WA Social Enterprise Council

Here's the latest news from some WA Social Enterprises making moves - check out Chris' Kitchen award and upcoming workshops from Befriend Inc !

By joining WASEC, you’re connecting with a community of trailblazers who are making a meaningful impact through their businesses. This September, we have fantastic opportunities to meet, learn, and network. Swipe right for more details! 👉👉 and check our Humanitix page to get your tickets 🎫 🎫

We’re excited to introduce you to these purpose-driven WA businesses that have recently joined WASEC --> Zentient, Mens Talk AU, Prepare Produce Provide and GFS Perth. Check out their work and join us in welcoming them onboard!

We are just a little bit excited about Impact Seed's WA's Impact Economy Forum on 18 September at the iconic venue Frasers in Kings Park.

WASEC (WA Social Enterprise Council) will be hosting a panel in the afternoon on social procurement and the lineup through the day is killer. Speakers include WA's Innovation Minister Stephen Dawson, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister, Patrick Gorman, First Nations entrepreneur Kado Muir social impact legends, Keith Rovers, Tom Dawkins and Elise Parups 💪

The current round of tickets are SOLD OUT, but thanks to Westpac Foundation, ⭐ 4 bursaries ⭐ are available for social entrepreneurs creating jobs and supporting disadvantaged communities in rural, regional, and remote areas.

To apply, send a summary (up to 250 words) or video (up to 90 seconds) to [email protected] explaining your impact, and why you deserve the bursary.

Valued at up to $1500, the bursary covers attendance, flights and two nights of accommodation 🎉

Submissions close 12pm AWST 20 August 2024.

Take a look at some of the latest news from our members who are making moves in the community 🤸

Every year, Homelessness Week is set aside to increase public awareness of the effects of homelessness and the measures needed to put an end to it. If you'd like to help break the cycle, why not hold your next city meeting at The Underground Collaborative's cafe, or invite Grow & Grind's coffee van to your next event?
Put your dollars towards something more ☕😊

On any given night, 122,494 people in Australia are experiencing homelessness - many of these are young people or those impacted by family violence.
2024’s Homelessness Week which runs from 5-11 August is focused on ACTION.
Several WASEC social enterprises are tackling the crisis by empowering those affected through employment, like The Underground Collaborative and Grow & Grind ☕🫖
You can get involved this Homelessness Week by joining the and 's upcoming events:
No Place Like Home: Young People's Stories Of Life Without It - 6th August
Lived Experience Advocacy in Homelessness - 8th August

We are growing! 🪴 WASEC is so pleased to introduce you to these WA legends who have recently joined us as social enterprise members. From .space's impactful co-working spaces in Perth, Pilbara Solar's award winning renewable work across WA, Australian Business Volunteers coaching programs in the Pacific Islands to 's STEM education for WA youth. 👋👋👋

Our community of businesses that do good is rapidly growing! Meet some of new members here 👉 👉 👉 , .io, .au and .company

Following a highly competitive process, the WASEC board is excited to announce Olivia Chapman as its new CEO. With over a decade in the social impact space, Olivia brings extensive knowledge and a visionary approach to the organisation. At Nesta, the UK's innovation agency for social good, she partnered with Google to deliver large-scale future of work programs, positively impacting thousands. She also led groundbreaking research that influenced policy on jobs, skills, and achieving net-zero targets.

Since returning to Western Australia, Olivia has established a climate solutions network for the Conservation Council of WA and developed partnerships for the Lotterywest funded Innovative Society Initiative. Her experience as a network builder in membership organisations and peak bodies make her a fantastic addition to the growing WASEC team.

As CEO of WASEC, Olivia will focus on delivering high-quality initiatives that connect members, grow their businesses, and amplify their voices to government and nationally. Her immediate priorities include developing a new digital hub and launching Western Australia's first-ever social enterprise awards. Olivia’s strategic acumen and deep commitment to social impact align perfectly with WASEC's mission to build a thriving social enterprise sector.

We are excited to welcome Olivia Chapman and anticipate the transformative impact she will bring to WASEC and the broader social impact community.

