Written by Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE)
There is a need to rapidly accelerate change in rural Australia to alleviate disadvantage.
In partnership with Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) and endorsed by Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), ACRE is calling for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia – a unified effort to continue the Manifesto’s call for transformative change in rural areas.
Despite significant progress from focused efforts, 70% of rural inland towns in Australia have suffered severe decline over the past 50 years (SEGRA). Which is why we’re inviting the rural social enterprise community nationwide, to join us in calling for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia.
The call for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network is forming around the momentum created by the Manifesto for Rural Social Enterprise – a policy and advocacy campaign built by policymakers and practitioners – which highlights the importance of networks and the role they play in fostering enterprising and thriving rural communities.
By calling for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network, we can give rural social enterprises and entrepreneurs a stronger collective voice and unlock new resources and opportunities.
Your Questions Answered
What does social enterprise offer rural communities?
Australia’s rural communities face unique challenges, from geographic isolation and limited resources to disparities in funding and representation in policy discussions.
Deeply rooted in local communities, rural social enterprise plays a critical role in addressing these challenges by generating employment, ensuring the provision of essential services and supports, addressing environmental challenges, boosting social cohesion and creating economic opportunities.
What is the purpose of a Rural Social Enterprise Network?
The exact purpose of a Rural Social Enterprise Network will be shaped through the co-design process, and we invite you to bring your ideas to the table. While we have a few initial ideas, the ultimate direction will come from those involved in the co-design of the network.
Here are four purposes initially identified:
- To enable social enterprises and other stakeholders to exchange knowledge and experiences specific to the unique needs of rural communities.
- To be a strong, unified voice for rural social enterprises in policy discussions at national, state, and local levels.
- To collaborate with state and national social enterprise peak bodies, helping them to effectively fulfill their missions in rural contexts.
- To foster collaboration with sector intermediaries, researchers, impact investors, philanthropic funders, government bodies, and other key stakeholders.
We’re excited to hear your ideas and work together to shape the future of rural social enterprise in Australia!
How exactly is the new network going to work?
We are inviting you to join us in co-designing the answer to this question. This is not about signing up to a pre-determined model; rather, we’re asking you to be part of the journey and have a seat at the table where we will co-create a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia.
We are confident that, together, we can build a powerful and invaluable network. Drawing on our experience in establishing practitioner networks, and with the creativity, expertise, and collaboration of our diverse partners—both established and new—we are well positioned to create something truly impactful for rural communities.
What is a co-design process? How will it work?
A co-design process is a collaborative approach that engages key stakeholders in the creation or development of an initiative, ensuring their voices and experiences directly shape the outcome. In the context of a Rural Social Enterprise Network, co-design means that rural practitioners, social enterprises, funders, policymakers, and other stakeholders will play an active role in shaping the network’s development.
This will be a network for rural people, by rural people – their insights and perspectives will define what the network looks like and how it operates with input from those who work with, fund, or represent rural social enterprise.
What value will a Rural Social Enterprise Network provide, given the existing networks, peak organisations and councils?
The efforts of existing social enterprise networks, peak bodies and councils have been essential in building and strengthening the broader social enterprise ecosystem in Australia. A Rural Social Enterprise Network will build on this foundation, focusing specifically on the distinct challenges and opportunities faced by rural social enterprise
Rather than replacing or competing with existing networks, a Rural Social Enterprise Network will work in collaboration with state, national and global networks to enhance the overall ecosystem. By focusing on rural, it will complement existing networks – working closely with state and national social enterprise networks, peak bodies and councils, helping them to effectively fulfil their missions in rural contexts.
A Rural Social Enterprise Network will be led by and for rural communities, ensuring their voices are heard while working closely with existing organisations to build stronger, more inclusive ecosystems that benefit the entire social enterprise sector.
How will a Rural Social Enterprise Network Australia work with the Global Rural Social Enterprise Network?
The Global Rural Social Enterprise Network, announced by SEWF at the SEWF Policy Forum, is an exciting opportunity for the global rural social enterprise community. It demonstrates a commitment to living out the commitments outlined in the Rural Manifesto, where fostering networks is one of the eight key policy recommendations to support the growth of rural social enterprises.
While the Global Rural Social Enterprise Network will focus on addressing systemic challenges faced by rural communities worldwide, the purpose and structure of a Rural Social Enterprise Network Australia are still to be defined through a co-design process. With the endorsement of SEWF, this co-design process will also ultimately determine how an Australian network will feed into and work alongside a global network where common goals exist.
The Global Rural Social Enterprise Network provides an opportunity for a Rural Social Enterprise Network Australia to not only accelerate outcomes for rural social enterprises in Australia but also support, strengthen and draw from the broader global movement.
Who will fund the rural social enterprise network in Australia?
At present, the co-design process is unfunded, which means the precise structure and timeline have yet to be determined. However, ACRE, in collaboration with our co-initiator SENVIC, is actively seeking funding to initiate and support the co-design process.
We are currently inviting your support by adding your voice to the call for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network. By doing so, you will help us demonstrate the importance, need, and demand for this network, which will, in turn, help us secure the necessary resources—both in the short and long term.
Who is initiating this?
The call for co-designing a Rural Social Enterprise Network Australia has been initiated by ACRE in partnership with Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) and endorsed by the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), along with a growing list of supporters. As a key partner, SENVIC has deep experience implementing regional social enterprise subnetworks through the SENVIC Local Leads model.
Will Regional Cities be included in a Rural Social Enterprise Network?
While the intention is for the network to focus on rural needs, regional cities are not excluded from calling for the co-design or co-design process. Regional cities are often integral hubs for rural communities and therefore important sources of connection, resources and services.
How a Rural Social Enterprise Network will be structured and operated will be determined in the co-design process by those around the table. We invite you to join us!
Are there other rural social enterprise networks like this in other places around the world?
Yes – there is! One example is the Scottish Rural Social Enterprise Network, which plays a key role in connecting rural practitioners, advocating for their interests and fostering collaboration between social enterprises in remote and rural regions. Scotland’s network has been successful in amplifying rural voices in policy discussions and providing targeted resources for rural enterprises.
Another international example of a rural social enterprise network is the Social Enterprise Rural Alliance (Canada) which is a network of like-minded organisations, entrepreneurs, academics, business and government officials who catalyse change in rural communities through engaging, educating and supporting entrepreneurs in rural communities.
