School for Social Entrepreneurs Australia
Social Change 101
Developing regional social entrepreneurship across Australia
school for social entrepreneurs
Supported by:
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April 2014
The Steve Lawrence Social Innovation Sub Fund The Steve Lawrence Social Innovation Sub Fund was established to continue the great work of serial social entrepreneur Steve Lawrence who died in 2012 after a long battle with cancer. Steve has been described as the Grandfather of social enterprise in Australia and helped establish over 13 not–for–profit organisations including Work Ventures, Social Ventures Australia, the Job Futures network, the School for Social Entrepreneurs Australia and the Australian Social Innovation Exchange. His contributions were recognised in the 2010 Australia Day Honours where he was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia (AO). The Steve Lawrence Social Innovation Sub Fund is a proud supporter of SSE Australia and the Social Change 101 Program.
Cover image caption: SSE Australia student Pat Ryan from Dismantle, a social enterprise in Western Australia that brings bikes and people together. Photo by Simon Dobb.
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Executive summary The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Australia runs learning programs across Australia for people from all backgrounds that have an idea or business with a community benefit. Our vision is a community powering positive changemakers for a more inclusive and sustainable world. Since launching in 2009, SSE has supported the development of over 250 social entrepreneurs across Australia.
Social Change 101 (SC101) is a new SSE regional program designed to support the development of social entrepreneurs in regional, rural and remote Australia. Each SC101 program is co–designed and co–delivered with a local partner to meet the unique needs of the community as well as to enable sustainable skills transfer in social enterprise development into the region. SC101 is for people from within a community who are seeking to establish or fast–track their idea or venture and connect with like–minded people to pursue community change. Their ventures may range from employment and training initiatives for marginalised youth to sustainable food and farming programs. Demand for SSE programs from regional communities highlights the need for capacity building support
for these local social entrepreneurs to bring their ideas for social change to life. Research also shows that the key barriers in these communities for early stage social entrepreneurs include: • Lack of access to appropriate skills development • Business networks • Financing • Community awareness of social enterprise Our vision for SC101 is to create a national network of regional, rural and remote entrepreneurial communities working together to create viable ventures that deliver sustainable social change. By collaborating and sharing our experiences across regional, rural and remote communities in Australia we will have the greatest potential as a nation to develop innovative and effective approaches to systemic and emerging social and environmental issues.
“ SSE Australia nurtures those in our community that see big opportunities where others see big problems – social entrepreneurs drive local actions to meet local challenges. SSE is about helping communities to help themselves.” Emily Fuller, Vincent Fairfax Family Foundation.
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SSE Australia’s SC101 goals: 1.
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BIG CONVERSATION
LOCATIONS
Deliver SC101 in a total of 15 locations by 2017, connecting and supporting over 210 social entrepreneurs.
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uild a local social enterprise network from B the ground up using SC101’s ‘Big Conversation’ strategy to consult with local knowledge, networks and assets in the co–delivery and design of the programs.
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Foster the development of a national network of regional social entrepreneurs and host Australia’s first conference for regional social entrepreneurs, government and business.
F acilitate market opportunities for social entrepreneurs with local, regional and national partners so that their goods and services reach their economic and social potential.
Getting involved: SSE is seeking community, business, government and funding partners to join us in our vision for building a national network of regional social entrepreneurs delivering sustainable social and economic benefits across Australia.
You can support SC101 by: • Becoming a SC101 National Partner • Sponsoring or providing a grant for a local program • Supporting individual student participation via a bursary • Becoming a mentor or supporting members of your team to become a program mentor • Providing content expertise for our programs
“ Working as a changemaker is challenging enough when you are going against established approaches to dealing with social issues. The isolation of working in a rural or remote area can lead to burn out if you do not have support structures, networks and learning opportunities close at hand. The community that SSE Australia creates around its social entrepreneur network is vital to the survival of social ventures and the success of the entrepreneurs behind them.”
Laura Egan, SSE AUSTRALIA FELLOW AND Founder of Enterprise Learning Projects (ELP) which works in remote Australia to support microenterprise development with Aboriginal communities.
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“ The Desert Fruit Company is an enterprise owned and managed by its workers.