We're excited to announce that John Gibbs will join us at FORM Gallery in Claremont this Thursday, 20 June. John, the creator of , has crafted award-winning brews using native Western Australian botanicals like wattleseed and myrtle. Your event ticket includes a couple of these delicious beers.

Alongside John, we are privileged to bring you a stellar lineup of social impact leaders in conversation with . Emma has covered social justice for several years, earning multiple WA Media Awards and recognition for her work in The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald. She is also a novelist, donating half her royalties to Beyond Zero Emissions.

TICKETS HERE 👉 https://events.humanitix.com/buying-the-good-stuff-creating-a-marketplace-for-social-enterprise

AND IN BIO 😍

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OPPORTUNITY KLAXON 📢 Applications are now open for the Westpac Social Change Fellowship 🤩

Westpac Scholars Trust is investing in social enterprise and not-for-profit leaders passionate about making a lasting difference to the future of Australia. Each year, up to 10 fellowships are awarded to dedicated changemakers ready to take their initiatives to new heights.

Apply for a Social Change Fellowship and you could receive:

⭐ Generous Funding: Up to $50,000 for personal development, including study tours, short courses, conferences, coaching, and overseas learning experiences

⭐ Leadership Development: A tailored program featuring a four-day residential experience and ongoing group coaching

⭐ Community Connections: A peer group to support you along your social impact journey and access to the wider W100 Scholars Network, connecting you with like-minded leaders and exclusive events such as the Westpac Scholars Summit

Applications close 5:00pm AEST Wednesday 24 July 2024.

Click here to find out more and register for Westpac's online information session: https://scholars.westpac.com.au/scholarships/social-change-fellowship.html

There are many reasons we're looking forward to our event, "Buying the Good Stuff," on 20 June - and one of them is the venue! It's a super cool space with purpose 😍

is a non-profit that supports artists and invests in Western Australia's creative economy. Since 2015, they have transformed The Goods Shed near Claremont Station into a thriving cultural landmark. notable projects include the Public Silo Trail and Thomas Dambo’s Giants.

Your ticket to our event on Thurs, 20 June includes access the exhibition showing, "Metamorphosis: Artists in Collaboration with Plants". This is part of a series that celebrates the talent of artists who live or have a connection to Western Australia's southern regions.

Get your tickets here: https://events.humanitix.com/buying-the-good-stuff-creating-a-marketplace-for-social-enterprise

🙌 FUNDING NEWS!

The Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI) is now offering capability-building grants worth up to $120,000 each. These grants aim to assist social enterprises in enhancing and expanding their social impact. Funds can be used to pay for financial services, evaluation and impact measurement, business consulting, and legal advice.

Impact Seed is Western Australia's dedicated capacity and capability builder for social enterprise, so if you're interested in applying for a SEDI grant, you can:

🌟 Option 1: Get in touch with Impact Seed directly at [email protected] to discuss a joint application (as grant money must go to the service provider)

OR

🌟 Option 2: Make a general expression of interest (EOI) https://lnkd.in/eAxj6KqC

👉 Any other questions just give us a shout at [email protected]

SEDI Grants will run through to June 2026. It is a rolling grant which means there ample time for eligible social enterprises to develop a submission. They are administered by Impact Investing Australia and funded by the Australian Government Department of Social Services

We're super excited about our speakers for 'Buying the Good Stuff' on 20 June, 6pm-9pm in Claremont, exploring what's needed to create a for-purpose marketplace and economy in WA. (Ticket link in bio)

Today's featured speaker is Franco Randazzo.

Franco is CEO of Loop Upcycling, a leading social enterprise, that plays a vital role in supporting organisations diverting textile waste from landfills. By upcycling corporate uniforms, Loop boosts local manufacturing and provides training and employment opportunities to individuals facing barriers. With over 80 individuals empowered, Franco remains passionately committed to advancing sustainable and innovative practices while fostering significant social impact.

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers for 'Buying the Good Stuff' on 20 June, 6pm-9pm in Claremont, exploring what's needed to create a for-purpose marketplace and economy in WA. (Ticket link in bio)

Today's featured speaker is Andrew Davy.

