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Switched-On Enterprises

This project boosts the competitiveness of social enterprises and to ensure their long-term viability so they can continue to employ and empower disadvantaged members of the community.

Project Overview

Switched-on Enterprises (SOE) drives societal change through assisting social enterprises to run a sustainable business model, allowing them to increase their capacity to better empower disadvantaged members of the community.

The SOE team provides business-consulting services to non-profit organisations, many of who often struggle with the business aspects of their initiatives. Knowledge is transferred from student consultants to the social enterprise through a number of platforms such as interactive workshops. Various areas of business operations are covered including financial record keeping, pricing, budgeting, inventory management and marketing. The goal of this project is to improve existing business practices, boost competitiveness, and ultimately, ensure the long-term viability of the social enterprises.

By successfully concluding four engagements in 2010 with Riff Raff Catering (Yooralla), Sorghum Sisters (AMES), Challenge Multimedia and Bayleys on Hampton, SOE has generated a lasting impact on the lives of recently arrived refugees and individuals with physical and mental disabilities.

In 2011, SOE will be expanding its operations and engaging new social enterprises. Currently SOE has established engagements with STREAT, a social enterprise that provides supported pathways to long-term employment in the hospitality industry for homeless youth, and Learner Drivers, an AMES operated local driving school that assists disadvantaged members of the community to attain their driver’s license, thereby maximising their prospects for employment.

Later this year, we will be commencing new engagements which will allow us to assist more individuals locally and in indigenous communities in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.

Through these continuing engagements, SOE is actively working to minimise social inequalities through empowering people and inspiring action, one student-led initiative at a time.