A place to learn and exchange about social enterprise
Information
A guide to help navigate Australia’s social enterprise sector. It details key roles and key terms.
Education
Find educational tools and resources to help you start, run and evolve a social enterprise and explore the wider impact economy.
Connection
Learning communities for participants to solve problems, develop practice, learn with and support peers, and share their learnings with others.
Understorey is a digital commons. It is an online resource available to all, and shaped by all who choose to take part.
Guide to Australia’s social enterprise sector
This Sector Guide provides an overview of the key actors and areas of activity that contribute to the development of social enterprise in Australia. From funding and investment to education and research, policy and advocacy to impact measurement and marketplaces, this guide maps out our diverse sector.
Curated educational resources
Key topics
Starting and running a social enterprise
The social enterprise journey can be both exciting and challenging. This section provides resources and tools to help you navigate the process of starting and running a successful social business. From understanding the problem you want to solve to measuring your impact and building a strong team, we cover the key areas that every social entrepreneur and practitioner needs to consider to turn intentions into impact.
Learn more
Working in the impact economy
The impact economy is a rapidly evolving space that offers diverse opportunities to create positive change. This section delves into ideas and approaches that are relevant to social enterprise AND to others contributing to a new economy that puts people and planet first. From exploring power dynamics and decolonisation to thinking in systems and engaging communities, these resources will provide you with a broader view and equip you to make a meaningful impact through your work.
Learn more
Challenge areas for the Sector
Social enterprises are at the forefront of tackling some of our most pressing challenges. This section focuses on four thematic areas where social enterprises are driving real change: environmental care, people-centred services, access to decent work, and community-led innovation. Dive into the latest research and thinking that can help grow understanding and impact in each of these critical areas.
Learn more
Explore key terms
This guide provides key terms used in the Australian social enterprise sector. It explains technical language and helps people use the same words to mean the same things.
Understorey aims to feed curiosity, offer practical solutions, and inspire new possibilities for the future.
Published Dec 2024
New learning communities
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’re excited to share some of the themes and ideas that will be explored through learning communities in 2025-26.
.png)