Australian Social Enterprises

Challenge Community Services has provided innovative and people-focused services to the community for over 65 years. Our offering to regional and metropolitan communities includes Disability Services, Foster Care, Allied Health and supported employment for people with a disability as part of our range of Business Services.Challenge Community Services operates throughout regional and metropolitan New South Wales, and the greater Brisbane area in Queensland. Our organisation is built on a strong workforce of over 1000 people, including over 90 employees with disability. Challenge Community Services is a registered not-for-profit organisation that has been making a difference in the lives of people in our community for over sixty five years.Challenge support people with disability, children and vulnerable members of the community to have the same rights and entitlements as all community members. This includes lifestyle, community access, accommodation, vocational and employment support. Supporting our business means that you are giving a person with a disability meaningful employment opportunities within a supported employment environment.

Australia’s ONLY NDIS Accredited Electronics Manufacturer & Precision Product Assembly At our Hornsby based manufacturing center of excellence we provide state-of-the-art Mycronic Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Assembly Services while providing meaningful and rewarding employment for individuals with disabilities. Australian-Made since 1984, CNS has taken pride to expand its supported workforce which now accounts for over 60% of employees at CNS. The remainder includes engineers, technicians and production personnel who are highly skilled and have years of experience. Supported by a quality system accreditation to ISO9001 2015, we specialise in high quality printed circuit boards and product assembly services that provide value, responsive service, technical excellence, global component procurement and agility. CNS is a manufacturing company operating as an Australian Disability Enterprise. This allows CNS to provide employment opportunities to people with a disability that may find it troublesome to enter the mainstream workforce. The work done at CNS by the Supported Workers offers them a sense of community belonging, as they interact with others with similar disabilities to themselves, as well as staff member without a disability. CNS always strives and has prided itself on workplace integration, with everyone’s work just as important as anyone else’s in the organisation, working together to achieve our outcomes. The Supported Workers of CNS are heavily involved in the day to day manufacturing process, using the abilities they have and skills they have learnt to contribute high quality work that goes towards supporting Australia’s mining, transport, animal conservation, to name just a few industries. Their employment also allows them financial independence, a social platform to interact with friends and colleagues and the opportunity to learn new skills, giving the feeling we all perceive from what society deems a “normal” life.

Chatstat is an AI-powered platform that monitors public social media posts to detect cyberbullying, self-harm, suicide ideation, and other harmful content. The platform provides families, educators, and workplaces with real-time alerts and personalized reports to enable early intervention and support mental wellbeing in digital spaces.

The Christie Centre is a niche organisation and provides a platform for disability support services in the region through its strong networks, contacts and partnerships. Our team is flexible, dynamic and enthusiastic with a skill for looking outside the box for opportunities and provisions of services. Furthermore as an innovative local leader for disability services aimed at achieving equity and inclusion, services are enhanced through a strong volunteer base and the provision of support to self-help and support groups. Supporting community partnerships is one of the key foundation blocks of the Christie Centre. We are a product of community development and pioneers in finding a local solution to a presenting community issue. Our supported employees andparticipants both work and engage with many community partners, whether it is through other businesses or the general public on a daily basis. Our end-game is by showing, and hopefully paving the way by creating strong partnerships with mainstream businesses that use our services, we value-add through stronger links to provide further pathways for a person living with a disability. Aroundagain, AroundagainDocument Destruction, Mildura Chocolate Company and Christie’s Emporium have created an inclusive work environment with a supported workforce. Many people have learnt new skills and have gone onto mainstream “open” employment after their time at our social enterprises. We encourage and assist people to live as independently as possible by developing self-confidence and enhancing their personal life journey whilst being part of any one of our teams.

Cirqle Group is a Queensland-based IT recruitment and professional services social enterprise that connects organisations with specialist technology talent for digital transformation and IT projects. As a Certified Social Trader, they channel all profits towards supporting environmental and social causes through partnerships with impact organisations.

