Social Traders Australia

29/05/2026

Exciting news! 🎉 The Victorian Government has committed $900,000 to strengthen and grow the social enterprise sector.

"This funding will allow Social Traders to streamline the certification process - making it easier for social enterprises to get certified and unlock more opportunities to procurement contracts through Victoria's Social Procurement Framework.” - Tara Anderson, CEO Social Traders

This investment ensures more social enterprises can access the support they need to thrive. 💪

We look forward to working alongside our fellow funding recipients:

➡️SENVIC: supporting early-stage and emerging social enterprises to grow into sustainable businesses

➡️ACRE: building capability in local government, businesses and communities to support social enterprises in regional areas

Together, we're proud to continue our almost 20-year partnership with the Victorian Government in building a thriving social enterprise sector. 🤝 Read the media release: https://loom.ly/v9t3ZvQ

28/05/2026

Big news for social enterprise in Australia! 🙌 Amanda Rishworth, Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, has announced the biggest reform to Australia's employment services system in 30 years — and social enterprise are part of it.

The most important change is ending the one-size-fits-all approach to servicing. In its place creating three distinct service streams, offering different intensity of supports, depending on an individual’s distance from the labour market.

Service Stream Three will include alternative pathways including social enterprises, to support people who are furthest from the labour market; providing support to build confidence and capability.

Commenting on the reform announcement, Tara Anderson CEO Social Traders said:

“Social Traders and our sector partners have been advocating for many years to have social enterprises embedded in Australia's employment system.

Through collaborative advocacy work, social enterprise was named in the Employment White Paper and throughout the Hill review of employment services, and those commitments are now flowing through. It's fantastic to see social enterprise named in the announcement from Minister Rishworth - another milestone in recognising social enterprises in the Federal Government agenda."

📍Learn more about the reform and the public consultation process: https://loom.ly/JSyLVpU

25/05/2026

🌱 What if your recruitment spend could change young lives without costing you extra?

Since 2017, Geofabrics Australasia has partnered with Recruitment Select, a certified social enterprise, for labour hire and recruitment at our Albury manufacturing facility. It's a partnership that delivers on two fronts: a capable, reliable local workforce and real social impact for the community.

Geofabrics has been a Social Traders member since 2022, and in the 12 months leading up to November 2025, Geofabrics’ total spend with Recruitment Select exceeded $400,000, equivalent to funding one full-time Geared4Careers Program Officer, supporting approximately 50 local students per year.

The program operates independently of government or philanthropic funding, focusing entirely on the needs of the local community.

The best part of this partnership? It costs Geofabrics nothing beyond what they're already spending on recruitment anyway. They made a conscious strategic decision to choose a partner whose surplus creates lasting community value. Read more about their story: https://loom.ly/2HP8hOc

14/05/2026

SPA took a bold step in partnering with Navaroo, a brand-new certified social enterprise employing skilled migrants. The result of the contract was something else.

✅ 5 skilled migrants employed, 3,891+ hours of meaningful work
✅ $950K in further contracts unlocked for Navaroo
✅ A 2025 National Social Procurement Impact Partnership Award

Find out how your organisation can rethink business to create social value alongside commercial outcomes by backing certified social enterprises. Join our upcoming live learning session.

We'll have guest speakers from Navaroo and SPA sharing their practical tips and industry knowledge.

Find out more details and register today: https://loom.ly/pji6j1M

13/05/2026

Social performance isn't just a reporting metric anymore, it's reshaping how organisations make strategic decisions from the boardroom to the supply chain.

Tara Anderson, CEO Social Traders will to be speaking at an upcoming session alongside some brilliant minds exploring exactly this.

📍 𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆

At the Social Impact Summit on July 1 - 2, we'll be unpacking the real strategic choices, risks and trade-offs organisations are navigating as social performance becomes more material to how they operate.

The conversation will explore how social performance gains traction as it moves through organisations; across leadership teams, operations and supply chains.

