Social Enterprise News

This one-of-a-kind opportunity will support leaders with disability to increase their governance knowledge and access to board positions. 

Australian Network on Disability and the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) are offering 15 full-fee scholarships to undertake either the Foundations of Directorship program or the Company Directors Course at AICD.  Plus, 8 months of mentoring with an Australian business leader to help winners maximise their board career opportunities. 

The Directing Change Scholarships are aimed at increasing the representation of people with disability on Australian boards by supporting emerging and experienced leaders with disability. 1 in 5 people in Australia have a disability, however, this number is far from represented at executive and board level positions.  

Low awareness, confidence, and capability of Directors to welcome and include people with disability on Boards; along with fewer opportunities for leaders with disability to access learning and networking; are the main cause of this discrepancy. 

Learn more here.

Ability Enterprises recently posted this callout for workers:
"Are you struggling to find work?

At Ability Enterprises we help people of all ages and abilities to access work within our community. We might just have the perfect job for you. We currently have casual positions available for Customer Service Operators at Waste Facilities in Toowoomba, with support and training provided to help you thrive.

If you are interested, we would love to hear from you!

Send your resume to jobs@abilityenterprises.com.au or call us on 0427405327"

See the flier below.

Nundah Co-Op is running a new program that supports people from refugee backgrounds into employment, small business or social enterprise.

You can join if you live in south Brisbane or Logan regions & have a refugee/humanitarian visa. 

You can access training, work experience, improve your english, have business advice, and access support to find work.

Contact:
Chris at chrislockhart@ncec.com.au
Lesley at pathways@ncec.com.au

See flier below or this link for more info.

Townsville will soon be home to a new place-based pilot program aimed to change the way communities buy and employ within rural and regional areas. 

Delivered in partnership with CQUniversity and ArcBlue, a specialist procurement consultancy, Q-SEED aims to create a socio-economic framework that funnels local spend, social procurement and inclusive employment practices back into the community.

ArcBlue Senior Consultant, Petra McLoughlin says the program will leverage social procurement and local supply chains to generate greater opportunities for those in the Townsville community who are experiencing barriers to employment.

Read more here.

The Sun Still Shines is a new book from SHINE for Kids that is aimed at children whose father is incarcerated.

SHINE for Kids supports children and young people exposed to the justice system, with the core objective of reducing intergenerational harm.

“This book was self-initiated and written by incarcerated fathers in Clarence Correctional Centre in Grafton New South Wales, operated by Serco,” SHINE for Kids CEO Julie Hourigan said.

The book was completed in collaboration Green Fox Studio, an award-winning creative agency and social enterprise that also trains and employs people with lived experience. The work was curated under the guidance of leading social worker and 2023 AASW Social Worker of the Year recipient, Mary Jo McVeigh OAM.

“This was a joint initiative of SHINE for Kids, Serco and Green Fox Studio and I thank those parties for their collaboration and enthusiasm on this project. We also thank Mary Jo McVeigh for her valuable contribution to ensuring that reading this story will be a comforting experience for children missing their parent.”

Read more here.

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.