WEAVE: Regen Economy Systems Lab

This resource is the Regen Labs website page for WEAVE, a Regenerative Economy Systems Lab. WEAVE is a 12-month innovation and learning programme commissioned by Social Enterprise Australia. It brings together regional social enterprises, policymakers, finance experts and community groups to test what helps regional economies become more inclusive and regenerative, meaning they restore rather than deplete the environment and share benefits more fairly.

The page explains that WEAVE ran real-world experiments across three inquiry areas. Business model innovation looks at new ways to structure enterprises so they share value fairly rather than extract it. Finance innovation looks at how money flows and who controls it, aiming to make funding fairer and more suited to regional needs. Social infrastructure innovation looks at the support systems, relationships and networks that help enterprises grow and create wider change.

The page describes why this work matters now. Current systems of business support and finance were built for an older, extractive economy, and they are not serving regional communities well. At the same time, global shifts towards net zero and wellbeing economies, alongside growing interest in community-led approaches, create a real opportunity. WEAVE worked with place-based partners in South Australia, New South Wales and Western Australia, alongside learning partners like Regen Melbourne, to test ideas on the ground and share what worked.

Readers will find links to WEAVE's information pack, an Open Learning session slide deck, and further articles on regenerative economies in Australia. This resource works well as a starting point for anyone wanting to understand the WEAVE programme, its partners and its purpose, before exploring the more detailed resources it links to. It is most relevant to social enterprise founders, funders, and policymakers interested in regional and place-based economic change.