Social enterprises across the state will be more connected, through the launch of a new Victorian first initiative.
The Victorian Social Enterprise Network (SENVIC) was this week launched at the Social Traders conference in Melbourne by the Minister for Jobs, Precincts and Regions, Martin Pakula.
The Victorian Government has provided $1.47 million towards the establishment of the network which will be delivered in partnership with CERES, Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship and Social Traders.
As identified in the Social Enterprise Strategy in 2017, the Victorian Social Enterprise Network will work to achieve an inclusive and sustainable society by supporting a thriving social enterprise sector.
The network will better connect the social enterprise community in metro and regional Victoria and enable access to learning, knowledge exchange and development opportunities.
It has been formed with nine founding members who are leaders of some of Victoria’s longest-standing and recognised social enterprises.
As part of the support for the sector the Victorian Government has also rolled out its Social Procurement Framework and funded more than 60 social enterprises through the Boost Your Business Voucher Program since 2018.
Four social enterprise leaders are also being provided with the opportunity to represent the state at the Social Enterprise World Forum in Ethiopia in October.