Jennifer McHugh is working with The Queensland Social Enterprise Council Ltd (QSEC) as the QSEC Activator for Far North QLD region. QSEC exists to support a vibrant, innovative and capable social enterprise sector in Queensland that is sufficiently resourced to achieve high social, cultural and environmental impact.
Queensland’s economic needs impact businesses that are run well, supported, able to respond to social procurement opportunities, and can access the right capital at the right time. The Queensland Government has supported QSEC and sector partners to help reveal the diversity and depth of market for social enterprises (SE) to advance business activity in regional areas across Queensland. Regional Activators will help unlock opportunities for SE on the ground in key regional areas and promote direct engagement with potential industry partners.
QSEC considers that Social Enterprises are considered to:
• Have a social mission embedded in the DNA of the business to directly address social, cultural and environmental needs; rather than indirectly through socially responsible business practices such as corporate philanthropy, equitable wages and environmentally friendly operations.
• Is an enterprise deriving a majority of their revenue through trade of socially and environmentally sustainable products and/or services; rather than through grants, donations or gifts.
• Invests the majority of expenditure and/or profit to fulfil their mission.
The Jobs Queensland, Queensland Social Enterprise Strategy considers Cairns, Cape York and Torres Strait to be a social enterprise activity hotspot in Queensland with strong opportunities for further development (Jobs Queensland, 2019).
Through this small role Jen aims to build relationships with social enterprises and industry players and to get a better understanding of the SE landscape in the region. QSEC are seeking to identify and assist quantification of social enterprise participants in their regional and are asking SE’s in FNQ to complete a short confidential survey.
https://bit.ly/QSECRMSESurvey
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