We are committed to creating sustainable arid zone living and food production systems on our property located 70km south east of Alice Springs. The company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Tamara Cooperative, a not–for–profit social enterprise set up to shift the current livelihood paradigm in Central Australia. The major focus of the Desert Fruit Company currently is to sustainably maintain and expand production of Australia’s finest dates. We also aim to grow our business to include other appropriate crops and initiate various hands–on teaching and learning opportunities on our spectacular 75 hectare property.”
Photo by Kim Hopper.
ELLA MCHENRY, DESERT FRUIT COMPANY, SC101 ALICE SPRINGS FELLOW.
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The context: Regional, rural and remote Australia
Solving Australia’s social problems requires a new, more inclusive and community driven approach compared to traditional top down interventions. We need an approach that empowers and engages those most affected by social issues and that builds on the social and economic capital in our communities.
SSE Australia firmly believes that the development of social ventures established and managed by passionate and committed changemakers is the way forward to creating healthy, sustainable and inclusive communities. The Finding Australia’s Social Enterprise Survey (FASES, 2010) estimates that there are over 20,000 social enterprises within Australia. These enterprises are not only located in cities but are spread over 1,100 postcodes in each state and territory in the country. For instance, in Tasmania, 73% of the 183 social enterprises are located outside of Hobart1. Each of these enterprises are significant contributors to the economy and community – they average 19 full–time staff, 8 part–time staff as well as 23 volunteer workers. They exist across every sector except mining, with 28% providing products and services to national markets and 17% to international. Research by SSE2 also supports the view that social enterprise is emerging as an integral part of regional, rural and remote communities in Australia. However, setting up a social enterprise 1. Tasmanian Social Enterprise Study, Institute for Regional Development, University of Tasmania. http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_ file/0011/143795/Tasmanian_Social_Enterprise_ Baseline_Study.pdf 2. SSE Loddon Mallee Feasibility Report, August 2011. SSE Alice Springs Feasibility Report, Oct 2012
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is hard work and it can be made even more challenging when entrepreneurs are working in isolation without access to professional and personal support, as well as peer and business networks.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SSE and the University of Tasmania both conducted research into the barriers of establishing social enterprises across regional, rural and remote communities.
The common key barriers ARE: 1.
Lack of access to appropriate skills development 2.
Lack of networks to support the development of their venture 3.
F inancing for both early–stage development and scale 4.
Community awareness of social enterprise and their products/ services
PERTH
NORTHERN TERRITORY
N A
QUEENSLAND BRISBANE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES SYDNEY ADELAIDE
ACT The research also showed that these barriers were made more pronounced by the geographic and technological isolation that regional social entrepreneurs face. Furthermore, the training and support available locally is not suited to their needs, and their networks are often under窶電eveloped.
MELBOURNE
VICTORIA
Figure 1:
Postcode locations of social enterprises (FASES, 2010)
TASMANIA
Based on these findings, SSE Australia developed Social Change 101 to support regional, rural and remote social entrepreneurs through addressing these barriers to their development.
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“ italklibrary can turn any written information into a visual story, which can be spoken in any language.
All stories can be freely seen at italklibrary.com where they can be heard in English and a growing number of languages, including 14 Australian Indigenous languages. They say a picture speaks a thousand words…our pictures speak a thousand languages.” CHRISTOPHER BROCKLEBANK, ITALKLIBRARY, SC101 ALICE SPRINGS FELLOW.
Photo by Shaun Patterson – Winkipop. 8
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What is Social Change 101?
Social Change 101 (SC101) is a new SSE Australia program designed to support the development of social entrepreneurs in regional, rural and remote Australia. Each SC101 program is co–designed and co–delivered with a local partner to meet the unique needs of the area, as well as to enable sustainable skills transfer in social enterprise development into the region.
The 4–month program creates a structured learning environment that is tailored to student needs, action oriented and relevant to the development of their social ventures. Students actively develop their ventures through undertaking skills workshops in areas such as financial management, legal structures, business planning and marketing. They are also matched with business mentors, connect with seasoned entrepreneurs and collaborate with SSE’s national social entrepreneur network. The program was successfully piloted in Alice Springs in 2013 and it is planned to roll out to a further 15 regional locations by 2017. On average each SSE Australia Fellow creates 3.32 jobs, 7.56 volunteer positions and collectively support over 27,000 beneficiaries.
