Who we are
Social Enterprise Australia (SEA) was established to work with the social enterprise sector in Australia to lead its national strategy. We are the national peak body for social enterprise. We connect the sector to plan, act and learn together. We do this to have a shared national strategy and voice, and to develop new ways to build social and environmental wellbeing.
Social Enterprise Australia was launched following three co-designs. These developed the sector’s vision and mission; values and principles; and mapped the enabling infrastructure needed for the sector to thrive, including Social Enterprise Australia's role.
Over 6,000 sector stakeholders have participated in our work to date.
Our vision is working together to ensure all people, places and the planet thrive.
Our mission is to foster a vibrant and connected Australian social enterprise sector that provides:
- Environmental care
- People-centred services
- Access to decent work
- Community-led innovation
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Join the campaign and read this year's budget ask by Social Enterprise Australia.
What we do
SEDI education and mentoring will grow participation and capability in the Australian social enterprise sector. It will do this to help the social enterprise sector contribute to a better future.
Social Enterprise Australia is the SEDI Education and Mentoring Coordinator. It will:
- Commission learning and peer mentoring communities,
- Curate leading practice materials, tools, or training modules, or commission new ones where gaps exist,
- Point to and bring these elements together in one site online - Understorey - and help people navigate the sector, and
- Ensure sector input and ideas inform Understorey’s development. This will include rural and regional, First Nations, and culturally and linguistically marginalised voices.
Understorey will host, point to, and integrate with a range of quality resources about social enterprise.
Our work
Work integration social enterprise - Requests of the Australian Government December 2024
ReportsWork integration social enterprises (WISEs) exist to provide employment opportunities for those who are most shut-out of work. They are a proven way to unlock sustainable employment outcomes for the most disadvantaged people, groups and places. Australia needs WISEs and their innovative approach, but systemic challenges have stifled their ability to scale, despite the public value they create. WISEs incur costs that standard businesses do not; costs to deliver impact. These are called Impact Costs. Not being able to recoup their Impact Costs - to be paid for the public value and savings they create - has hampered WISEs’ ability to sustain, scale, and maximise the role they play. Now is the time to change this. This submission to the Australian Government outlines how this can be addressed to unlock greater economic inclusion.
Work integration social enterprise - Requests of the Australian Government December 2024Unlock the impact of social enterprise, 2025-2026 Pre-budget submission
ReportsIn recent years we’ve seen more extreme weather, a pandemic and a cost-of-living crisis. Australia’s social, environmental and economic challenges hit the most disadvantaged people hardest - and they demand new responses. Social enterprises can help. They innovate for social and environmental good - and harness the power of business to test and scale new ideas. There are an estimated 12,000 social enterprises in Australia and increasing recognition of their impact. But they need targeted support to reach their potential. In our 2025-26 Federal Budget submission, we outline three things that are needed from the Australian Government to help make social enterprise business as usual.
Unlock the impact of social enterprise, 2025-2026 Pre-budget submissionNews
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Head office:
- New South Wales
Service location(s):
- Australian Capital Territory
- Queensland
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Tasmania
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Victoria
Type(s) of actor:
- Peak bodies
Area(s) of activity:
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