Social Enterprise News

ActNow is the United Nations campaign to inspire people to act for the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Goals can improve life for all of us. Cleaner air. Safer cities. Equality. Better jobs. These issues matter to everyone. But progress is too slow. We have to act, urgently, to accelerate changes that add up to better lives on a healthier planet.

What happens when millions of people act together for our common future? A lot. Join the campaign to learn more—and do more.

The International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) has issued its first standards to provide a “common language” for companies worldwide to report on their social and environmental performance. 

The much-anticipated standards will require companies to disclose reliable and comparable sustainability-related information alongside their financial accounts to help inform investor decisions. The two first standards issued on Monday, referred to as S1 and S2, outline general sustainability and climate-related disclosures, respectively.

“For the first time, the standards create a common language for disclosing the effect of climate-related risks and opportunities on a company’s prospects,” the ISSB said in a statement.

They are intended to be a “global baseline” – it will be up to individual jurisdictions and companies to adopt and implement them.

QSEC has been actively participating in the National advocacy efforts, as part of our commitment to the National conversation for social enterprise through the Alliance for Social Enterprise Networks Australia (ASENA) and Social Enterprise Australia (SEA). 

After the joint creation of a submission with our state peak partners, ASENA representatives were asked to present to the Inquiry of the Commonwealth Government’s House of Representatives Standing Committee on Economics.

Alongside representatives from Social Enterprise Australia and Social Traders, representatives from state practitioner’s networks and individual social enterprises, our collaborative efforts were well received by the panel.

Collectively we advocated for the following: 

• Development of a national social enterprise strategy for the Commonwealth government (which is co-designed with the sector)
• Development of a Commonwealth government social procurement framework
• Access to affordable finance (including outcomes payments)
• Investment in the capability building of the sector.

You can read the Hansard transcript here 

We would like to thank Paul Quilliam (SENTAS) and Kylie Flament (SECNA) for flying the flag for ASENA.

The Gold Coast Tool Library are looking for volunteers!

Can you help?

All of their volunteer roles can mostly be completed at home in your own time!

Are you or do you have skills in the following with a passion for making a difference:

- Librarians

- Donation Ninja

- Social Media Master

- Administration Guru

- Event Hosts

- Tool Fixers/Menders

- Volunteer Coordinator

- Workshop Presenters

- Storytelling & Media

- Online Inventory Star

- Electrical Test & Tagger

If you're interested, learn more and apply via the link below.

https://toollibrary.org.au/volunteer/

As part of the Queensland's Government's Good people. Good jobs: Queensland Workforce Strategy 2022-2032, a new Queensland Vocational Education and Training (VET) Strategy is being designed to maximise outcomes from the Government’s investment in skills and training.

Employers, small businesses, industry groups, training providers, schools, job seekers, students, apprentices and trainees are invited to have their say to ensure government investment is delivering the best outcomes for Queenslanders, employers and communities.

A discussion paper plus an online survey are now live at www.qld.gov.au/qvetstrategy, with forums to be held online and across the state to gather the views of stakeholders and users of the VET system.

A range of stakeholders will soon be invited to attend a forum. You can register your interest to attend here.
Consultation will be open until Friday 18 August 2023.

If you have any questions, please contact the Queensland VET Strategy team at qvetstrategy@desbt.qld.gov.au or call 1300 369 935.

From our friends at CSIA: The Draft National Care and Support Economy Strategy from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

The Strategy recognises that:

• Paid care and support is one of the fastest growing parts of the Australian economy,
• That there is great demand for these services but that there are substantial challenges facing the long-term viability of the current system.

The Australian Government is projecting that they will increase spending across the Care and Support Economy from $60bn in 2021 - 22 to more than $110bn by 2026 - 27.

You can review the draft National Care and Support Economy Strategy and have your say by 11.59pm 26 June 2023.

Have your say on the draft National Strategy for the Care and Support Economy |PM&C (pmc.gov.au)

The Macquarie Group Foundation (the Foundation) is one of three investors taking part in the White Box Enterprises (White Box) Payment By Outcomes (PBO) trial, a three-year trial measuring the effectiveness of jobs-focused social enterprises in creating long-term employment outcomes for people living with a disability.

“The innovative nature of the trial, with its focus on employment outcomes for those who face barriers, as well as White Box’s reputation and track record in supporting social enterprise meet their goals, align with our social impact investing thesis,” says the Susan Clear, Director of Social Impact Investing at the Foundation.

“The hope is that, if it proves to be a successful model, it can be scaled and further rolled out, to become an alternative model for supporting people back into full-time employment.”

Check out the video featuring QSEC member yourtown.

Congratulations to QSEC member HelloGoodWorld for being awarded one of Australia Post's 2023 Local Business Heroes!

As Australia Post says:

"Small business, big impact.

Local businesses are the backbone of Aussie communities. After receiving a record number of applications, we’ve selected 100 Local Business Heroes from around Australia and we can’t wait for you to meet them all.

Our 2023 Local Business Heroes each receive a Heroes Package valued at over $5,000 to help them reach new customers and give their business a boost."

Check out more details here.

Congratulations to QSEC member Siobhan from Our Pixie Friends for being a featured speaker at the upcoming National Education Summit in August.

Siobhan and Fiona from Our Pixie Friends will be speaking on the following: "This session will include presentation as well as some discussion to enable teachers to walk away with added insight into students' experiences, what happens in the body and brain as a result of complex traumas and some practical knowledge of how to recognise and handle children experiencing severe anxiety."

Congratulations to Our Pixie Friends again!

Learn more & book your tickets here if you're interested in going - use code OPIF10 to get 10% off tickets!

Help inform the QMHC activities and priorities

The Queensland Mental Health Commission's 2023 Taking the Pulse survey is now open. 

The purpose of this survey is to explore the views of people and organisations that influence and/or are affected by the Commission's work. 

If you have completed the survey in previous years, thank you. Your participation again this year would be appreciated. 

The survey will take approximately 7 minutes to complete and is anonymous.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/657XMWQ