Joining the panel:
➡️Aaron Reid, Ventia
➡️Professor Martin Loosemore, UTS
➡️ Dr Suhair Alkilani, UTS

🎫 Make sure you're in the room by getting your ticket today: https://loom.ly/2mB5OVk

08/05/2026

Ever wonder what impact actually looks like behind the scenes in Brisbane? ✨

Take a bus and find out on 25 May. 🚌

Impact Boom x Business for Good Network have teamed up with AMP Foundation and River North Community Foundation to bring a day tour of Brisbane's most inspiring social enterprises, north of the river.

From a social enterprise helping people with disability live independently (50+ years strong 💪), to Indigenous-led tech, community craft spaces, and stationery that gives back to students in need - this day is packed with stories worth hearing.

Plus morning tea, lunch, and a whole lot of new connections are planned. 🙌

Tag someone who needs to be on this bus with you. 👇

Social Traders community can use the code: 𝗦𝗧𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗕𝗘𝗥 to get 10% off the ticket price.

Get in quick before seats are gone! https://loom.ly/lrVddLA

Join Brisbane's purpose-driven business community for an insightful day tour exploring a range of social enterprises and impact-driven organisations.

04/05/2026

Every contract your business signs with a supplier could be changing someone's life, creating social change.

Nicole Donnison, Regional Social Procurement Manager at Icon and Social Traders 2025 Business for Good Game Changer of the Year, has spent her career proving it. One contract, one introduction, one relationship at a time.

The question she puts to every business leader is simple:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗹𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝘆 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗰𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗽𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗯𝘂𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺?

Most organisations have yet to harness social performance through their supply chains. It's one of the most powerful levers to create social value.

If you've been wondering how to move your organisation towards creating real, measurable social outcomes - get some practical tips from Nicole as she turns contracts into impact. 👇
https://loom.ly/mcjU1JA

28/04/2026

🚀 Early bird tickets for Convene 2026 are now on sale, limited release - get them quick!

Join us in Brisbane on October 20 & October 21 as we focus on Social Value Through Business.

🎟️ Register to attend: https://loom.ly/F5Izajc

Back for its 12th year, Convene is where Australia’s social impact sector comes together to define what’s next. Where business, government and social enterprise leaders will work together to answer:

💡 What does social performance look like in practice and how do we do more it?

The impact organisations have on their people, customers, communities and supply chain now sits at the core of business strategy.

Because leading organisations know creating social value through business is a competitive advantage in this volatile economy.

Social performance is moving fast. Convene brings together the people directing it, and the organisations proving what's possible.

Don't miss your chance to learn more and lead in this space.

15/12/2025

The decisions you make in businesses, have the power to shape the world we live in.

By working with social enterprises, you don’t just meet financial KPIs—you deliver social value, elevate your impact, and lead the way in social performance.

As a certified social enterprise, Help Enterprises are building an ecosystem of opportunity, empowering people with disability through tailored, high-impact services that help them achieve their goals.

When you choose to work with certified social enterprises, you help to create positive change for a fairer, more equitable and sustainable Australia.

Discover the real power of social enterprise and how your business can drive social performance further with us: https://loom.ly/Ow8vSN8

08/12/2025

💡When social enterprises grow trade revenue, they are better able to reinvest in their impact. The key is balance - using the market to sustain the business while keeping purpose at the heart of every decision. That's what our latest report proves.

The report “Social enterprise: Powered by trade driven by purpose”, supported by the Paul Ramsay Foundation, is a first in Australia as we analysed over 200 data points on more than 750 certified social enterprises.

View the case studies from WC Technologies, The Beautiful Bunch, Natura Pacific, Song Hotels and more!📍Download your copy: https://loom.ly/8zZ7s7s

📊We also provide the latest insights on the largest national database of identified social enterprises. Among the social enterprises identified:

✅Trade is the dominant income source, accounting for 84% of total revenue.
✅More than one in five (22%) rely solely on trade to fund their operations.
✅Six in ten (60%) are operating at a profit.

The report findings provide a clear picture of how trade revenue is growing, fuels impact and is key to resilience in the social enterprise sector.

Social enterprise is business at its best. They are innovative businesses that work to create a fairer and more sustainable world. Let's continue to make social enterprise, business as usual.