Members can now access a new Business Support Forum [Members/Forums/Business Support Forum]

The purpose of this Forum is to provide a library of resources to members to help them navigate their day to day business and keep up to date with legislative changes.

Information in this forum includes:

• Insurance resources from Aviso Broking
• HR/IR resources from Community Management Solutions (CMS)

As further resources come to hand they will be added to this Forum.

Please refer to the Forum for changes to the Fair Work Act 2009, as well as information on HR and IR Laws courtesy of Community Management Solutions (CMS).  QSEC will shortly be advertising a Webinar to highlight these important changes to members.

Late last year, the Federal Government called for submissions on the next Federal Budget.

SEA's submission started with a question: what Federal investment is needed to help unlock the impact of social enterprise?, bringing people across the sector together to build an answer.

How was it developed?

Last year, the sector co-designed its mission - the areas of public impact it seeks to make and is well suited to. Another mapped the infrastructure needed to work together nationally.

Answering the question built on these foundations.

225 people registered to help do this. Of these, 88 participated in a survey, and 114 then participated in a facilitated discussion. During the discussion, drafts and suggested changes were all captured live by participants in Miro. These were reviewed, sorted, and cohered into the submission.

The goals of the submission were to:

• Develop a coherent sector-wide response
• Open up new conversations with the Federal Government
  

With this in mind, the submission was kept high-level, based on the areas of investment most participants agreed on.

What does it 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.

The sector is seeking a social enterprise national strategy to change this; co-designed and powered by a partnership between the sector and Government.

This is challenge-led, focusing on national priorities where social enterprise can make a big contribution.

Key to the strategy is verified data and certification. Dependent on these things, social procurement, access to finance, outcome payments, and capability building all play a part.

The full submission is here.

While a Government process prompted this work, and at speed, this submission started our work together to shape the sector's ask of the Federal Government. Further conversations will be scheduled to build further on the national strategy in the months ahead.

More details; https://socialenterpriseaustralia.org.au/

Date claimer: Friday 12 May 2023 HOW CAN I GET INVOLVED? Date claimer: Friday 12 May 2023 Brisbane (venue TBC) Regional events: as advised South East Qld:  set aside the date in your calendar NOW! Tickets will be limited and will sell fast. Members will get first offer for tickets, so watch your emails for more informaSouth East Qld: Set aside the date in your calendar NOW! Tickets will be limited and will sell fast. Members will get first offer for tickets, so watch your emails for more information. Regional areas: Talk to your volunteer regional champions to see if there is interest in your area for a local event. Check your local contact here and get together to see how you can support an event near you!  Support our movement: Download the flyer and contact us to support the movement as a sponsor or a donor. Please note: we are NOT registered for tax deduction purposes, so donations will be gratefully received and receipted, but will NOT be tax deductible.

DOWNLOAD SPONSOR INFO HERE

Add your voice! 

Have you got a story or image to share? Visit our Queensland Social Enterprise History Pin Collection to make sure you add your voice to the development of social enterprise in Queensland!

QUEENSLAND SOCIAL ENTERPRISE HISTORY PIN COLLECTION 

Want to DONATE to our cause? It's easy! 

Jump over to our Sponsorship and donation page and help us to celebrate the social enterprise movement for change.

All proceeds will go towards our current strategic vision:

To support a leadership group of Indigenous social enterprises to articulate the intersection between Indigenous governance practice within the social enterprise movement.

This project will aim to be concluded by the end of 2023.

Please note: donations are NOT able to be tax deductible, as we are unable to access DGR status, so we thank you for your commitment to make the world a better place!

With skills shortages impacting many manufacturers, it is time to think differently about finding, developing and retaining the workforce you need now and into the future.

In this practical 3-hour workshop, facilitator Jennifer Gibson from Harrisons Human Resources will assist manufacturing leaders to:

• Develop strategies to recruit, develop and retain employees
• Identify skills of existing staff and how these can apply to current skill gaps
• Consider how advanced technology and process adoption can alleviate stress points, and
• Plan for a future workforce.

Who should attend? This workshop is suitable for all manufacturing leaders, particularly those in charge of recruitment and staff development.