What is the aim of Social Change 101? Social Change 101 supports the development of social entrepreneurship on three levels: 1. 210 S tudents:
2. 15 Local communities:
• Develop their personal and professional • Develop a supportive network of skills to design and operate a like–minded community leaders/social sustainable social venture with a entrepreneurs working for positive positive social or environmental impact. social or environmental change locally. • Develop their capacity to lead social • Develop a broader cross–sector ventures within their communities community network (eg, business, and to maximise their impact as social local government and community entrepreneurs. sector) that supports a local social enterprise ecosystem. • Build the capacity of the local partner through co–design and delivery of the program so as to provide sustainable post–program support to the local community. • Support the development of viable enterprises that provide economic, social and environmental value back into the region.
3. N ationally: • Connect regional social entrepreneurs to create a national movement of changemakers working in regional, rural and remote Australia. • Connect regional social entrepreneurs with leading best practice and funding opportunities across the country and globally, through SSE’s social entrepreneur and business network.
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Why in local partnership?
Who are the students?
How does the Program work?
Social Change 101 programs are co– designed and co–delivered in partnership with a respected local community organisation. This approach was taken as the ideal way to engage meaningfully with the local community as well as to provide the most effective way to channel the knowledge, skills and networks of SSE Australia into the community long–term.
Social Change 101 is for people from all backgrounds that have an idea or business with a community benefit. They are passionate, committed and often have a personal experience of the social issue their ventures are set up to address.
SSE’s programs are practical and non– academic with a ‘learning by doing’ approach. Students gain the skills, confidence and networks to help them develop both personally and professionally, alongside their venture.
They are seeking both personal and professional support to establish or fast– track their idea or venture and connect with like–minded people to pursue community change. The diversity among students enables a rich cross–fertilisation of ideas, the creation of collaborative projects, and high levels of peer–learning.
SC101 is delivered in 4 x 3 day blocks over a 4–month period. Key elements of the program include: • Expert sessions: Workshops with leading professionals on key areas of enterprise development eg, business planning, legal structures, communications and finance. • Eyewitness sessions: Q&A sessions with leading social and business entrepreneurs where students learn firsthand about their successes and challenges. • Action Learning Sets: Facilitated small group problem solving sessions where students present and overcome challenges in the development of their venture. • Mentoring: Each student receives a mentor, who is matched to their developmental needs and commits a minimum of 6 hours of mentoring over the 4–month program. • One–on–one support: SSE provides direct support to students based on their needs and facilitates connections with other social entrepreneurs and business opportunities. • Peer learning and collaboration: Each program has its own digital network for sharing, learning and opportunities, and each student joins SSE’s national network of over 250 social entrepreneurs on graduation.
Once the program is completed, the local partner then becomes the lead for social entrepreneurship development with SSE providing the national network and ongoing support.
Program partners are assessed on their Social Change 101, like many SSE ongoing capacity to support social programs, attracts both: entrepreneurship, their values alignment 1. Social entrepreneurs: to SSE’s vision and methodology and People seeking to either establish their ability to play a strong networking or grow a social venture with a role within their community. community benefit. 2. Social intrapreneurs: People working from within an As part of demonstrating community organisation to establish or grow a buy–in and support for social social venture to support the mission entrepreneurship development, local of their organisation through a partners fundraise a contribution sustainable approach. towards the SC101 program costs. SSE has partnered locally with the following organisations in the delivery of SC101: • Alice Springs: Desert Hub (piloted in 2013) • Coffs Coast: Mid Coast Communities (March to June 2014) • Bendigo: Make a Change Australia (May to September 2014)
Social entrepreneurs and social intrapreneurs work in all parts of a community, from business to local government, not–for–profit organisations and charities.
Snapshot of Social Change 101: Up to 14 people per program 2 program days working with business 1 experts and leading entrepreneurs
“ With a proven model for supporting the individuals that create grassroots social innovation, SSE Australia was a clear choice as a collaborating partner. Social Change 101 is the dynamic and adaptive approach required for a challenging context in terms of social enterprise development.” Jason Quin, Social Enterprise Hub Manager, Desert Peoples Centre, ALICE SPRINGS. 10
Each participant receives a minimum of 6 hours mentoring Students connect with a vibrant online community both locally and nationally – over 250 social entrepreneurs around Australia
What do SSE Australia’s Students say? “ The clarity I gained was a bit unexpected and the support from SSE. I hadn’t anticipated that my little seed could grow and my organisation BIITE is now helping me to secure funds to pay for a person to run the enterprise.” Brigida Stewart, The Forkleaf Project, Alice Springs.