Civic Industries provides paid employment to people with disability who have 'Finding and Keeping a Job' in their NDIS plan. A range of jobs including packaging, decanting, mail-outs, labeling, administration, lawn mowing, catering and barista are offered for differing skill levels within a supportive environment in South Sydney and other locations. We also work at the Department of Defence at Holsworthy Army Base delivering administrative work. Civic Disability Services provides supported accommodation, employment and social connectivity to more than 750 individuals with disability. Founded more than 60 years ago, Civic is an ambitious, forward-thinking organisation, which has built on its solid heritage and emerged as a true leader in the disability sector. Defining ourselves as a ‘for-purpose' organisation, our goal is to improve outcomes for individuals with disability by investing in innovation, technologies and pilot ideas which drive forward the delivery of disability services. Civic provide meaningful employment and every day we see the pride that clients take in having a job and working alongside their mates. We recognise that the social activities that arise from work are as equally important. The fact that the work is variable and interesting, and supported employees are working with staff they know, gives peace of mind.

Collabaloop provides a mobile-focused digital engagement and Learning Management System (LMS) platform. It aims to improve workforce support, connection, and growth by enabling people to feel heard, gain insights, and receive relevant, timely interventions, ultimately enhancing employee well-being and development.

ConnectGV provide individualised options for local people with a disability and their families to ensure their goals and dreams can be achieved. The organisation has grown and evolved over the years to be the largest disability service within the Goulburn Valley that offers Day Options, Employment Options, Accommodation Options, Individual Support, Support Coordination and Plan Management. ConnectGV's creates a fully inclusive community and to that end it seeks partnerships that allow it to offer many of these options within the local community. ConnectGV also owns and operates a number of Social Enterprises, namely Billabong Garden Complex, Billabong Flowers, Ruby Saltbush Cafe and Billabong Rags. These businesses not only provide quality products and services to the local community, they provide valuable paid employment and training options for people with a disability.

Our Capabilities. We deliver professional results, on brief, on budget and on time. Our diverse range of services include Grounds Keeping, Garden Maintenance, Vacant Lot Mowing/Slashing, Car Park Cleaning, Litter Control, Fleet Vehicle Cleaning, Builder & Commercial Property Cleans, Recycling Services. People with disability have the same rights as anyone else. We support people with disability to live their chosen life. Community inclusion and employment with purpose allows people with disability to actively and independently to participate in all aspects of social, economic, political and cultural life. This in turn, helps break down the myths and perceptions and barriers held against people with disability. The community also benefits with less pressure on health services and improved lifestyles. Employment and personal development provides benefits to workplaces, the community, and individuals. It delivers financial independence and improved living standards, positive health impacts and self-worth. It helps to open opportunities for inclusion for all, in a social economy providing greater social value.

At CPL, we work with people of all ages to maximise their potential. From going to school or finding a job through to enjoying their retirement years. Previously known as the Cerebral Palsy League, we changed our name to CPL which stands for Choice, Passion and Life – a sentiment that reflects everything we do. Mylestones is part of CPL - Choice, Passion, Life, a profit-for-purpose organisation that provides vital support to more than 5,000 people. At Mylestones, our businesses are focused on creating more opportunities for people with barriers and disabilities to find work, earn an income, gain independence, develop new skills and follow their passions.

DARE Industries provides products and services for commercial and domestic customers in the Blue Mountains, Penrith, and Hawkesbury Regions. The Grounds and Maintenance team excel in commercial lawn mowing, turfing and lawn care, hazard reduction, removal of noxious weeds, garden restoration and makeovers, rubbish removal, squalor specialists. Dare Industries provides top quality Australian hardwood products including, wooden stakes and pegs required by Plumbers, Concretors, and Surveyors as well as environmentally friendly kindling in handy 5kg packs of hardwood off-cuts. The Package and Assembly team can assist your business with all your packing and assembly requirements such as, mailouts, assembly of products (from step blocks to wheel barrows), string cutting and tying, bespoke packaging, preparing business folders, labelling, secure document shredding, commercial book covering and packing and weighing. All staff are fully trained, enthusiastic and committed to assisting you and your business. By purchasing any of our business services or products you are helping to provide employment and other services for people with a disability. Since 1961 DARE Industries have provided products and services (such as grounds maintenance, woodwork and packing and assembly) to customers in the community. DARE provides meaningful employment for 65 people with a disability in the community who would otherwise not be able to work. At DARE, supported employees improve their social skills and as a result are able to interact with the community in their day-to-day lives leading to a more inclusive community. DARE also gives back to the community by frequently volunteering at community events such as foundation day and Anzac day. DARE provides meaningful employment for people with a disability who would otherwise not be able to work. Not only does it provide the supported employees with more money in the bank, but it also improves their self-esteem as they are contributing to society. Supported employees experience better health and well being, improve their skills and expand their social networks. DARE has had a number of apprentices who have gone on to join the open work force. Family members of DARE supported employees know that they are well looked after, building new skills, developing a social network and becoming more independent.

