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This library holds a chosen collection of useful tools, guides, and resources in the social enterprise sector. You can explore guides, articles, and more to support your journey. If you're starting a social enterprise, facing sector challenges, or looking into the impact economy, you’ll find something useful here.
Suggest a new educational resource or update here to help keep this library useful.
Narragunnawali is a program from Reconciliation Australia that helps schools and early learning services take action on reconciliation. It offers curriculum resources, professional learning and a Reconciliation Action Plan process designed specifically for education settings. Useful for teachers, school leaders and early childhood educators across Australia.
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The NDIS Co-Design Hub supports inclusive disability service design by involving people with disabilities and their families. It provides resources, case studies, and best practices to foster collaboration between participants, service providers, and policymakers.
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The National Employment Services Association (NESA) is Australia's peak body for employment services, advocating for systemic improvements, workforce development, and inclusive hiring. It supports employment practitioners and promotes job access for disadvantaged groups.
National Employment Services Association (NESA)
This page from Reconciliation Australia introduces National Reconciliation Week, an annual event held each year from 27 May to 3 June. It explains the history and meaning of the week, the 2026 theme, and how individuals and organisations can get involved. It is relevant to anyone wanting to take part in or understand reconciliation in Australia.
National Reconciliation Week
This national toolkit, developed by Future Minds Network, maps six stages young people move through when engaging with social enterprises, from first discovery to long-term leadership. Built from a year-long collaboration with over thirty youth organisations, it offers practical, tested strategies for any organisation wanting to engage young talent.
National Youth Engagement Toolkit
The Native Title Law Database is Australia's most comprehensive publicly accessible collection of native title case and legislation summaries. It helps traditional owners, legal practitioners, and researchers find and understand native title law in plain, searchable form. It is a practical starting point for anyone navigating native title processes in Australia.
Native Title Law Database
This guide shares, in plain English, how Faith in Nature recognised the legal Rights of Nature within its organisational structures. Based in the UK, It sets out how they went about it and the changes made to their ‘Articles of Association’.
Nature on the board - an open source guide
This online resource by Wedgetail brings together multiple examples of nature-positive business models being explored around the world.
Nature positive business models
This report, published by the Department of Social Services, sets out a ten-year plan to strengthen Australia's not-for-profit and charity sector. Developed with sector leaders, it argues for stronger funding, regulation and government partnership so charities can keep supporting Australian communities long term.
Not-for-profit Sector Development Blueprint
A rich introduction to the history of measurement and how different drivers have informed how we think about, and practice, impact measurement and evaluation today. Also includes some useful graphics that help distinguish different terms and approaches from each other.
Now we are all measuring impact
This web page introduces the Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC), the body that registers and regulates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander corporations in Australia. It explains what ORIC does, who it serves, and the values it operates by. It is useful for anyone setting up or running an Indigenous corporation.
Office of the Registrar of Indigenous Corporations (ORIC)
This report from the On Our Own Terms project explores Lived Experience Leadership in Australia, meaning leadership grounded in personal experience of marginalisation or exclusion. Drawing on conversations with ten leaders, it argues this is a mature, community-anchored discipline already driving systems change, and calls on institutions to properly resource and recognise it. Relevant to funders, policymakers and social sector organisations.
On Our Own Terms: Emerging Insights
Regen Labs and Regen Melbourne led an insightful webinar exploring how social enterprises can work across system layers, or "altitudes" to organise for place-based change. Using frameworks, real-world projects, and the concept of “altitude sickness,” the session offered practical tools to strengthen collaboration, coherence, and momentum in complex systems work.
Organising in Place and Working Across Altitudes
This webinar explores how the Orienting Futures learning community brought social enterprise practitioners together to develop regenerative, decolonising and equity-centred approaches to systems change. Participants share how relational learning, brave conversations and practical frameworks strengthened their confidence, leadership and capacity to create more just, collaborative and sustainable futures.
Orienting Futures: Emerging Culturally and Ecologically Responsive Practice
This resource is a practical guide from Community First Development that explains their First Nations approach to community development. It outlines a strengths-based framework shaped by culture, relationships and self-determination. The guide shows how communities can lead decisions, design local solutions and measure progress in ways that respect First Nations knowledge and value
Our Community Development Framework – a First Nations Approach
Our Knowledge, Our Way is a set of Indigenous-led best practice guidelines that show how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples strengthen and share their knowledge to care for land and sea Country. The resource highlights respectful ways of working with Indigenous knowledge and building partnerships that support cultural leadership, land management and collaborative decision-making across research and practice.
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This guide explains what an outcomes fund is and how it works. An outcomes fund brings together funding from different sources and pays organisations based on the results they achieve. The guide outlines who is involved and how these funds are set up and managed.
