New ARC Linkage Project to Focus on Barriers to Decent Work

A research team led by Melbourne Social Equity Institute Director Professor Jo Barraket has been awarded an Australian Research Council Linkage grant to undertake coproductive research on the role social enterprise can play in improving the employment futures of people experiencing disadvantage.

Social enterprises are increasingly recognised for creating jobs and pathways into work for those who are typically excluded. Yet, little is known about whether and how they can scale their impacts and support participants transition into mainstream jobs. Activating Employment Futures through Work Integration Social Enterprise aims to understand how Australia can better include people experiencing barriers to decent employment and the role social enterprises can play in this process.

Underpinned by a unique learning partnership, this project will shed light on how decent and inclusive work through social enterprise can be grown. Project insights will contribute to more effective employment services and workplaces that increase the shared societal benefits of a diverse and inclusive workforce.

The research team of Professor Jo Barraket, Professor Greg Marston, Dr Michael McGann, Professor Susan Ainsworth and Ms Sally McGeoch will work closely with collaborating partner organisations White Box Enterprises, Westpac Foundation, Outlook and STREAT to document scalable and replicable models of work integration social enterprise business design, and the operational and institutional conditions under which these are most effective. In doing so, the project aims to contribute to improved employment policy frameworks, and employment outcomes for people facing barriers to decent work.