“ An amazing, transformative and inspiring experience. Thank you SSE!” Caitlin Marshall, Wild Rumpus, Wollongong.
“ SSE gave me time to think critically and reflect on my existing skills; then build on the gaps I identified.” Steve Williams, SEED Parks and Property Maintenance, Brisbane.
“ Meeting Anna (my mentor) helped me with technical advice and connections to other organisations, and understanding the media landscape in Alice.” Else Kennedy, ALICE SPRINGS.
(Top) Paul Leary, SSE Australia Fellow and founder of ChainBreakers Shed. Photo by Dan Johnston. (Bottom) Nicole Endacott, SSE Australia Fellow and founder of The Whole Elephant. Photo by Dan Johnston.
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Veronica Scott, Papulankutja Soap. Photo courtesy of Enterprise Learning Projects.
Case Study
Alice Springs SC101 SSE Australia partnered with the Desert Hub (Desert Peoples Centre) in Alice Springs to deliver a Social Change 101 pilot program between March and July 2013. The Desert Hub’s goal is to link, grow and navigate for and with social enterprises working in the social economy in the desert regions of central Australia. Alice Springs SC101 attracted a diverse and dynamic group of local entrepreneurs working on ventures that addressed various issues, ranging from access to healthy and fresh food, employment for remote Indigenous communities and avenues for preserving indigenous language and story telling.
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The Program consisted of 6 study sessions, 3 Action Learning Sets and mentoring. The Program achieved 90% retention rate with eight students graduating. The feedback from students was very positive and provides strong evidence that the Program increased their effectiveness as social entrepreneurs, and increased the viability of their ventures. Outcomes for students included increased confidence, new skills and learning, peer support, networking, new collaborations, partnership opportunities and mentoring support.
Program evaluations highlight that: • Together their ventures have created 14 volunteer positions and 12 staff positions locally. • 100% of students agreed that the Program made them a more effective social entrepreneur. • 90% of students agreed that they experienced an increase in confidence due to the Program. • 90% of students agreed that the Program enabled them to develop greater clarity about their venture. • 90% of students agreed that the Program enabled them to progress their venture.
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Partnering in social change
Our vision for Social Change 101 is of a national network of regional, rural and remote entrepreneurial communities working together to create viable ventures that deliver sustainable social and economic change. We believe that by working together and sharing best practice in social enterprise development, regional, rural and remote communities in Australia will have the greatest potential to develop innovative approaches to systemic and emerging social and environmental issues. 5 7
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SSE AUSTRALIA has identified four strategic goals over the next 3 years as a pathway to achieving this vision:
QUEENSLAND BRISBANE
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA
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PERTH
13
NEW SOUTH WALES
15
1
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VICTORIA
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LOCATIONS
ACT
MELBOURNE
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1. TASMANIA
Deliver SC101 in a further 15 locations by December 2017
To ensure accessibility for the majority of Australians, these locations also reflect the spread of population and accessibility outlined by the Australian Bureau of Statistic’s Accessibility Remoteness Index
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SYDNEY
ADELAIDE
SSE is targeting 15 regional locations from January 2015 to December 2017 to roll out SC101 programs (see Figure 2). These locations were identified based on their potential for social enterprise development. In particular, Regional Hubs (1–12) were chosen based on their population base, accessibility from surrounding rural and remote regions and existing social enterprise development work.
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15
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Figure 2:
Locations of SC101 target communities
Australia rating when paired with SSE’s ‘major city’ school locations (Hobart and Darwin are classified as regional cities due to remoteness). The remaining three rural locations (13–15) were chosen based on a track record of social enterprise development as well as on the strength of local partners.
1. Wollongong NSW 2. Hobart TAS 3. Bunbury WA 4. Toowoomba QLD 5. Darwin NT 6. Albury & Wodonga NSW/VIC 7. Cairns QLD 8. Launceston TAS 9. Tweed Heads NSW
These 15 locations represent 2.56 million people, or 30% of regional, rural and remote Australians. Together with SSE’s existing program locations in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, the roll out will provide SSE with a national reach of social enterprise development to an estimated 66% of Australians.
