SVA’s Employment team have undertaken a number of successful projects in the past. Read more about them below.
Youth Enterprises Partnership Project
The Queensland Government’s Department of Communities’ Youth Enterprises Partnership (YEP) project, managed by SVA, came to an end on 31 December 2011. YEP was designed to fund the establishment of at least two social enterprises in Brisbane and Townsville that specifically target young people aged between 15 and 18 who have either recently entered the youth justice system and are at risk of reoffending and/or are homeless or are at risk of becoming homeless. During the course of the project seven social enterprises were supported 85 jobs were created, including 27 for the target group and a further 87 employment pathways were created.
Download the Youth Enterprises Partnership Project Report [PDF File Size: 455KB]
Yarnteen
SVA partnered with Yarnteen, an award-winning Newcastle based non-profit organisation focused on Indigenous capacity building and enterprise development, to help establish the Yarnteen Regional Indigenous Social Enterprise (RISE) Hub. The RISE Hub is designed to increase the skill capacity of Indigenous entrepreneurs and support them in developing sustainable social enterprises that create jobs for Indigenous people. SVA has worked with Yarnteen to ensure that it can effectively support Indigenous Social Enterprises and increase the economic participation and capacity of its community. Over the course of the partnership eight social enterprises were supported. Yarnteen graduated from SVA’s employment portfolio in December 2011.
Supporting Social Enterprises Project
The Supporting Social Enterprises Project (SSEP), funded by the Australian Government, came to an end on 30 June 2011.
Through SSEP, SVA successfully supported 11 social enterprises in Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan and Western Sydney that create employment opportunities for people who are excluded from the labour market. Key priority areas included Canterbury-Bankstown and South Western Sydney (NSW), Ipswich (QLD) and Logan (QLD). A total of 173 jobs were created through the project.
Download the SSEP End of Project Report [PDF File Size: 233KB]
Queensland Inclusive Social Enterprises Project
The Queensland Government’s Department of Communities’ Queensland Inclusive Social Enterprises project, managed by SVA, came to an end on 30 June 2011.
The Queensland Inclusive Social Enterprise Project (QISEP) supported the development of 15 Queensland based social enterprises that employ people who have been long-term unemployed due to mental health issues.
Download the QISEP End of Project Report [PDF File Size: 217KB]
Social Firms Australia
SVA invested in and supported the development of Social Firms Australia (SoFA), a non-profit organisation focused on creating accessible employment for people with a disability or mental illness through the development of social firms and the transfer of the support strategies to other workplace environments. SoFA graduated from SVA’s portfolio in 2009 and continues to be a key strategic partner in social enterprise development.
Bonsai – The Imagination Tree
SVA, with SoFA, has pioneered work on business acquisition as a model for social enterprise development, an example being Bonsai – The Imagination Tree, specialist bonsai nursery in the Victorian Dandenong Ranges that provides integrated employment opportunities for people otherwise excluded from the workforce by mental illness. In June 2009, this enterprise merged with Knoxcare Ltd’s Yarra View Nursery.
The Social Enterprise World Forum
In October 2009, SVA and Social Traders, on behalf of the International Social Enterprise Consortium, co-hosted the Social Enterprise World Forum. Building on the inaugural Forum which took place in Scotland in 2008, the sold out event brought together over 520 local and global leaders and practitioners in social enterprise for discussion, learning, showcasing and collaboration.