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
Professor Jo Barraket, Director, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne
Professor Greg Marston, Centre for Policy Futures, University of Queensland
Dr Michael McGann, School of Social and Political Sciences, University of Melbourne
Professor Susan Ainsworth, Management and Marketing, University of Melbourne
Sally McGeoch, Westpac Foundation
Dr Chabel Khan, Research Fellow, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne
Nicola Innes, PhD student, Melbourne Social Equity Institute, University of Melbourne
For information about this project, please contact:
Dr Chabel Khan
Research Fellow
Melbourne Social Equity Institute
chabel.khan@unimelb.edu.au