Social Enterprise News

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!

A social enterprise that trains and employs young data analysts with autism has been recognised at The University of Queensland’s 2023 Entrepreneurship and Innovation Awards.

Australian Spatial Analytics, which creates stable and long-term employment for neurodiverse people, took out the Social Enterprise of the Year Award.

Congratulations to QSEC members Australian Spatial Analytics!

Read more here.

The United Nations’ most recent report paints a grim picture, signaling that the world is veering off course and unlikely to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.

As we face a triple threat – climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution – our progress towards these global goals has come to a halt. Despite significant strides in reducing extreme poverty, there are now more undernourished people than before. Additionally, efforts towards achieving gender equality have stagnated, and a record number of individuals have been displaced due to conflict and violence.

Various factors have contributed to this slowdown, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the ongoing war in Ukraine, and escalating levels of inequality. The UN Secretary-General António Guterres warns that we are staring at a potential storm of crises that could further impede our progress towards the SDGs. He emphasises the urgent need to redouble our efforts and take immediate action to address these challenges.

Adopted by the United Nations in 2015, the 17 SDGs were designed to eradicate poverty, protect the environment, and ensure peace and prosperity for all by 2030. They provide a crucial framework for global action on sustainable development. However, current progress is far from satisfactory, with only 12% of assessed targets likely to meet the 2030 deadline.

Read more here!

According to a new report, social enterprise outperforms Disability Employment Services (DES) on retention, individual earnings and cost savings to government.

The three-year $3.8M landmark trial, which commenced in July 2022, is exploring the effectiveness of jobs-focused social enterprises in delivering long-term employment outcomes for people living with a disability.

Up to 170 people living with a disability will be supported into award wage employment with one of 15 jobs-focused social enterprises participating in the trial.

As each person achieves milestones in their employment, the social enterprise employing and supporting them will receive outcomes-based payments at 6, 12 and 18 months, as well as additional payments when an employee chooses to transition to another employer.

Read more here.

If you are the founder of a startup in Australia, or a supporter of startups in Australia (educators, investors, accelerators, incubators, coworking spaces, service providers and any other organisations supporting startups), please contribute your data below to help show what’s happening in Australia's startup ecosystem.

Startup Muster 2023

The textile industry still exists in Australia, but it’s misunderstood and strengthening it will be essential in addressing environmental and social problems. Brent Balinski speaks to Meriel Chamberlin, founder of Full Circle Fibres.

Read more here.