Deadly Coders Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporation is an Indigenous-led organisation focused on empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people through technology and coding education. Its social impact aims to enhance digital literacy and create pathways for Indigenous participation in the tech industry.

Delando Corporation is a not-for-profit charity and an Incorporated Company Limited by Guarantee. Delando is fortunate to have a pro-active Board of Directors who oversee the financial running of the organisation. As a group they get involved in strategic planning for the future and maintain regular contact with Delando and its Management team. Delando enclaves are run by competent Supervisors who have many years of experience in running work groups at host employer work sites. Each Supervisor holds a minimum of a Certificate IV in disabilities and receives regular opportunities for upskilling, attending seminars and network meetings to keep informed about current trends and services available in the community. Delando is now going through a process of change in the way it conducts its operations in a distinct effort to move with the times, increase its professionalism and remain competitive within the marketplace. Delando has been fortunate enough to develop many successful relationships through its Enclaves that have been set up and continue to run successfully with high profile organisations such as Kmart, Hunter Health Support and the University of Newcastle.

Digital Immersions Indigenous Corporation is an Indigenous corporation registered in Western Australia. The provided information from the ORIC public register does not detail its specific activities, programs, or social impact, beyond its name suggesting a focus on digital areas.

Disability Services Australia (DSA) is a respected not-for-profit organisation that provides essential community support, employment and training services to enhance the lives of people with a disability. DSA is an integral part of more than 65 communities and employs more than 1,300 people. From our early beginnings back in 1957 we have grown to become an innovative organisation, developing and evolving personalised services that drive true inclusion. We are a professional and flexible organisation, fit for the exciting future we face as the Australian disability sector undergoes profound and fundamental change. Our priority is supporting people to reach their full potential at home, at work and in their community life. Each year, we reaffirm our commitment to our mission of enabling opportunities for people with a disability to experience choice, inclusion and achievement.

Dogspike Design & Architecture creates practical, healthy buildings for remote and regional communities across Australia. We bring together high-level design skills, buildability knowledge... Read more

Earthworker Energy Manufacturing Coop is a worker-owned cooperative in Morwell, Latrobe Valley, Victoria that manufactures renewable energy products including heat pump and solar hot water systems, stainless steel storage tanks, and mobile energy storage solutions. The social enterprise creates local manufacturing jobs in the Latrobe Valley region while helping households reduce carbon pollution and energy costs through clean energy technology.

Elouera Association LTD provides quality education and employment training to people with a disability in Cootamundra, Young, Temora, Harden and surrounding districts. The Elouera Special School has provided education to children in the area for over 50 years and more recently Elouera Hire, Elouera Laundry and Elouera Recycling have provided employment and training to adults with a disability. There are real benefits to the wider community from having people with a disability accessing employment at one of our Disability Enterprises. Money earned goes back into the local economy, social security expenses lower, health care costs lower and these businesses provide vital products and services to the community.Disability Employment costs tax payers a lot less that alternative day services. Every dollar spent at a Disability enterprise either for goods and services or funding produces a real social dividend to local communities. Employment at one of our Disability Enterprises provides individuals with additional financial independence, greater skills, the feeling of being part of a team with purpose and the pride of having a job as part of the community just like most other people. People that have a job in general are healthier and more fit. For families of those working at a Disability Enterprise, for many they also can re-enter the workforce giving the whole family greater financial security. They tell us how much more confident their family members are that work for us.

Enable Social Enterprises Ltd is an award-winning Victorian social enterprise that tackles disadvantage and the digital divide by providing IT recycling services, affordable technology access, and employability skills training to disadvantaged community members. Since 2014, the organisation has supported over 3,200 disadvantaged people and diverted over 600 tonnes of e-waste from landfill.

Enablen is a certified social enterprise in Queensland that provides funding solutions, technology services, and capacity building support to regional charities, non-profits, and small businesses. Their services include grant writing, website development, and e-learning platforms, helping community organisations in regional areas access essential digital resources and funding opportunities.