Andrew is the Assistant Director Social Procurement and Sector Capability at the Department of Finance. In his time at Finance, he has worked for across education and training, policy, communications, and data management roles. His Sector Capability team build procurement capability across the WA public sector. The Social Procurement team are responsible for administering the Aboriginal Procurement Policy and the Australia Disability Enterprises initiative.

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers for 'Buying the Good Stuff' on 20 June, 6pm-9pm in Claremont, exploring what's needed to create a for-purpose marketplace and economy in WA. (Ticket link in bio)

Today's featured speaker is Frank Mitchell.

Frank is a proud descendant of the Whadjuk-Yued Nyoongar, father, husband and son. He is also the award-winning Managing Director of Wilco Electrical and Founder of Kardan Construction - Kardan is the Nyoongar name for the Marri tree. Frank grew up in state housing in a small community in the southwest. Although blessed with a loving family, as with many small towns, there were high rates of unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse, mental illness, and su***de. After losing three close friends to su***de and drug-related deaths before the age of 20, and having a son at 21, Frank was inspired to live with purpose and to have a positive impact on others. Kardan provides several pathways to employment through apprenticeships and traineeships and has awarded millions of dollars of contracts to Aboriginal-owned trades.

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers for 'Buying the Good Stuff' on 20 June, 6pm-9pm in Claremont, exploring what's needed to create a for-purpose marketplace and economy in WA. (Ticket link in bio)

Today's featured speaker is Bronwyn Bate.

Bronwyn is the CEO and Co-founder of Mettle Women Inc, a registered charity and social enterprise dedicated to creating accessible pathways towards workforce participation and financial security for survivors of domestic and family violence. Mettle's national corporate and e-commerce gifting service employs women experiencing homelessness due to domestic violence, providing them with future-focused training in e-commerce, warehousing, manufacturing, and supply chain logistics.

With growing annual profits, Mettle has opened crisis support funds for women and children in partner shelters, launched scholarships to enhance survivors' access to education, and established a childcare subsidy fund for women without government support. Mettle has collaborated with over 300 businesses, including Canva and Atlassian, to align their CSR goals with procurement practices and workplace policies. Bronwyn's impact has been recognised with the AGL X Women's Weekly Women of The Future Award, AMP Tomorrow Maker, and a Westpac Social Change Fellowship.

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers for 'Buying the Good Stuff' on 20 June, 6pm-9pm in Claremont, exploring what's needed to create a for-purpose marketplace and economy in WA. (Ticket link in bio)

Today's featured speaker is Anthony MacShane.

Anthony, a 50-year-old father of four from Southwest WA, has leveraged his diverse life experiences to help others. Inspired to combat the stigma of employing formerly incarcerated individuals and their post-release employment challenges, Anthony founded Reboot Australia, a social enterprise dedicated to supporting reintegration through employment.

Anthony and his team have secured supported employment for over 220 individuals, created a groundbreaking in-prison training program, and educated more than 4,000 inmates. Working closely with the Department of Justice, they have established clear pathways from incarceration to employment, making a significant impact on countless lives.

We have a fantastic lineup of speakers for 'Buying the Good Stuff' on 20 June, 6pm-9pm in Claremont, exploring what's needed to create a for-purpose marketplace and economy in WA. (Ticket link in bio)

Today's featured speaker is Ben Kent

Ben has almost 20 years' experience working in government, private and not-for-profit sectors on a range of community capacity building projects from behaviour change and place making through to sustainable transport and road safety. He is the Senior Manager of Community Impact and Engagement at RAC where he designs and delivers initiatives with RAC members and the wider community to create a safer, more sustainable and better connected WA.

More and more governments and organisations are leveraging their purchasing power for social good. It matters to consumers too - despite rising living costs, 61% will pay more for an ethical business with a social impact.

Join us on 20 June, from 6pm-9pm in Claremont for our event, 'Buying the Good Stuff' where we'll explore what's needed to create a for-purpose marketplace and economy in Western Australia.

We are pumped to bring you a great lineup of speakers who have in-depth experience creating companies with big social impact like helping vulnerable people find meaningful employment. We're also delighted to have WAtoday.com.au journalist and author Emma Young chairing the event.

