SEN Indigenous National Forum & Government Summit

The Social Entrepreneurs Network is running two events in Canberra this month – a Forum to search for ideas to foster indigenous social business and enterprise; followed by a Summit on government, innovation and social renewal.

Coordinator Vern Hughes says SEN is committed to a five-year process for the creation of sustainable indigenous social businesses and enterprises.

The Indigenous Social Business and Enterprise Search & Strategy Forum begins the process by setting out tough issues to be grappled with and the possibilities of creating social businesses in bush and city settings.

He says the national gathering will discuss the elements of a strategy for indigenous social business and enterprise; create best practice and quality assurance strategies; as well as a forward agenda for investment and development.

The Forum will take place on Wednesday 21 May in Canberra and will be followed by a two-day Summit titled Doing Government Differently – Civic Entrepreneurship, Joined up Solutions and Social renewal.

Vern Hughes says there is a recognition that disjointed and paternalistic government programs have changed little in indigenous communities. But interestingly, he says disjointed and paternalistic programs are still accepted in areas such disability, health care, education and aged care in mainstream Australia.

Hughes asks: if breaking down the silos is a good idea for Cape York indigenous communities why isn’t it a good idea in blue collar metropolitan communities or for families facing a plethora of health and education programs? Is there space and capacity for enterprising community leaders to redesign how things are done in these areas?

The Summit will explore these tough questions. It is an agenda-setting exercise for practitioners at the coal-face of policy innovation and social renewal – areas such as welfare, education, health, indigenous affairs and employment.

Under the microscope will be such topics as asset-based welfare, school/industry partnerships, innovation through government contracting, social investment funds and extensions of work-for-the-dole.

The summit will consider proposals which break through barriers, harness diverse institutional capacities, unleash social and financial capital, and redraw the boundaries between government, communities and business.

The summit is intended for policy makers, community and business leaders, civil society organisations and leaders in government.

Presenters and panelists at the summit include Amanda Vanstone, Noel Pearson, Patrick McClure, Milton James and Alistair Mant.

There is a separate registration fee and process for each event.

For more information and a registration form for either event, visit the SEN website www.sen.org.au