Social Enterprise News

The Australian School of Employment's Self-Employment Assistance Program funded by the Australian Government offers valuable support to social entrepreneurs aiming to kickstart or expand their small or micro-businesses.

Key features of this free program include monthly private business mentoring, where participants can work with a mentor of their choice for 12 months. These mentors offer expert guidance to help entrepreneurs achieve profitability and make successful pivots.

The mentoring sessions can be conducted virtually or in-person in Brisbane City or Moreton Bay. Fortnightly group workshops and masterclasses are also offered, providing valuable insights and knowledge to foster business growth and development. These interactive sessions enable entrepreneurs to learn from experts and exchange ideas with fellow participants.

Eligible participants can receive income support for 39 weeks during the critical initial stages of their business too. This comprehensive program equips QSEC members with the resources and guidance to succeed in their entrepreneurial ventures.

Learn more and apply here!

The brand new program WiRE Fast-track is a trailblazing initiative, helping rural, regional and remote female founders stay ahead of the curve by helping them to build and grow their ventures with Smart Tools, Creative Ideas, and Proven Strategies. 

They are kicking this off with a set of FREE AI pop up workshops across regional Australia (including an online one too!). Register for those here.

Learn more about the program here!

Apply now - applications close 4th September!

The Startup Onramp Female Founders Pre-Accelerator is an 8-week part-time online incubator to help startups get ready to launch and grow. It gives founders the knowledge, connections and guidance they need to build a successful company. It is Australia’s leading program for early-stage startup founders and has been completed by more than 500 entrepreneurs from all around Australia.

Find out more & apply here.

A new cohort of 14 dynamic social enterprises throughout Australia have begun amp foundation’s tomorrow makers program and Impact Boom is the proud delivery partner.

These passionate, purpose-led entrepreneurs are responding to a vast range of issues & challenges in their local communities and beyond.

After a highly competitive application process from across Australia, the selected entrepreneurs and their teams shone through as passionate leaders deeply driven to create a positive impact and to prove that business can be a force for good.

These inspiring social entrepreneurs are well worth watching as they evolve, develop their enterprises and expand their impact.

Read more at Impact Boom's site here!

Catalysr have their Accelerate program open for applications! They want to support tech and social enterprise start ups.

The Accelerate Program is three months long, will be offered to up to 25 startups.

Starting with a Startup Bootcamp, you’ll be paired with an Entrepreneur in Residence who will act as your mentor throughout the program. You’ll meet with your EiR once a week to check in on your progress and get help with your goals. In addition to this, you‘ll attend weekly events hosted by the Catalysr team every Wednesday night. The program’s weekly time commitment is approximately 2 - 3 hours (outside of normal business hours). More details on the program events below:

• Startup Bootcamp: During this time, you’ll pitch to EiR’s, the cohort and Catalysr team. We’ll also allocate your EiR and go over your roadmap for the program.

• Intensive Mentorship: Weekly meetings with your EiR to keep you accountable and help you reach your business goals.

• Weekly Events: Mixer events with mentors, investors & funders, Office Hours with industry experts, service providers (accounting, legal, etc.) and hands-on practical workshops.

• Apply for Grants: In partnership with TechVisa, Catalysr Foundation will offer 4 x $2,500 grants to founders in the 2023 Accelerate cohort. The purpose of the grant is to help relieve the financial burden of administrative and/or operational expenses placed on the personal finances of founders during this early stage of growth.

The struggles of startup life don't end with the program. After the program you'll become a part of our community of 900+ alumni where you can get support, access resources and networks and share your journey with other migrapreneurs.

Taronga Conservation Society are excited to open applications for the HATCH: Taronga Pre- Accelerator Program 2023!

There is no doubt that we are facing a biodiversity crisis, with severe declines in global wildlife and habitat that have been described as “Code Red for the Planet”.

We require a whole generation of leaders, entrepreneurs, and innovators to bring change across every industry and corner of the globe. New technologies and ideas must be the at the forefront of tackling climate change and supporting biodiversity and conservation.

The HATCH Pre-Accelerator program aims to drive innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conservation and environmental challenges. It is for early-stage ideas that aim to positively impact Australian wildlife or the natural environment and sets the critical foundations for success.

Over six weeks this FREE online development program will help to: 

• Clearly articulate the problem they are addressing;
• Clearly articulate the solution to the problem;
• Develop their Theory of Change and Social Business Canvas, and;
• Develop a plan for first round market testing of you solution.

Applications close 4th September - apply here.

Social Traders held a variety of events over the last few months, highlighting the amazing work that social procurement is creating in Australia.

They've now released a list of winners.

See the list of winners here.

The 2023 Intergenerational Report projects the outlook of the economy and the Australian Government’s budget to 2062-63.

This is the sixth report. Its analysis and projections of the key drivers of economic growth will help inform and improve public policy settings to better position Australia for the next 40 years.

The report considers 5 major forces affecting the coming decades:

• population ageing
• technological and digital transformation
• climate change and the net zero transformation
• rising demand for care and support services
• geopolitical risk and fragmentation.

View the report here.

A new cohort of 13 experienced women throughout south east Queensland have started Impact Boom's FEMALE FOUNDERS FORWARD accelerator program. 

Designed for purpose-led entrepreneurs, each of these female led innovative enterprises are responding to a vast range of local & global challenges.

Read more here.

The HATCH Pre-Accelerator program aims to drive innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing conservation and environmental challenges. It is for early-stage ideas that aim to positively impact Australian wildlife or the natural environment and sets the critical foundations for success.

Over six weeks this FREE online development program will help to: 

• Clearly articulate the problem they are addressing;
• Clearly articulate the solution to the problem;
• Develop their Theory of Change and Social Business Canvas, and;
• Develop a plan for first round market testing of you solution.

Learn more here!