New learning communities

Introduction

Our sector is diverse, full of passionate people working towards thriving futures for people and planet, and so rich with lived and learned experience. In this context we asked what is needed to contribute to collaborative knowledge, culture and capability-development of the social enterprise sector at this moment in time?

Shaping learning communities through sector input

We asked, and hundreds of people shared their views. Those views have shaped a range of learning communities, commissioned by Social Enterprise Australia as part of the Social Enterprise Development Initiative (SEDI).

People shared that they want to:

Connect with others across the social enterprise ecosystem so the work is not done alone.
Share knowledge and experience that brings together emerging and established actors including those from under-represented backgrounds.

Learn from peers engaging with similar challenges.
Explore and experiment through collaboration.
Co-create learning resources that advance social enterprise knowledge and practice in ways that centre equity in transforming systems.

Four types of learning communities

In response, we developed a framework of four types of learning communities with different entry points to grow understanding of the social enterprise sector and connect with others in it; including those who are well-established in the social enterprise world, those who are new to the space, and those who are doing the work but may not know about or see themselves as part of the sector.

We invited expressions of interest (EOIs) from convenors of the following types of learning communities.

Open Learning: a space where knowledge, stories, skills and experiences from across the social enterprise community are shared through online webinars, conversations and forums. Open to all to join.

Peer Learning and Support: informal knowledge exchange and peer support focused on a place, theme or field. Participants may be identified by convenors through an EOI process.

Deep Experience: focused topic-based learning, practice development and collective problem-solving with peers connected to a similar challenge. Groups will collaboratively develop knowledge resources for sharing with the sector. Participants may be invited by convenors or identified through an EOI process.

Innovation Collaboration: systems change experimentation and practice development with transformative approaches. Groups will collaboratively develop knowledge resources for sharing with the sector. Participants may be invited by convenors or identified through a targeted EOI process.

We were thrilled to receive 121 submissions (representing 89 unique organisations) across the four types of learning communities and a wide range of impact areas. EOIs came from all over Australia; from social enterprises, intermediaries, researchers and other entities, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led organisations, organisations led by people from culturally and racially marginalised backgrounds, rural and regional organisations, as well as metro-based teams. The breadth and quality of EOIs reflects the extraordinary diversity of expertise and abundance of knowledge and innovation in our sector.

Review process

EOIs were reviewed by a procurement panel comprising three SEA team members and four independent panelists. Independent panelists were from Griffith University (QLD), CSI Swinburne (WA) and a First Nations impact producer (NSW). Panelists brought expertise as social innovation designers, enterprise founders, and impact lab leads.

With $600,000 to procure convenors across all forms of SEDI learning communities, we undertook a rigorous review process with a range of considerations including:

Alignment with SEDI objectives including priorities for rural and regional, culturally and racially marginalised, and First Nations-led, driven, or focused learning communities.
Clear identification of a sector capability-development need (technical, cultural and/or field-building capabilities).
Capability to meet specific requirements for each learning community.
Diverse representation of themes, geography and sector actors.
Value for money.

Themes and ideas

We’re excited to share some of the themes and ideas that will be explored through learning communities:

Open Learning

Truth telling in social change and social enterprise
First Nations worldviews and social enterprise
Building the next generation of social entrepreneurs and enterprises
Co-operatives and mutuals as part of the social economy
Social enterprise as a model for delivering allied health services
Strengthening procurement readiness
Autistic entrepreneurs in the Australian social enterprise sector
First Nations perspectives on creative and culturally respectful climate solutions
Learning from failures in the social enterprise sector
Ethical storytelling
Starting and growing work integration social enterprises (WISEs)
Building and strengthening the rural social enterprise ecosystem
and more….

Peer Learning and Support

Education (K-12) social enterprises
Strengthening micro social enterprises in Western Australia
Measuring and managing social impact effectively
Work integration social enterprise practitioners across Australia
Collecting, managing and using data for small and startup social enterprises
Empowerment through employment: enabling recovery, healing and financial independence for survivors of domestic & family violence and modern slavery
Connecting and strengthening social enterprises in the Shoalhaven, Eurobodalla, Bega Valley and surrounding regions
Developing the capability of social enterprises in South Australia to measure and communicate outcomes

Deep Experience

Lived experience ethical storytelling
Challenges, needs and opportunities for social enterprises in the circular economy
Bridging the gap between regional social enterprise and finance
Decolonising practices and systems-change in the social enterprise sector
Youth-centred engagement and design in social enterprise
Staying in place: enabling and empowering older residents to remain in their regional communities through transitioning neighbourhood and community resource centres into social enterprises
Understanding and respecting cultural protocols to build long-term partnerships with First Nations peoples and communities in the social enterprise sector

Innovation Collaboration

Elevating community building and regenerative practices led by First Nations leaders across diverse social enterprise industry and impact areas
Potential of social enterprises to work collaboratively, holistically and systemically in place, for just and regenerative regional economies.

Next steps and ongoing commitment

We’re finalising engagement agreements with learning community convenors and will be sharing their stories in the coming weeks.

SEDI is funded by the Australian Government to strengthen social enterprise capability and to help build capability for all actors in the social enterprise sector to grow social impact. SEA is the education and mentoring coordinator of SEDI, facilitating opportunities to navigate the sector and to learn and exchange. More on SEDI and learning communities.