Mr Brumby said a new $8 million agency would be set up in partnership with a private family trust to support community enterprises which help provide job training and work opportunities for people. The private contributors have chosen to remain anonymous.

“Anti-Poverty Week is a time to remember that despite the prosperity most Victorians enjoy there are still some who are missing out,” Mr Brumby said.

“Community enterprises are not-for-profit businesses that aim to meet local community needs rather than simply turning a profit.”

Mr Brumby launched the Victorian Anti-Poverty Week with Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor at a new community enterprise, Five High Community Café, at the Richmond Public Housing Estate.

Known as the Social Traders it is collaboration between the Victorian Government and a private philanthropic family trust, which will each contribute $4 million over four years to the agency. It will be run by a consortium of cross sector organisations with extensive experience in community and social enterprise development

Mr Brumby said community enterprises can provide invaluable opportunities for people to break out of the poverty cycle by providing real work and training opportunities that translate to mainstream employment. 

“They also provide goods and services that local people seek, and opportunities for people to connect with those around them,” he said.

“This agency offers a new and creative way to support enterprises, by providing them with services and financial and management advice.

“It will provide emerging community enterprises with business support services to help them get started and succeed.”

Community Development Minister Peter Batchelor said that on top of the Social Traders initiative, the Brumby Government had also allocated $3 million dollars in grants to help kick-start new community enterprises and support existing enterprises.

“Over the last four years more than 80 community enterprises have created 350 new jobs and job training for more than 400 people who have struggled to use the mainstream system,” Mr Batchelor said.
 
Mr Batchelor said the Five High Community Café received a $30,000 Community Enterprise Grant to provide employment and training opportunities as well as a meeting place and social hub for Richmond Housing Estate residents.

“These grants support the development of sustainable business ideas like the Five High Community Café that offer a way for people to participate in the workforce who otherwise may be excluded,” Mr Batchelor said.

Mr Batchelor said a purpose-built cafe would be built as part of a new Health Centre during 2010/11 providing significant opportunities for expansion of the community cafe.

“Helping community enterprises is an element of A Fairer Victoria, the Brumby Government’s action plan to address disadvantage and create opportunity.”

Anti-Poverty Week is convened in partnership between Melbourne Citymission and Hanover Welfare Services .  For more information, visit www.antipovertyweek.org.au