Event Details Workshops are being run in the following locations.  Ticket cost is $50.00 and purchase can be made through the following links.

Gold Coast Griffith Uni, Building G42, Rm 1.08 Parkland Dr, Southport	23 February 2023 8.00am to 11.00am	Register Now
Toowoomba Burke and Wills- Lennon's Room 554 Ruthven St, Toowoomba	2 March 2023 8.00am to 11.00am	Register Now
Caboolture The Caboolture Hub- Seminar Room 4 4 Hasking St, Caboolture	3 March 2023 8.00am to 11.00am	Register Now
Cairns Barlow Park Corporate Room Corner of Scott St and, Severin St Parramatta Park	9 March 2023 8.00am to 11.00am	Register Now
Townsville Co. Habitat Conference Room Level 1, 33-35 Palmer St, Townsville	10 March 2023 8.00am to 11.00am	Register Now

Feeling overwhelmed after the holiday period? Queensland Government wellness coaches are here to help.

Small business owners can experience burnout, stress, or struggle to connect with family and friends after working through the holiday period. Our Small Business Wellness Coach, Linda-Ann Northey said early warning signs that may indicate people might need some assistance include having trouble sleeping, switching off, and feeling anxious or like they’re struggling to keep their head above water.

“The first step in dealing with these types of stressors is to tell someone. It all begins with reaching out and just saying ‘I’m really having trouble with this situation, and I need some help,” says Linda-Ann.

In a free, confidential, one-on-one session, you can access an experienced and qualified small business wellness coach to get advice and assistance with your personal situation.

Our business wellness coaches can help you take the right step and look after your business’ greatest asset – you. To learn more and to find your local coach, click here.

Local businesses, community groups and not-for-profits can now find more grant and funding opportunities through Brisbane City Council’s new Funding Finder. This free service gives users access to GrantGuru’s national database of grant programs via Council’s website.

Council’s Funding Finder tool allows users across Brisbane to find and keep track of potential funding opportunities. You can register and set preferences and filters to receive email notifications when grant programs that are appropriate to your organisation’s needs become available. 

Visit Grants, awards and sponsorships for more information about Council’s grants and to access Funding Finder or visit Funding Finder directly.

Grants can be a fantastic way to source the funding you need to bring your projects to fruition. Council is pleased to be able to help local businesses and community organisations to quickly and effectively sort through funding programs that are available at any given time and find the ones that could help to support your organisation’s events, operations and facilities.

More information

For further information about this service, phone Council on 07 3403 8888 and ask to speak to the Community Grants Team.

Our friends at Community Management Services have created a webinar for social enterprises about the new national HR/IR changes and how they can impact Social Enterprises.

Who is this for?

Anyone who is employing in these sectors: Disability services, Early Childhood, Age Care, Social Assistance. Co-operative work places.

This webinar includes changes to

• Multi-Employer Bargaining and Awards and low-paid bargaining streams (weekly rates).
• Pay Secrecy
• Flexible working arrangements
• Fixed term contracts
• New Paid domestic and violence leave laws, and compassionate leave
• The Impacts of changes to the Sexual and anti-discrimination laws

Members can LOG IN to the QSEC members portal to watch the full webinar and read the articles prepared for us especially by CMS. 

BECOME A MEMBER OF CMS  

QSEC will be represented at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Legacy Forum in March, and we are calling for members to add your hopes and dreams from your organisations and community groups. 

Get involved:

• Ask 10 other people in your community or organisation to share their hopes and dreams for 2032 and beyond by completing the Brisbane 2032 Legacy Plan Hopes and Dreams Survey. Send them this survey link (https://ask2023.typeform.com/2032hopesdreams) to be shared at the Legacy Forum
• We will be adding our combined voice to the survey through the REGEN Brisbane themes we picked up last year. 

Survey closes by 3 March 2023.

Take Survey

Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers challenges us all to rethink capitalism. Social enterprise is the best way to leverage this argument. 

Read the full article at this link.

In January 2023 QSEC submitted a proposal for Social Enterprise sector funding to address the Women's Economic security and empowerment through the Attorney General's Department.

As a Women led movement (over half of our founders are women), QSEC is committed to improving the economic and social situation for women and other underserved communities.

You can view our submission HERE