Outcomes funds: Explained
This government inquiry explores how to improve economic self-determination and opportunities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Led by the Joint Standing Committee on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, the inquiry examines barriers and enablers for training, jobs, business growth, access to capital and economic leadership. It gathers evidence from experts, organisations and communities and makes recommendations to strengthen pathways for First Nations economic participation and decision-making.
Parliamentary Inquiry: Economic Self-Determination for First Nations Australians
This research paper by the Centre for Social Impact Flinders explores social supermarkets as an innovative model for addressing food insecurity. Combining affordable food access with social support, these supermarkets move beyond traditional food relief by integrating dignity, choice, and community connection. The paper highlights how social supermarkets offer a comprehensive approach, including financial, emotional, and skill-building services, fostering long-term independence and resilience for clients.
'Part Discount Grocer, Part Social Connection: Defining Elements of Social Supermarkets', Centre for Social Impact-2.png?w=192)
This article introduces participatory budgeting, a democratic process empowering citizens to influence public fund allocation. It covers its origins in Porto Alegre, Brazil, outlines key stages, and highlights benefits like transparency, trust, and community empowerment, making it an ideal resource for those exploring the concept.
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This report by CSI Swinburne evaluates the Australian Government’s Payment by Outcomes (PBO) trial, which funds jobs-focused social enterprises based on employment outcomes. It assesses the impact on individuals facing work barriers, including those with disabilities, and explores the trial’s systemic and policy implications for employment services.
'Payment by Outcomes: Measuring the Effectiveness of Jobs-Focused Social Enterprises', Centre for Social Impact
This resource is currently being developed. If you would like to be notified when it is published, please email team@understorey.org.au.
Peer Learning in the Real World: Reflections from a WISE Community of Practice
People and Planet First is a participatory verification and a global collective that’s helping accelerate the transition to an economy that puts people and the planet first.
People and Planet First (PPF)
Permaculture Australia promotes sustainable living and growing practices through the principles of permaculture, tailored to Australia’s unique climate and ecosystems. The organisation provides education, training, and certification in permaculture design, supports local projects focused on food security and regenerative agriculture, and advocates for ecological and social resilience. By fostering self-sufficient, sustainable communities, Permaculture Australia helps communities work in harmony with the environment.
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This companion resource, developed by Tammy Baart of Blak Ignited and Birdy Bird of The Land Back Foundation, maps the four-stage Personal Journey as their workbook: awareness, knowledge, challenge and connection. It organises curated readings, videos and activities into a guide for building cultural and emotional intelligence on Country.
Personal Journey
This personal workbook, developed by Tammy Baart of Blak Ignited and Birdy Bird of The Land Back Foundation, guides social entrepreneurs through a self-directed journey of cultural and emotional intelligence for working respectfully on Country. It combines reflection, activities and frameworks for building genuine allyship with First Nations peoples.
Personal Workbook
This case study tells the story of Perth City Farm and its role as a social enterprise. It highlights how the Farm makes money through various activities while supporting the community and sustainability. It also offers lessons for others looking to build strong, local social enterprises.
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The Acumen Academy offers free online courses and resources for social entrepreneurs. Their blog series on fundraising and pitching social enterprises provides valuable insights for changemakers seeking to refine their pitching skills and increase their chances of securing support and funding.
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The Platform Cooperatives Toolkit provides practical resources for building fair, worker-owned cooperatives in the digital economy. It includes step-by-step guides, case studies, and tools to promote equitable ownership and sustainable employment.
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This blog delves into power through a systems change lens, emphasising its importance in tackling sustainability challenges. It redefines power as a relational dynamic rather than a static state, exploring shifts from “power over” to “power with” approaches. Key themes include privilege, systemic challenges like climate change and inequality, and the fractal nature of power across scales. Combining theoretical insights with practical strategies, it provides tools for minimising hierarchical power, fostering collaboration, and building capacity for transformative, inclusive decision-making.
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This video examines how societal power dynamics—capitalism, patriarchy, and racism—shape behaviours, leadership, and business outcomes. It explores healing power structure wounds, aligning leadership with values, and empowering individuals through self-awareness and systemic change.
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This guide by Sefa (Social Enterprise Finance Australia) helps social enterprises get ready for funding. It explains four key areas to focus on: Purpose, Plan, Profit, and Prudence. It provides practical advice to strengthen strategy, financial planning and governance so organisations can confidently approach funders and investors.
Prepare for Funding: The 4 Ps
This handbook helps you clearly understand the problem your social enterprise or project is trying to solve. When you understand the real problem, it is easier to find better solutions. The canvas and guide include simple tools to help you define the problem, see different types of problems, and identify practical actions you can take.
