We’re excited to share that QSEC members will now have three new member benefits available, which they can opt-in to:
1. Free People and Planet First Verification for social enterprise members – which will renew annually alongside their QSEC membership.
2. Free Social Enterprise Australia membership – launching this week, it will be the easiest way to stay connected to national advocacy, campaigns, and a growing community of changemakers across the country.
3. Discounted Membership to other state peaks – for our members who operate across state lines, we’ve heard your feedback and understand that managing multiple memberships is costly and time-consuming. As part of your QSEC membership, you’re now eligible for discounted membership fees with our Victoria, Tasmania, and Northern Territory counterparts.
How We Got Here
There have been ongoing discussions between peak bodies about membership models and simplified ways to join different peaks. Unlike some other peaks launching membership for the first time, QSEC has a long-standing, established membership base and a strong legacy and history.
With that in mind, the QSEC Board and Executive team felt it was important that our current members decide whether they would like access to these additional benefits on an individual basis. To ensure fairness, flexibility and open access for all, these benefits are being made available on an opt-in basis.
Members can choose to opt-in to three, two, one or none of these benefits. This new, streamlined approach eliminates the hassle of filling out three separate applications—all of which ask for the same information—and allows members access to any of these opportunities with just one click.
These benefits are optional and offered as a value-add for current QSEC members. This does not change or replace QSEC or its role in Queensland. Instead, it allows QSEC members to apply for verification as well as other memberships and opportunities simultaneously through the one application form.
Next Steps for Members
- If you are a Social Enterprise member who is already People and Planet First verified and choose to opt-in below, you can apply for multiple memberships via one streamlined form which you will receive from QSEC within 24hrs.
- If you are a Social Enterprise member but not yet verified and choose to opt-in below, the QSEC team will be in touch to help you get started with the process.
- If you are an Associate member and choose to opt-in, you can apply for multiple memberships via one streamlined form which you will receive from QSEC within 48hrs.
- If none of these opportunities are of interest, there’s nothing you need to do – your QSEC membership will continue as usual.
People and Planet First Verification
QSEC endorsed the global People and Planet First social enterprise standards alongside all state, territory and the national peak in May 2024, and we’ve been using them as the basis for our social enterprise membership ever since.
This new benefit allows members who wish to pursue formal verification to receive a globally recognised People and Planet First badge – verifying your impact and purpose-led activity with a brand that’s easy for Government, Corporates and consumers to understand:
“This business puts people and planet first.”
At QSEC, we endorsed these standards and became a local verifier because:
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- They are independent: No single organisation sets the standards and verifies.
- Clear: The standards set the bar on what a social enterprise is, in a way that is visible and easy to understand.
- Collective: The standards are collectively governed by an Official Partner Network, which includes Australia.
- Global: The standards cross borders, meaning recognition and opportunities extend beyond Australia for our members.
Social Enterprise Australia
In September 2024, Social Enterprise Australia (SEA) held a sector consultation to hear stakeholder views on interests, future participation in their governance and a future membership model.Through that consultation, an overwhelming majority of respondents wanted voting members of SEA to be social enterprises. Additionally, many expressed a desire for a membership model that allows them to join both their state and/or territory peak and SEA simultaneously. (You can read their consultation results here, and follow-up correspondence here.)
Following the consultation and taking into account social enterprises’ feedback, Social Enterprise Australia and individual states began discussing different membership models that could add value for their members, and also reduce application fatigue.
Social Enterprise Australia has the following criteria for social enterprise membership:
A) Any organisation or individual aged over 18, is eligible to be an Associate Member.
B) Any Australian-based entity verified to meet the global social enterprise standards is eligible to be a Social Enterprise Member.
We’re thrilled to be collaborating with our state, territory and national peak peers to offer more value, with less admin – and look forward to supporting the social enterprise sector as it grows its impact across Queensland and beyond.