Social Enterprise News

The federal government has expanded its SME Recovery Loan Scheme, removing requirements for businesses to have received JobKeeper this year or to have been affected by flooding.

The relaxation of eligibility requirements is in response to the ongoing effects of COVID‑19, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said in a statement.

Under the new guidelines, the loan scheme will continue to provide access to loans of up to $5 million over a 10-year period to SMEs with a turnover of less than $250 million that are experiencing financial hardship due to the effects of the coronavirus. T

he federal government will guarantee 80% of the loan amount, which participating lenders can offer as unsecured or secured loans.

Sefa is the only participating approved lender in the federal SME Schemes with a social purpose.

The loan scheme also allows lenders to offer borrowers a repayment holiday of up to two years.

Businesses can use the loans to cover a range of business expenses, such as to support investment and refinance pre-existing debt, including debt from the SME Guarantee Scheme.

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Case Study

If you're looking to secure a grant for your cause or get a behind-the-scenes look at what donors in your area are doing, this free tutorial is for you!

The tutorial allows you to view the QUT Community Collection for grant-seekers, fundraisers and philanthropists and shows you how to use the world’s leading grant-seeking database, theFoundation Directory Online. QUT is the only institution in the Southern Hemisphere which hosts this unique collection. We thank the experts at Strategic Grants for being the volunteer tutorial facilitators.

The tutorials are held at QUT’s Garden Point Campus, Brisbane. There are four scheduled in 2021. You are welcome to choose a single date that suits you. Note: All sessions are filling quickly!

Event details

There was excitement all around as HomeBase announced the 16 successful projects and founders taking part in the 20-week Elevate+ accelerator program. Going online due to COVID restrictions didn’t dampen the spirits of the teams, mentors and community supporters who joined.  

The enterprises taking part this year are an inspiring mix of Logan and SEQld entrepreneurs – from Beekeeping education to organic fertiliser, to an Indigenous-led platform for youth to display their creativity – and lots in between!   

Read more about these fantastic projects and their founders.  

The HomeBase Growth Lab team is accepting rolling applications for their tailored support program. If you know of any high-potential impact enterprises who need support to scale their impact, let us know or share the link below. It’s an amazing opportunity to access coaching, strategic advice and incredible networks with our navigators from Innovation Architects – Mark Gustowski and Philippe Ceulen.   

More information here.  

Regional social enterprises are urged to get ready to apply for the second round of Business Basics grants.

Sick of seeing waste in your community? Got good ideas for getting resources out of landfill, and into new products? Love to see trash become treasure?

Rockhampton Regional Council and CQUniversity want to hear from you!

RRC and CQU are progressing a partnership to develop an Upcycle Village at the Lakes Creek Road Waste Management Facility.

On Wednesday 8 September, you can join a big-thinking workshop to capture ideas for recycling and upcycling businesses that reduce waste in the Rockhampton Region, then work with expert facilitators to shape a viable business model.

Participants who want to progress their idea can access post-workshop support to complete an EOI to develop an Upcycle Village business.

This free and interactive session is 10am to 2pm at Rockhampton Smart Hub.

Whether you’re a home composter wanting to scale up, a worker with ideas for waste reduction in your industry, or just passionate about sustainability, come and connect with other passionate locals, and help Rockhampton Region move towards a zero waste and circular economy.

This initiative was funded by the Queensland Government through QSEC's Reset and Recovery Project. 

Register here: https://events.humanitix.com/waste-management-co-design-workshop

There is hope out there even with the lockdowns and the latest climate change report.

Every day Lisa Signato meets inspirational impact entrepreneurs who have business solutions to climate change, health and social disadvantage.

They are for-purpose for-profit businesses who want supported resources, pathways, an educated community and access to venture capital.

ImpaQt Qld is a not for profit and ImpaQt Fund is a venture capital fund with conditional registration with more than 10 entrepreneurs knocking on the door each week and more than 80 excellent businesses sitting in our pipeline.

Read here for More details on the ImpaQt fund and benefits. 

The Social Enterprise National Strategy Advisory Council are looking for someone to lead the next phase of this exciting project.

This is a unique opportunity to influence the future development of the Australian social enterprise sector. It’s an ecosystem and coalition building role working with key partners, funders, policy makers and politicians.

Initially a three month contract at 0.8 FTE, with scope to extend to 12 months.

If this feels like you, read more and send them your EOI! Details attached.

Social enterprises play an important role in assisting vulnerable groups of people to improve their lives whether through increasing connectedness, independence and/or employability skills and opportunities. With this important focus on social enterprises to improve life outcomes for our vulnerable populations, it is timely to investigate how these enterprises have faced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

We are looking for founders, leaders or CEO’s of rural, remote or regional social enterprise organisations for a study called the ‘Impact of COVID on Rural, Remote and Regional Social Enterprise’. We would like to invite you to participate in this study. Your contribution would require approximately 1 hour of your time to undertake an interview with one of our research team members at a location that is convenient for you, or online via Zoom.

The study aims to explore the challenges faced by rural, remote or regional social enterprises that provide services that improve communities and address social issues, in maintaining their operations through the pandemic and moving forward. Further, the study aims to provide insights into what adaptations providers have developed to remain open for business, create innovative alternative markets, gain funding and support their employees/trainees.

If you would like to take part, please reply to this email indicating your availability and we will send you more information about participation.

The research team members include:

Dr Aastha Malhotra, University of Southern Queensland (email: aastha.malhotra@usq.edu.au)

Dr Naomi Ryan, University of Southern Queensland (email: naomi.ryan@usq.edu.au)

Professor Patrick Danaher, University of Southern Queensland (email: Patrick.Danaher@usq.edu.au)

Associate Professor Christina Campbell, University of Southern Queensland (email: christina.campbell@usq.edu.au

This project has received ethics approval from the University of Southern Queensland Human Research Ethics Committee (H21REA047). If you have any concerns or complaints about the ethical conduct of the project, you may contact the University of Southern Queensland Ethics Coordinator on (07) 4631 2690 or email ethics@usq.edu.au.

Multicultural Australia was one of five recipients for Government's Diverse  Queensland Workforce $3m Program announced yesterday at MA's Welcome Cafe. 

The funding will be targeted to assist marginalised refugee and migrant people to access employment in five areas; Brisbane, Logan, Toowoomba, Gold Coast and Cairns, and with five providers: 

Centacare (FNQ)

Multicultural Communities Council (GC) 

Multilink Community Services (Logan)

Multicultural Community Centre (Brisbane)

Multicultural Australia (Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane)

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