Don't miss this one! ✨

TICKETS HERE:

Buying the Good Stuff: Creating a Marketplace for Social Enterprise | Humanitix Buying the Good Stuff: Creating a Marketplace for Social Enterprise

Workpower have recently partnered with Return It to launch a refreshed Containers for Change WA depot in Geraldton. Workpower has been partnered with Return It for several years in the Metro area as well as regional areas like Kalgoorlie, Bunbury and Busselton 💪

💸 Get to know the basics of impact investing in WA 💸 If you would like more information on any of the terms or products listed make sure you get in contact via [email protected].

Thanks to Impact Seed for providing the content for this post 🙌

Today the WASEC team, Ross Wortham and Olivia Chapman, celebrated receiving a two-year grant from Lotterywest, alongside board member Vanessa Rauland-ClimateClever, Klara Andric MLC and Sven Stenvers Impact Seed
Founder and Director.

Thanks to Lotterywest and the WA Government, we’re able to continue our commitment to building a thriving community of social enterprise in WA. Our members use commercial activities to address social issues, support communities, provide jobs and training, and tackle climate change. This grant empowers us to expand businesses in WA that prioritise both people and planet, creating a brighter, more sustainable future for all.

Roger Cook Sabine Winton MLA

On Tuesday, 23 April at 9.00am (AWST) we're excited to host an 'Open Door Session' with Impact Seed. Whether you're a newcomer, a recently approved WASEC member, or an established social entrepreneur, these online gatherings are designed to provide the support you need.

The sessions aim to:
👉 Keep you informed about the latest news and developments in the social enterprise sector, both in Western Australia and nationally
👉 Answer any questions you may have about how WASEC and Impact Seed can assist you
👉 Provide valuable insights into training, business development, and funding opportunities
👉 Foster connections with fellow WASEC members, creating a supportive community for sharing experiences and ideas

Registration below! Don't miss this opportunity to strengthen your social enterprise, network with like-minded individuals and take the next step in your journey towards positive social impact. ⭐

Open Door Session | Humanitix Open Door Sessions, a collaboration between WASEC and Impact Seed to support social enterprises

Did you know if you subscribe to WASEC's monthly 'Unwrapped' you:

👉 Get access to exclusive events & networking
👉 News about the latest grants & funding opportunities (SEVEN links this month 👀)
👉 Information about business development & training

Latest edition just dropped 🎉 https://mailchi.mp/47496a7411ba/wasec-e-news-9664338

Make sure you stop to grab a coffee for a good cause if you see Grow & Grind parked up around town! ☕

This Wednesday, 13 March at 10.00am (AWST), WASEC is excited to bring you Jess Moore, CEO of Social Enterprise Australia (SEA).

Before leading the work of SEA, Jess was CEO at Community Resources, one of Australia’s largest jobs-focused social enterprises. Through several environmental repair social enterprises Community Resources has employed hundreds of people who experience barriers to work. Before this, Jess led Green Connect which employs young people and former refugees to farm fair food and reduce landfill.

Whether you’re just starting or more established, this will be a terrific opportunity to learn from a leading expert in the social enterprise space. Join us virtually, to find out what’s happening at a national level and what you can do to grow your connections, knowledge and impact!

The event is *FREE* but you must register to take part:

Doing Good Together: Discover how your business can join the national social enterprise community | Humanitix Get tickets on Humanitix - Doing Good Together: Discover how your business can join the national social enterprise community hosted by WASEC (WA Social Enterprise Council). Online. Wednesday 13th March 2024. Find event information.

WASEC members Amanda Healy of Kirrikin and Oral McGuire of Noongar Land Enterprise Group took to the stage for the evokeAG 2024 conference this week to share their insights on the convergence of cultural intellectual property (IP) and western innovation.

The panel discussion explored how western and First Nations businesses can share knowledge and networks in a mutually beneficial way. The leading entrepreneurs discussed how convergence of cultural IP and western innovation can give Australian agrifood enterprises an internationally unique edge.

The other panelists included John Gibbs of Spinifex Brewing Co, Darryl Lyons of Rainstick and Terri Janke of Terri Janke and Company Pty Ltd.