Social Enterprise World Forum 2022 coming to Brisbane

Brisbane will welcome the Social Enterprise World Forum in September 2022, as the Palaszczuk Government steps up its support to grow the social enterprise sector and increase employment for disadvantaged jobseekers while delivering benefits to Queensland communities.

Minister for Employment and Small Business and Minister for Training and Skills Development Di Farmer congratulated Nova Scotia’s co-hosts Common Good Solutions during an online handover from this year’s Social Enterprise World Forum.

“White Box Enterprises will co-host next year’s forum and they are a passionate and committed advocate for the sector, with a focus on accelerating the development of large-scale, jobs-focused social enterprises,” Minister Farmer said.

“As part of our $14.5 billion COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan the Palaszczuk Government committed to backing small business and investing in skills.

“Working with social enterprises tick both of those boxes and we are currently rolling out $3 million in development support grants under our $8 million Social Enterprise Jobs Fund.

“Earlier this month I announced 36 grants worth more than $600,000 through our Community Social Enterprise Development Grants.

“Applications for our Social Enterprise Growth Grants are currently open, which will provide grants to eligible established social enterprises for capability and capacity building that supports the business to grow or adapt.

“Multicultural groups, young people, innovators and others can start and grow their own social enterprises in whatever industry or sector they see an opportunity in.

“The Social Enterprise World Forum is an important opportunity to learn from and inspire social entrepreneurs here in Queensland, along with those from other parts of Australia and around the world.

“The last time the Social Enterprise World Forum was held in Australia was Melbourne in 2009. Our social enterprise sector has grown so much since then and we are tackling new challenges and opportunities now that we couldn’t have imagined all those years ago.

“The benefits of a vibrant and growing social enterprise sector are too good to ignore but we need governments, businesses, customers and clients, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders playing their roles, supporting others and looking at how they can do more to unlock the fantastic potential that is out there.”

The Social Enterprise World Forum 2022 will be held in Brisbane in September as a hybrid event where guests will have the opportunity to participate both digitally and in-person.

For more information about Social Enterprise World Forum 2022 visit Social Enterprise World Forumonline.com/events/Social Enterprise World Forum-2022/

For further information about the Social Enterprise Jobs Fund including social enterprise grants programs visit www.desbt.qld.gov.au/social-enterprise-grants or call 1300 369 935. 

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