E-bulletin January 2010

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Happy New Year and welcome to the first e-bulletin for 2010! If 2009 is anything to go by there will be more heady and exciting times for social enterprise in Australia. Social enterprise got on the map in 2009 in a way that few expected at the start of the year. Federal stimulus fund led to a flow of capital into social enterprise like never before and we eagerly await the outcomes of the next jobs fund round, and ofcourse we had SEWF09 in Melbourne which will be the first of many such events that will help to build the social enterprise sector in Australia. After a very busy and productive establishment year, the Social Traders team is looking forward to an even more exciting year ahead. With the expansion of our team, we begin a number of new programs and initiatives, and will continue to keep you informed of news and developments in the social enterprise space.

Visit www.socialtraders.com.au 
Email info@socialtraders.com.au 
Or if you would like to talk to us, call Mark Daniels and the Social Traders Team on (03) 9421 7574.

Social Traders Activity

Social Enterprise Study Tour

After excellent reviews from our first tour in December, Social Traders is hosting its second full day study tour on Tues 23 Feb 2010 to three social enterprises in Melbourne – Outlook Environmental, Charcoal Lane, and Fitzroy and Carlton Community Credit.
The tour will provide an opportunity to gain an insight into the establishment and operations of these successful social enterprises. If you are interested in participating in the tour, please contact info@socialtraders.com.au by 17 February 2010.
Places are limited to 10 participants.
Cost (including transport, morning tea and lunch): $75

Social Procurement Research

Social Traders in conjunction with the Centre for Social Impact, Department of Planning and Community Development Victoria, Brisbane City Council, Parramatta City Council and Foresters Community Finance is participating in a research project that seeks to explore developments in social procurement across Australia and around the world. It will examine the realities, challenges and potential futures of Social Procurement in Australia. The research team are particularly interested in the experiences of social enterprises in seeking and securing social procurement opportunities, and in documenting the experiences of government bodies, corporations and non-profit organisations in offering procurement to these enterprises.
For more information contact Ingrid Burkett ingrid@foresters.com.au.

Social Enterprise Navigator Appointed

Nina Howard has been appointed to the new role of Social Enterprise Navigator with Social Traders. This role has been established to provide a first point of contact and advice to established and emerging social enterprises, assist build the capacity of enterprises to access information, network and resources and facilitate the development of social enterprise networks.
Read More about Nina at http://www.socialtraders.com.au/news/2010/01/social-traders-appoints-new-social-enterprise-navigator.

Navigating Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Victoria

The School for Social Entrepreneurs in partnership with Social Traders is hosting a free interactive seminar in Melbourne on 18 Feb 2010 for community members and support organisations to learn about social entrepreneurship and enterprise and to discover the support networks for those individuals and organisations using business principles to build healthier communities in Victoria.
For more information visit http://www.socialtraders.com.au/event/2010/01/navigating-social-entrepreneurship-and-enterprise-victoria.

News

Registration open for Social Ventures Australia's Online Financial Literacy Training Course

Social Ventures Australia in conjunction with Matrix on Board and GippsTAFE, has developed an online Financial Literacy training program, designed for non-profit leaders who want to develop their skills in prudent financial management.
For more information visit http://www.socialtraders.com.au/news/2010/01/registration-open-social-ventures-australias-online-financial-literacy-training-course.

Charcoal Lane celebrates receiving its liquor license & launching its new website

Charcoal Lane is a vibrant and innovative restaurant that offers a unique experience of high quality modern Australian cuisine in a contemporary Aboriginal setting, whilst providing Aboriginal and disadvantaged young people with experience in a supported, real work environment as part of an integrated program which includes personal skills development and accredited education in hospitality.
Visit www.charcoallane.com.au.

Prominent community enterprise worker Jill Jordan passes away

It was announced on January 9th 2010 that Jill Jordan, the “legend of Frog’s Hollow” and foundation member of many of Maleny's co-operative ventures passed away in Bowen on Friday 8th January, 2010.
Read more at http://www.socialtraders.com.au/news/2010/01/prominent-community-enterprise-worker-jill-jordan-passes-away.

SEWF 2010 - inviting participation in showcase event

The SEA - San Francisco Chapter is hosting the Social Enterprise Summit 2010 + World Forum kick-off event with a special reception featuring exhibits of social enterprises. All attendees are invited to display their social ventures at the summits’ 2-hour reception.
Learn more at http://www.se-alliance.org/summit_10showcase.cfm.

