White Box Enterprises is excited to announce the Social Enterprise Loan Fund (SELF) has issued its first loan – a $200,000 investment in Northern NSW-based social enterprise ShoreTrack.
ShoreTrack provides an alternative pathway for young people who are disengaged from school, offering hands-on training, life skills, and the opportunity to re-engage with education or transition into employment.
Since 2020, the organisation has worked with more than 330 young people across the Mid North Coast region, helping to break cycles of generational unemployment and disadvantage.
The loan assisted ShoreTrack with the purchase of a permanent property in Macksville – a critical step that will allow them to expand their programs and provide more consistent support to young people at risk of falling through the cracks.
Murna O’Neill, General Manager of the SELF, said ShoreTrack was a perfect fit for SELF.
“They’re an impact-first, well-governed organisation that’s making a tangible difference in their community,” she said.
“This loan will support ShoreTrack’s journey from adolescence to independence as an organisation. By owning their own fit-for-purpose premises, they’ve not only given themselves the capacity to grow their programs and their impact but have gained more stability and permanence, a great outcome for everyone involved with the organisation.
“This is exactly why the Social Enterprise Loan Fund exists – to bridge the gap for proven, high-impact enterprises who are ready to scale, but struggle to access the right capital at the right time.”
Jill Ashley, ShoreTrack co-founder and CEO, said: “This loan is a game-changer for ShoreTrack. It gives us the stability and space to keep growing our impact and supporting young people on their journey toward meaningful, long-term employment.”
Launched in March 2025, the SELF is Australia’s first dedicated loan fund for social enterprises that create employment pathways.
Backed by Westpac Foundation, Macquarie Group Foundation, the Australian Government, the Victorian Government, the Ian & Shirley Norman Foundation, and the English Family Foundation, the SELF is designed to fill a critical financing gap in the social enterprise ecosystem.
The fund offers flexible loans of $100,000 to $500,000, with interest rates starting from 6.5% and terms of up to seven years. Over the life of the fund, it’s expected to support between 12 and 20 social enterprises, creating over 200 jobs for people facing barriers to employment.