Understanding how Australia can improve employment outcomes for people experiencing disadvantage through social enterprise
Australia’s labour market and employment services have historically under-served people who experience barriers to participation. This project aims to understand how Australia can improve employment outcomes for people experiencing disadvantage through social enterprise.
Social enterprises are increasingly recognised as a useful form of labour market activation. However, little is known about whether and how they can scale their impacts, and what can be learned from social enterprise in the design of other inclusive workplaces. This research will examine the conditions through which work integration social enterprises (WISE) can scale their employment outcomes.
Through advancing new solutions for labour market activation, this research will support the development of more effective employment policies and outcomes for people experiencing labour market disadvantage. Informed by a learning partnership approach, the project will produce and share knowledge with practitioners and policy makers about how to improve the inclusivity of Australian employment programs and workplaces.
This project is funded by the Australian Research Council Linkage Program (LP220100323).
Partner Organisations
White Box Enterprises
Westpac Foundation
Outlook
STREAT
Professor Jo Barraket AM, Director, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne
Professor Greg Marston, Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland
Associate Professor Michael McGann, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne
Professor Susan Ainsworth, Department of Management and Marketing, University of Melbourne
Dr Sally McGeoch, Senior Advisor, Westpac Foundation
Dr Aurora Elmes, Research Fellow, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne
Dr Chabel Khan, Australian Welfare and Work Lab, University of Melbourne
Dr Robert Arcidiacono, School of Social Science, University of Queensland
Nicola Innes, PhD researcher, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne
Insights Reports
Current Policy Debates and Their Implications for Inclusive Employment Through Social Enterprise: Key Insights From a Rapid Scoping Review
Download the Insights Report (PDF)
Download the Insights Report (Word)
The Role of Work Integration Social Enterprise (WISE) in Employment Services Reforms: Perspectives from the Ecosystem
Download the Insights Report (PDF)
Download the Insights Report (Word)
Scaling the Employment Outcomes of Work Integration Social Enterprises: Perspectives from Practice Experts
For information about this project, please contact:
Dr Aurora Elmes
Research Fellow
Melbourne Social Equity Institute
elmesa@unimelb.edu.au