The Social Enterprise Jobs Summit 2025 brought together 380 changemakers from across the social enterprise sector, government, intermediaries, and funders. Together, we shared insights, ideas, and experiences with one clear objective: shifting systems to create a future where everyone has access to decent and meaningful work.
Over the course of two energising days, participants built common ground, exchanged ideas, formed valuable connections, and engaged in crucial conversations. The Summit reaffirmed that there’s a collective hunger and willingness to drive change within the jobs-focused social enterprise sector.
We had clear objectives for the Summit:
- Build Relationships: Connect stakeholders in the WISE (Work Integration Social Enterprises) sector.
- Share Ideas and Learnings: Exchange real-world experiences, challenges, and ideas for action.
- Shift Systems: Convene key players to identify and influence systems that can create more decent work opportunities.
- Inspire and Build Understanding: Provide a mix of inspiration, data, and research for actionable insights.
From these discussions, 10 areas for action emerged, focusing on both immediate and long-term change:
- Further Develop WISE Support Infrastructure
- Integrate WISEs into Mainstream Employment Systems
- Enable Cross-Sector Collaboration
- Embed First Nations Self-Determination
- Reform Procurement and Market Access
- Build Sector Capability and Resilience
- Create Cultures of Wellbeing
- Secure Enabling Financing
- Develop Transition Pathways
- Regulatory and Policy Reform
A deeper playback of what was shared at the Summit has been compiled. It comes with no filter and priorities have not been evaluated or competing ideas worked through. It’s not a final word, but a raw snapshot of what emerged, and what may come next.
Read the Social Enterprise Jobs Summit Insights
Download the Slide Deck
Social Enterprise Australia will use these insights to inform the ‘access to decent work’ stream of the national social enterprise strategy.
The Beginning, Not the End
The Summit marked the beginning of a collaborative journey. The insights gathered will fuel future action to create a more inclusive employment system, with the ultimate goal of providing decent, meaningful work for all. Together, we will continue to drive change.
The time is now.