February 2026 news
I hope January brought good things.
When a new year starts, I zoom out. What do I want to help shape?
My answer: an economy that puts people and planet first. Unlocking the power of social enterprise to help get us there is the reason for the sector’s national strategy - and the compass for Social Enterprise Australia’s work.
We’ve started 2026 deep in co-design on the strategy. We do this so that the efforts and energy of diverse people and organisations can align to make big change possible. We’re also working to gather and share sector knowledge and insights, and advocate.
This is to share more, including how to be part of this work.
Federal Budget ask
At the start of each year, the Australian Government takes submissions to inform its next Budget. The Government is already investing in parts of what is needed to scale social enterprise impact. In our submission, we call for four further targeted investments that can better position Australia’s social enterprise sector to grow and contribute.
They are:
A government strategy to scale social enterprise impact; one that drives access to capital and customers, supportive policy, and investment in coordination and sector support. To establish it, we recommend the Government bring together its relevant departments and fund and work with Social Enterprise Australia to coordinate sector participation in this work.
Investment in infrastructure for social enterprise data and evidence, building on work that is underway. We recommend targeted investment to build more consistent data, support social enterprises to identify and share their outcomes, and combine more data sets to feed a live national map and dashboard.
Extension of the successful Economic Pathways to Refugee Integration (EPRI) program, which funds social enterprises to create employment opportunities for refugees and humanitarian entrants. We recommend the Government extend EPRI and support evidence-based system design for lasting change.
Strengthen social procurement to better align public spend with policy imperatives, drive social and environmental value, and influence others to do the same. We recommend the establishment of a social procurement framework, and that social enterprises be made visible in procurement platforms used by the Government.
Read the full Federal Budget ask here
Read the case to extend EPRI here
First Nations content on Understorey
Input from First Nations people and the sector, and guidance from a First Nations Reference Group, have shaped how Understorey - a place to learn and exchange about social enterprise - includes First Nations perspectives. Understorey is a digital commons - an online resource available to all, and shaped by all who choose to take part.
Over the past year, First Nations input highlighted what works, what doesn’t, and where more care is needed, particularly around context, language, attribution, and respectful sharing of knowledge. A key message was that First Nations content should not sit on its own, but weave throughout Understorey.
Through this, a dedicated First Nations landing page now brings together content that is also embedded across the educational resources, learning communities, organisations and key terms on Understorey. This helps people find content more easily, and understand how ideas, practice and people connect.
This work is ongoing. We invite you to explore what’s live, watch for new updates, and to help shape how this living resource evolves.
Learning and collaboration to spark change
Our 2026 open learning program kicks off next Thursday 12 February with social enterprise leaders sharing what they’ve learned through doing.
Think Impact will convene a panel on lessons from failure, with Ifrin Fittock (SisterWorks), Jaison Hoernel (Civik People), Mick Cronin (employ4good) and social enterprise adviser Pablo Alfredo Gimenez. The conversation will be interactive and honest, exploring what we can learn when things go wrong, to help build a stronger social enterprise sector.
Later this month, Umbo, a social enterprise offering online speech pathology and occupational therapy to families across Australia, will share insights on purpose-led growth.
Explore more events here - including recordings
Also in February:
The Data Conversation is hosting a series of free online sessions designed for small and start-up social enterprises who want to collect and use data with confidence. They run from February to May, for social enterprises with less than 20 employees or less than five years old. Register here
A survey to help Australian social enterprises and businesses understand their human rights obligations, strengthen their capabilities, and grow workplace practices that respect safety, wellbeing and dignity closes on Sunday 15 February. Take the survey here
All these opportunities are funded under the Australian Government's Social Enterprise Development Initiative, to grow social impact.
Help unlock the power of social enterprise
In late October 2025, we kicked off a six-month process to strengthen the national strategy. We’ve completed the first two steps - a survey and a co-design workshop. Next up, we’ll bring people together to share their ideas and experiences in co-design workshops on the challenge areas where social enterprise can drive the most impact. Thanks to all who expressed interest in joining the workshops, which are happening this month.
The challenge areas are: access to decent work, environmental care, access to essential and safe goods and services, a future shaped by all people and communities, and First Nations self-determination. Like all parts of the social enterprise national strategy, they will be shaped by people who work in and support social enterprise.
The strategy will only work if it is driven by the real experiences and ideas of people who are close to the work. We invite you to take part in ways that fit your time, experience and interests.
Ways to take part in early 2026:
March: Share feedback on the draft updated strategy (capturing what we've heard and learned so far) via a survey.
April: Vote on the final strategy at our general meeting (Social Enterprise Australia voting Members).
Find out more and get involved
Jess Moore