May newsletter
With our CEO Jess Moore on parental leave, there’s a quote I’ve been holding on to: “When a leader steps away, the space they leave isn’t empty — it’s where others learn to lead.” Over the past few weeks, I’ve seen that in action, as people and partners have stepped up with care, curiosity, and a strong sense of shared responsibility to keep the momentum going.
In our work, we’re guided by a constant feedback loop — one that welcomes new perspectives, encourages flexibility and drives us to continually adapt and grow in step with the sector’s needs.
Below is a glimpse of what’s currently in train.
Unlocking social enterprise data
Social Enterprise Australia is leading a set of interconnected data and infrastructure projects to strengthen the Australian social enterprise sector.
This work responds to a shared opportunity: by improving access to consistent and trusted data on the sector’s size, shape and impact, we can better show the value of social enterprise, strengthen our collective voice, attract investment, and inform policy that enables the sector to thrive.
To do this, we’re working in collaboration with partners to:
Expand access to digital infrastructure that is informed by the sector (e.g. Understorey as a digital commons for learning, navigation, and sector visibility)
Develop and integrate common data points across platforms to enable greater alignment, improve data quality, and support shared understanding across partners
Enable data exchange through practical tools like a custom-built API to streamline how sector data is shared with others
Aggregate and share insights to ensure social enterprise data is tracked and communicated over time to inform policy, practice, and investment.
Backed by support from the Minderoo Foundation, Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation, and in partnership with Social Enterprise World Forum, Melbourne Social Equity Institute and others, this work aims to unlock social enterprise data, build trust, and position the sector to shape and respond to emerging opportunities.
Countdown to the Jobs Summit
In less than two weeks, over 300 changemakers will meet in Melbourne for the Social Enterprise Jobs Summit (11-12 June) — a national gathering focused on creating a future where everyone has access to decent, meaningful work.
The program dives into the real-world challenges and opportunities of jobs-focused social enterprise, with bold conversations, practical insights, and lived experience at the centre.
Topics include:
The systemic challenges of scaling jobs-focused social enterprise
The good, the bad, the ugly: the double-edged sword of social procurement
Unlocking social enterprise data and infrastructure
Right capital, right time: funding what matters, when it matters
And creative forums like Ask an Expert Anything and artist-led sessions with Bayley Arts
Whether you're deep in delivery or shaping systems from the outside, this is the summit to be at.
Check out the full program and book your ticket now. There are only a handful of tickets left!
Learning communities in action
As part of the Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI), we’re supporting learning communities that bring people together to explore priority topics, share lived and learned experience, and build practical knowledge. These communities are at different stages — from launching to deep delivery — and helping build capability, surface insights, and strengthen the sector from within.
Here’s a snapshot of what's underway:
Up-skilling government-funded organisations to become sustainable social enterprises.
Making it easier for social enterprises to collect and use data to support their mission.
Find out more about learning communities here.
Meet the new people shaping our work
We’re excited to welcome three new team members who bring deep experience, fresh energy, and a shared commitment to growing the impact of social enterprise in Australia.
Bree Clare is our Business Manager, and has “lived and breathed” startups, scale-ups and innovation for more than 10 years. Her superpower? Enabling organisations to scale through fit-for-purpose processes, policies, tools and systems. Her passion? People power. We think she’s a pretty good fit!
Judi Drown is our Head of Policy, and has led key Federal Government initiatives to strengthen the social enterprise sector and grow social impact investing in Australia as Director of Social Impact Investing Policy in the Department of Social Services. This included the Government’s social impact trials and the Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI). Judi also supported the design and establishment of the Commonwealth Outcomes Fund.
Kate Kutty joins us as Membership and Engagement Lead. Kate will bring her experience in community engagement roles with Black Dog Institute, OzHarvest and Wayside Chapel to help create pathways for our members to help grow the impact of social enterprise in Australia.
Become a Member of Social Enterprise Australia
Social enterprises in Victoria, Queensland, and Tasmania can now apply to join both Social Enterprise Australia and their state peak body through a single application — at no extra cost — thanks to our new reciprocal membership model launched in March. These reciprocal membership arrangements will soon include the Northern Territory, and we hope others in time too.
Our Members help govern Social Enterprise Australia and set the direction for our work through input on national strategy — working alongside peers across the country to address the sector’s biggest opportunities and challenges.
Trying something new and finding ways to collaborate while doing things differently, is no small thing. We’re calling this 1.0: the starting point for shaping what comes next, together with our Members and state and territory peers.
Find out how you can help grow the impact of social enterprise across Australia.
Cheers,
Christina Chun
