipswich 2 March 2023

• Toowoomba 8 March 2023

North Coast

• Bundaberg 17 February 2023
• Fraser Coast 16 February 2023
• Sunshine Coast 21 February 2023
• Moreton 20 February 2023

Central Queensland

• Rockhampton 22 February 2023
• Mackay 1 March 2023

North Queensland

• Whitsundays 7 February 2023
• Burdekin 6 February 2023
• Hinchinbrook 16 February 2023
• Mount Isa 16 February 2023
• Charters Towers 8 February 2023
• Hughenden 23 February 2023
• Townsville 14 February 2023

Far North Queensland

• Cairns 21 February 2023