Endeavour Foundation is dedicated to helping people with a disability live fulfilling lives. We work together to turn possibilities into reality for each individual to live life to the full - whether that means moving into a new home, gaining qualifications that help fulfil individual aspirations or finding a job. Our commercial businesses range from confidential document destruction to e-waste recycling, offering real jobs in a social and supportive environment for people with a disability. Endeavour Foundation is dedicated to helping people with disability live fulfilling lives. We work together to turn possibilities into reality for each individual to live life to the full - whether that means moving into a new home, gaining qualifications that help fulfil individual aspirations or finding a job. Employment can boost your confidence and self-esteem, it connects you with your community and can give you a strong sense of purpose. We believe that employment opportunities form a critical part of an inclusive and empowering community for people with a disability.

Eurella Community Services exists to provide the best practice, meaningful employment, residential and development services for children and adults of all ages with intellectial and other disabilities and to assist them to have their maximum possible quality of life and to develop their maximum potential. We encourage our customers to visit our site and speak with our supported employees to discuss the work we do for them. Our employees are very much part of the process. These discussions assist to develop relationships with the community. We also involve Work for the Dole and Workplace Rehabilitation participants in many aspects of our activities. We provide real work opportunities to our supported employees. The range of work we provide to them is very diverse and consequently both stimulating and challenging. They accept those challenges and embrace the self esteem that employment provides in their lives.

Founded in 1962, Fairhaven is a not-for-profit NDIS Registered Provider and community leader on the Central Coast of NSW in the provision of services for people living with disability. Our range of services include: * Fairhaven CoPack* Fairhaven Op Shopping Village* Fare Cravin Cafe* Supported Employment* Community participation and drop-in supports* Specialist Disability Accommodation & Supported Independent Living Options* Support Coordination* Community Transport At our CoPack facility, we take great pride in partnering with our customers to help develop, high quality tailor made solutions for their Food packaging, Packaging and assembly solutions to deliver the best results possible. We offers a variety of innovative solutions for individuals and businesses and are HACCP and ACO approved and have staff certified in Cert 3 in Warehousing. • 5 Clean rooms• Food filling and Packaging solutions • Packing & General assembly • Stickering and Re-work Fairhaven contributes to community connection by providing support to people living with disability. This includes meaningful employment, skills development and capacity building, supported accommodation and day programs. Our thriving retail outlet, at Point Claire Fairhaven Op Shopping Village, draws in people from the wider community who come to shop and relax at our café. Our community hub runs activities for our participants as well as the broader community. Fairhaven is more than just a work place – Fairhaven offers a meaningful and productive means of supporting people with disabilities. There is a great sense of pride and achievement that comes with not only having a job, but being part of a team. This sense of belonging and achievement is recognised and appreciated by our customers and supported employee family members.Our Australian Disability Enterprise provide meaningful employment to over 140 people living with disability. We offer food and general packaging, as well as retail experience. The variety of work offered by Fairhaven ensures that people can choose a supported employment role that best suits their interests and ability.

First Nations Broadcasting Aboriginal Corporation delivers broadcasting services tailored to First Nations communities in the Northern Territory, focusing on culturally relevant media content. The organisation plays a vital role in preserving Indigenous languages, sharing community stories, and keeping remote communities informed. Through its broadcasting operations, it strengthens cultural identity and social connection among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Flourish Australia run a number of Community Businesses and Social Enterprises aimed at providing high quality services for businesses, government procurement and the general public. Services include: grounds maintenance and cleaning, packaging, document management and digitisation, conference facilities and printing. Flourish Australia Business Services is a division of Flourish Australia, one of Australia’s largest non-profit organisations providing person-led, recovery-focussed support for people with complex mental health issues. Our business services range from specialised packaging and wrapping, to document scanning and archiving solutions, mail delivery solutions, commercial cleaning and grounds maintenance maintenance offered out of 6 sites across the Sydney, Hunter, Illawarra, New England and Murrumbidgee areas. The goal of our Employment programs is to provide meaningful ongoing employment outcomes for the people who access our services. Benefits to individuals, their families and the community as a whole can be measured by the social cohesion created by inclusion in all aspects of life.