Social Enterprise Leaders Crowned

Winners of the 2015 Australian Social Enterprise Awards have been announced in Melbourne.

At an awards ceremony held at PwC, NSW’s Salvos Legal was announced as the Australian Social Enterprise of the Year (Large) while Queensland’s Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative was named the Australian Social Enterprise of the Year (Small).

The national Awards, run by social enterprise development organisation Social Traders, recognise excellence amongst businesses that are trading to deliver social or community benefit.

The new category of Social Enterprise Champion, which recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to social enterprise, was won by Queensland’s Luke Terry.

Terry is the CEO of the Toowoomba Clubhouse and is also leading the development of a multi-million dollar commercial laundry that will operate as a social enterprise and employ long-term disadvantaged people.  

Sector stalwarts STREAT and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre shared the honours in the Social Enterprise Investment category.

Social Traders Managing Director David Brookes previously said that this year’s finalists provide a snapshot of the talent and innovation that exists amongst Australia’s 20,000 social enterprises.

From 75 entries across seven award categories, 30 finalists from five States were shortlisted.

“Across Australia, social enterprises are developing innovative ways to address some of our most pressing social, environmental or economic issues. Social enterprise has the ability to create employment, generate income and strengthen local communities,” Brookes said.

“This year’s finalists demonstrate the quality and diversity of Australia’s social enterprise sector, and through this event we acknowledge the enormous social and community benefits that are being achieved.”

Winners were selected by an independent judging panel of content and sector experts, headed by global strategy advisor Simon Gillies from PwC.

2015 AUSTRALIAN SOCIAL ENTERPRISE AWARDS

Australian Social Enterprise of the Year (Small)

• Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative Ltd (QLD) WINNER   

• Illumination Australia (VIC)

• CoDesign Studio (VIC)

• CERES Fair Food (VIC)

• Melbourne Farmers Market (VIC)

Australian Social Enterprise of the Year (Large)

• Salvos Legal Limited and Salvos Legal (Humanitarian) Limited (NSW) WINNER

• Finding Workable Solutions Inc (SA)

One to Watch Award

• Pollinate Energy (VIC) WINNER

• Jeenee Mobile (NSW)

• Clean Care Cairns (QLD)

• Synergy Repairs (VIC)

• Substation 33 (QLD)

Social Enterprise Innovation Award

• Access Community Services (QLD)

• Green Collect (VIC)

• Pollinate Energy (VIC)

• High Resolves (NSW)

• Sprout Ventures (WA) WINNER

Social Enterprise Investment Award

• STREAT (VIC) – Investment by Social Ventures Australia/National Australia Bank WINNER

• Sustain Community Housing (NSW) – Investment by Social Ventures Australia/Social Enterprise Finance Australia

• MiHaven Property Fund (QLD)– Investment by Social Enterprise Finance Australia

• Asylum Seeker Resource Centre Food Justice Truck (VIC) – Crowdfunding by StartSomeGood WINNER

Buy Social Award

• Greater Bendigo City Council (VIC)

• Good Samaritan Industries (on behalf of the Western Australian Disability Enterprise Alliance) (WA) WINNER

• Department for Communities and Social Inclusion (SA)

Social Enterprise Champion Award *(New category in 2015)

• Matthew Gordon (VIC)   

• Luke Terry (QLD) WINNER             

• Russell Deal (VIC)             

• Miranda Sharp (VIC)        

• Jonathan Brown (VIC)     

• Robert Hannaford (QLD)