Problem Framing Canvas Workbook
This report, developed by the Blueprint Expert Reference Group with support from the Department of Social Services, sets out a ten-year plan to strengthen Australia's not-for-profit and charity sector. It argues for stronger funding, regulation and government partnership so charities can keep supporting communities long term.
Project Compass: A Social Enterprise Learning Program Empowering 11,500 Girl Guides
Project Drawdown is a nonprofit organisation dedicated to identifying and scaling science-based solutions to combat climate change. Focused on equitable, safe, and effective approaches, the organisation conducts research, engages stakeholders, and promotes solutions to drive meaningful action. Through storytelling and collaboration, Project Drawdown shifts the narrative on climate change from despair to possibility, offering practical pathways for individuals and organisations to contribute to impactful climate action.
Project Drawdown: The World’s Leading Resource for Climate Solutions
This practical guide from BlackCard explores the connections between First Nations enterprise and the social enterprise sector. It argues that many First Nations organisations are already creating social, cultural and economic impact, and explores where First Nations ways of doing business, community development and impact creation intersect with the sector.
Purpose, Community and Enterprise - Exploring Social Enterprise Through a First Nations Lens
This article by Adam Kahane introduces ‘radical collaboration’ as a transformative approach to tackling systemic challenges. By integrating love, power, and justice, it fosters empathy, empowerment, and fairness among diverse stakeholders. This method aims to align differing interests and capacities, enabling inclusive and impactful systems change while navigating inherent tensions in collaboration.
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This guide explains how social enterprises can raise money beyond grants and donations by involving their community and members. It focuses on using a co-operative structure to attract investment, share ownership and build long-term financial support while staying true to social purpose.
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This report from Dark Lightning draws on conversations with First Nations leaders and practitioners to explore how Reconciliation Action Plans (RAPs), formal commitments organisations make to advance reconciliation, can move beyond compliance and create genuine economic opportunity. It includes a practical six-step pathway for more meaningful engagement.
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This report shares findings from a deep learning community of rural and remote impact leaders and funders across Australia. It argues that poor data, mismatched communication and hidden costs are holding back funding for social impact outside cities, and suggests new capital models to fix this. Useful for funders, impact leaders and policymakers.
Reflections on the Funding Landscape for Rural, Regional and Remote Social Impact
Learn more about what regenerative agriculture is and how we can grow food in a way that gives back to people and the planet.
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The ReGeneration Rising podcast, by RSA Oceania, explores regenerative approaches to redesigning communities, cities, and economies, fostering a thriving planet. Hosted by Dr Daniel Christian Wahl, it features renowned guests across two insightful series.
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This resource from the Australian Indigenous Governance Institute (AIGI) examines the significance of relationships in First Nations governance. It covers cultural, community, and environmental connections, balancing roles, building trust, and fostering effective partnerships. The guide also explores allyship, network expansion, and practical strategies for creating balanced, respectful collaborations within Indigenous communities and beyond.
Relationships
The Remarkable Insights Podcast by Remarkable explores how disability drives innovation, featuring global pioneers in assistive tech and inclusive design. Hosted by Viv Mullan, each episode reveals how lived experience and creativity shape business, technology and social change
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This report from the First Nations Projects Institute captures 25 First Nations contributors' experiences of funding systems. It finds that current funding models are scarce, complex and often misaligned with First Nations ways of working.
Resourcing First Nations Enterprises: Insights from a Social Enterprise Development Learning Community
This article highlights how charities can connect with a new generation of tech founders who are becoming major donors in Australia. Drawing on the Australian Tech Giving Report, it explains how tech wealth is growing, why tech givers give differently, and how not-for-profits can adapt to engage them.
Riding the Tech Wave: How Charities Can Positively Engage with the Innovation Generation
This thorough resource from Centre for Social Impact is a step by step guide to support you and your organisation through the process of outcomes measurement and evaluation.
Roadmap to Social Impact - CSI
Sefa Partnerships convened a webinar exploring how funding for social impact is designed, delivered and experienced across rural and remote Australia. Drawing on a peer learning community of funders and impact leaders, the session shared insights on obstacles and opportunities to increase the flow of funding across Australia’s diverse geographies.
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SafeWork Australia offers resources for workplace health and safety, including psychosocial safety. Black Dog Institute supports mental health with free NSW training. Local SafeWork bodies, like SafeWork NSW, also provide helpful resources.
SafeWork Australia
Seedkit is a national project and online platform that helps social enterprises measure and share their impact. It allows organisations to track their work and results using simple dashboards and reports that can be customised to their needs.
Seedkit