Premier

Shaping The Future Of Social Enterprise In Victoria

25 August 2016

Hundreds of representatives from Victoria’s thriving social enterprises will come together for a series of workshops to help shape the Andrews Labor Government’s sector-wide strategy.

The workshops will aim to create a whole-of-government approach to help the sector grow and create jobs.

Victoria is home to Australia’s largest collection of social enterprises with around 5,000 across the state, employing 75,000 Victorians.

These businesses, organisations, charities and not-for-profits address social and economic challenges in the community, doing everything from offering skills training to creating new jobs for disadvantaged Victorians.

Social enterprises from across the state will join philanthropists, government, funders, business leaders, local communities and intermediaries for five workshops during August and September.

The workshops are being held in Gippsland, Melbourne, Geelong, Bendigo and Wangaratta and are aimed at giving the whole Victorian sector a voice.

The Labor Government has already reached out to universities, banks, corporations, philanthropists, social intermediaries, and social enterprises to get the best picture of the sector and how best to help it grow.

In December 2015, the Government formed the Social Enterprise Ministerial Committee to give the sector oversight across government.

In May 2016, the Committee backed the creation of an Australian first social enterprise sector-wide strategy.

Quotes attributable to the Minister for Industry and Employment Wade Noonan

“We are moving beyond the business as usual approach to tackling Victoria’s economic and social challenges.”

“We know social enterprises are providing new solutions to tackle disadvantage and get people into work, and we’ll do everything we can to support that.”

“These workshops will let us hear directly from the people who know this sector inside out and will help develop our blueprint to help the sector grow and create jobs.”

Reviewed 19 August 2020

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