10. Newcastle NSW 11. Geelong VIC 12. Townsville QLD 13. Sunraysia – Mildura VIC (rural) 14. Kimberley – Broome WA (rural) 15. North–West Slopes – Narrabri WA (rural)
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BIG CONVERSATION
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National networking of regional social entrepreneurs
Development of the SC101 Big Conversation
SSE Australia will work directly with over 210 regional social entrepreneurs from 15 locations in regional Australia to develop their ventures, to create national change on common systemic issues and to capitalise on opportunities. This nationwide network of regional, rural and remote social entrepreneurs will come from communities that represent an estimated 30% of regional Australians.
The precursor to each Social Change 101 program is a process we call the ‘Big Conversation’. Its aim is to build a local social enterprise network from the ground up through consultation with key players in each location to identify existing initiatives, strengths and opportunities. Each of these Big Conversations feed into SSE’s vision for SC101 by: 1. Building on existing networks and community assets to develop ongoing local support for social enterprise 2. Promoting local collaboration 3. Identifying market opportunities for new initiatives that address local social and environmental concerns with viable business models
Partnering on market development for social entrepreneurs
Key to the success of the national network will be the use of online technologies for ongoing collaboration and e–learning. We will work with a national online partner to utilise technology that enables social entrepreneurs to connect seamlessly. SSE will work collaboratively to deliver Australia’s first conference for regional social enterprise development. This will grow regional social entrepreneurs’ knowledge, skills and networks, and provide a platform for showcasing the social and economic impact of their work. The conference will also provide an opportunity for cross–sector collaboration and networking with government and business.
Effective access to market is the final critical step in the development of viable social enterprise – without a market the development of goods and services of social entrepreneurs do not reach their economic and social potential. As part of our strategic vision, SSE will work with individuals, business and government partners who can support the development of access to market via marketing/ distribution channels, procurement and partnerships. Additionally, we will work collaboratively through our programs to develop the market readiness of social entrepreneurs across the country.
In the next 3 years, SSE will work with local communities and businesses to deliver 15 Big Conversations around Australia in the selected locations. The information collected through these Big Conversations will be used at a national level to promote the strengths and opportunities of regional social enterprise, to inform the design of the regional social enterprise development conference and to ensure that each Social Change 101 program is tailored to the needs of the community.
PARTNER WITH US The potential is clear – social enterprise presents one of the greatest opportunities to regional, rural and remote Australia to create sustainable social and economic change. We invite you to be a part of this evolution in Australia and look forward to discussing this with you further on a local or nationwide level, as either a delivery partner, sponsor or location funder, or as part of your organisation’s ongoing commitment to professional development.
Celia Hodson, Chief Executive Officer, School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Australia sse.org.au
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“ SSE Australia has been a place where I go every 6 weeks to reflect and strategise with the help of the experts and learning managers. It’s been invaluable to be part of a supportive group and I’ve achieved much more than I ever thought I would!” Maura Luxford, SSE Australia Fellow and founder of Mela–What?
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“ Being an SSE Australia Mentor has been an inspirational and rewarding experience for me.
I have been able to use my work experience to help sustain and grow entrepreneurs who have a passion for helping others in innovative ways. I have seen growth in both businesses I mentored and I continue to work with them as they evolve.� Audra Eng, Vice President, Product Management at Atlassian and mentor to two SSE Australia students.
SSE Australia student Emma Healy (left) from Cultivate Collective in Brisbane, a network of suburban flower farmers providing sustainably grown cut flowers to the floral design industry. Photo by Miriam Ackroyd.
people powered change info@sse.org.au (02) 8008 0870 sse.org.au twitter.com/sseaustralia facebook.com/sseaustralia instagram.com/sseaustralia
The School for Social Entrepreneurs (SSE) Australia runs learning programs across Australia for people from all backgrounds that have an idea or business with a community benefit. Our vision is a community powering positive changemakers for a more inclusive and sustainable world. Since launching in 2009, we have supported the development of over 250 social entrepreneurs across Australia.
school for social entrepreneurs
Supported by: