This project adapts the Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) model for the disability sector, and identifies factors that facilitate and inhibit pathways to employment.

Australia’s social enterprises can make a significant contribution toward a more equitable society, but are constrained by limited financial, public policy and other ‘ecosystem’ supports, according to the authors of this paper.

The new rubric presented in this report provides a well-evidenced model for understanding the core elements of Pacific social enterprise, which in turn can inform future investments and planning of sustainable Pacific social enterprise models, unlocking the potential of Pacific communities, families and successful enterprises.

The impacts of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic have stretched far beyond the immediate public health concerns. Built on in-depth conversations with civil society leaders from across Australia, this report offers crucial insights into the for-purpose sectors ability to help people in need during crisis and...

The briefing paper defines concepts of both the circular and social economy, and describes the potential of the social economy to support circular activities and related business models and to reinforce uptake of circularity around the world.

This research report focuses on Australia’s social venture ecosystem – the entrepreneurial ecosystem that grows and sustains social ventures across Australia.

This strategy document sets an ambitious agenda for a thriving Victorian social enterprise sector – creating jobs, fostering social entrepreneurship and supplying the marketplace with quality and diverse goods and services.

This article discusses the capabilities of social purpose organisations which are protective in a crisis. Philanthropists, government funders and social purpose organisations need to work together to nurture these protective factors.

Over the last two decades, public health and health promotion strategies have increasingly recognised the importance of redressing the social determinants of health (SDOH) inequities. This study investigates the ways in which work integration social enterprises (WISE) affect the SDOH equity for young people in...

The briefing draws upon the expertise of RMIT’s education, art and social science research community to inform policy makers on opportunities and challenges for arts-based social enterprises (ASEs) in supporting the engagement, well-being, education and employment pathways of marginalised young people, while trading creative products...

Work integration social enterprises provide one mechanism for addressing the root causes of health inequity among young people. This guide summarises the ‘better-practice’ features, contexts and design of successful, youth-focused work integration social enterprises.

This paper discusses how co-operatives and mutuals sit alongside contemporary definitions and accreditation processes for social enterprise and the alignment between the objectives of social enterprise policymakers and the purpose of co-operative and mutual enterprises. The case study section, provided as an appendix, includes important...

This report reveals the contrasting views employees of different types of firm have about their workplaces in terms of purpose, and the importance of ownership to these perceptions. Taking these results, the authors discuss why diverse forms of ownership are necessary to achieve the broader...

This report aims to explore how social enterprises realise wellbeing. It is aimed at practitioners, and provides useful tools for understanding wellbeing in social enterprise contexts. Results are derived from four case studies of social enterprises in two regional cities in Australia.

The purpose of this report is to highlight the potential impact that social enterprise and co-operative organisations have on addressing some of the social and economic challenges facing South Australia.

This interim report summarises the Taskforce’s findings to date—and includes three initiatives recommended for immediate implementation.

This State of Social Enterprise report showcases how social enterprises are outperforming their peers whilst tackling the triple threat of economic stagnation, social division and environmental meltdown. In order to resolve the crisis in capitalism, the report argues that more social enterprises are needed to...

The purpose of this forum was to canvass the available evidence about social enterprise and the wider ecosystem, and also to identify gaps in knowledge, as well as what is needed in policy and practice to support the development of the field and its impacts.

Social enterprises play an important role in delivering jobs and training opportunities for disadvantaged people. This strategy document outlines the Queensland government’s commitment to supporting the growth of the social enterprise sector in Queensland.

This paper provides an overview of the current state of the UK social enterprise sector and some analysis on how the UK Government has helped facilate the growth of the sector.

This evidence review, drawing on secondary analysis of existing evidence from academic and grey literature, addresses whether and how employment redresses disadvantage; the current costs and future implications of unemployment and underemployment; and the potential and impacts of employment-focused social enterprises on employment creation and...

This report shows that employment-focused social enterprises are playing a critical role in improving the lives of disadvantaged Australians by offering a people-centred approach to employment support services.

The Social Value Act came into force in early 2013, requiring commissioning bodies to think about wider social and environmental benefits when procuring new services. This report explores the extent to which the Act has helped government, in particular local authorities, to deliver on their...

This report explores the recent evolution of the social economy in the EU. It focuses on three areas: firstly, the social economy and the emergent concepts related to it, secondly, the public policies adopted in both the EU and the member states in the recent...

The insights in this report provide particular insights into young people and their views around alcohol culture and late night entertainment.