Social Enterprise National Strategy: What’s Next

The SENS team are so excited to share the next steps for a social enterprise national strategy.

Building on conversations with and around the social enterprise sector, the Yunus Centre mapped a possible path forward to an Australian social enterprise strategy. Based on this, the Social Enterprise National Strategy (SENS) team is working on five things in the lead up to the Social Enterprise World Forum in Brisbane in September 2022:

• Vision and Mission

• Principles of Practice

• Organisational Infrastructure

• Communication and Engagement

• Investment Case

These work packages are designed to increase the likelihood of securing a strategic partnership with the Federal Government. They are also designed to both lay the foundations for a national strategy and – as they will create immediate benefits for the sector – start the process.

In this context, the immediate next steps for SENS are to work with the sector to develop the first three. The full process and dates for these haven’t all been locked in. This is intentional. While it means all dates can’t go in diaries yet, it allows us to learn from our first steps and to adapt further steps to best meet the needs of the sector. What is planned is outlined below, along with initial ways to get involved.

Vision and Mission

Work has just kicked off on a vision and mission for the sector – the means through which to set a shared direction and articulate a compelling call to action; one that also engages the wider impact ecosystem and the Federal Government.

ASENA (Alliance of Social Enterprise Networks Australia) and the state networks have been engaged to give initial feedback on the draft vision and mission from the Yunus Centre, as outlined in their second SENS report.

This feedback will then be compiled to put to sector-wide workshops to discuss and further develop. To allow for different availability and maximise participation, three open-invite workshops with the same format will be held on the following dates. People are encouraged to book into one only.

• Thursday 3 February at 3pm (AEDT)

• Tuesday 8 February at 3pm (AEDT)

• Thursday 10 February at 3pm (AEDT)

Register here. The results of these workshops will then be compiled for ASENA, then the SENS Advisory Council, to finalise.

Principles of Practice

Once the vision and mission is finalised, the development of principles of practice and conduct for the sector will kick-off. These will be the means through which to galvanise the diversity of the sector around shared values and identity, and to strengthen the basis for ongoing cooperation. Details for how to get involved will be shared early next year.

Organisational Infrastructure

The Yunus Centre proposed a new, fit-for-purpose organisation be designed to enable the development of an Australian social enterprise strategy. SENS is currently setting up a basic legal entity to support the delivery of the work packages. Once the principles of practice are finalised, sector design of organisational infrastructure will kick-off. This will be the means through which to organise, cooperate, coordinate and engage sector-wide. The basic legal entity will then be shaped and structured to reflect sector design conversations. Details for how to get involved in the design process will be shared early-mid next year.

Collaboration and generosity continue to power this work. Big thanks to all whose enthusiasm, belief and energy led us to this point. SENS is being created by people across the social enterprise sector bringing ideas, generosity, wisdom, bravery, unique perspectives and honesty.

Shout out to Nick Verginis for supporting the February workshops by offering use of the SENVIC/ASENA ticketing and hosting platforms, and to Jay Boolkin and Social Change Central for publishing the SENS update and workshop details. 

Looking forward to working together and growing our sector and impact together.