Opinion Piece of the Month

"Sustainable Social Enterprise: What does this Really Mean?" - Ingrid Burkett, Social Innovations Manager, Foresters Community Finance

"One of the consequences of recent Federal Government funding in the social
enterprise space has been the reappearance of debates and discussions about the
sustainability of social enterprise. The question that inevitably gets asked is ‘can
social enterprises become sustainable after 2 or 3 years (because that’s how long
the funding is expected to last)’? When we ask what is meant by ‘sustainable’ in this
context, the most common answer is: “It means that the enterprise is no longer
dependent on grant funding”. It’s interesting to me that the discussions almost
inevitably centre on assumptions that social enterprises can or should be
independent of grant funding and that sustainability is focused only on financial
measures. I’m not sure this is either helpful or appropriate."

Read the full opinion piece at http://www.socialtraders.com.au/opinion-pieces.
And hear more from Ingrid in our online community forum

Social Traders will be regularly featuring thought provoking opinion pieces on various topics related to social enterprise. We invite you to share your views on these pieces through our Community Discussion Forums, as well as contribute your own opinion pieces by contacting info@socialtraders.com.au.

About Social Enterprise

Did you know…
A Social Firm is a not-for-profit social enterprise with the specific mission of creating employment for people excluded from the labour market as a result of mental illness, disability or other disadvantage.
Social Firm – Just one of a range of Social Enterprise Types
Read More at www.socialtraders.infoxchange.net.au/social-enterprise-typology.

Social Enterprise Profile

Cleanable

Cleanable is a non-profit cleaning business run as a social firm. It was established in Melbourne in 2005 as a subsidiary of Westgate Community Initiatives Group (WCIG) in partnership with Social Firms Australia (SoFA) and Social Ventures Australia (SVA).
Read more about Cleanable and other social enterprise case studies at www.socialtraders.com.au/library/case-studies.

If you are keen to profile, or would like to contribute a case study of your social enterprise to our website, post your document at http://www.socialtraders.infoxchange.net.au/node/add/library or contact us at info@socialtraders.com.au.

Events

Public Money for Public Benefit, Blacktown NSW Feb 9, 2010

Come along to a lively panel debate and Q&A session facilitated by Duncan Peppercorn, SVA Consulting, where you will hear from industry experts on the role of social enterprise and social procurement in matching key government priorities.
For more information visit http://www.socialtraders.com.au/event/2010/01/public-money-public-benefit.

World Café Food Forum, Melbourne Feb 11, 2010

Social enterprise STREAT and Social Traders will co-host their second World Café style food forum for food-related social and community enterprises on the evening of 11 Feb 2010. This event is an informal gathering of like-minds where people can get to know each other’s programs, explore opportunities for collaboration, learn from each other, and hopefully support each other.
Read more at http://www.socialtraders.com.au/event/2010/02/world-cafe-food-forum.

Navigating Social Entrepreneurship and Enterprise in Victoria, Melbourne Feb 18, 2010

The School for Social Entrepreneurs in partnership with Social Traders invites you to a free interactive seminar for community members and support organisations (public, private or non profit) to learn about social entrepreneurship and enterprise and to discover the support networks for those individuals and organisations using business principles to build healthier communities in Victoria.
For more information visit http://www.socialtraders.com.au/event/2010/01/navigating-social-entrepreneurship-and-enterprise-victoria.

Community Economic Development Conference, Waitakere, Auckland Feb 9 – 11, 2010

Exploring journeys from grant dependence to independence – a New Zealand first! The three conference streams of: Social Enterprise Development, Alternative Finance and Investment, and Community Economic Development; will address the transitional moment when not-for-profit organisations begin moving from innovation to enterprise, to long term sustainability.
For more information visit http://www.socialtraders.com.au/event/2010/01/community-economic-development-conference.

Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) 2010, San Francisco, CA April 28 - 30, 2010

New Approach, New Economy - Realizing the Potential of Social Enterprise. 
Don’t miss this international forum advocating for increased social impact through social enterprise. Join over 600 social entrepreneurs in San Francisco to learn, grow, be inspired, make new connections from around the globe and become part of this expanding movement.
For more information visit http://www.socialtraders.com.au/event/2009/11/social-enterprise-world-forum-2010.

For Further Information on these and other upcoming events visit www.socialtraders.com.au/news.

We are keen to communicate news and events anywhere in Australia that relates to Social Enterprise. If you would like us to promote your news or event, post your information to our website at www.socialtraders.com.au/node/add/news or email info@socialtraders.com.au.

Resources

"Eight Basic Principles for Non Profit Entrepreneurs" by Jerr Boschee

This article sheds light on the differences between innovation and entrepreneurship, and provides useful advice based on the lessons of pioneers in the field.
Read article at http://www.socialtraders.com.au/library/social-enterprise-articles.

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