Social Enterprise Schools

We believe in the power of social entrepreneurship to help young people in Australia reach their full potential.

Supported by the Academy team, Social Enterprise Schools is a young person-led, hands-on learning experience.

Through the process of setting up their own social enterprise, students develop the skills, mindsets and behaviours they will need for success as they move beyond the school gates. For more information on the details of the programme, download our flyer.

What are Social Enterprise Schools?

Led by young people
School social enterprises are driven and run by students with support from teachers and parents.
Students should spread the awareness of their social enterprise across their school and
community.

Connected to communities
School-based social enterprises have explicit social and/or environmental outcomes and their
profits are used to help achieve these. These can either be local issues or issues linked to a
community in another country.

Developing entrepreneurial skills
Students’ social enterprises have a clear trading activity and are directly involved in producing
goods or providing services to a market identified by the students.

Dynamic
School-based social enterprises aspire to make a positive and responsive change to peoples’ lives.

Mapped to the curriculum
Social Enterprise Schools is mapped to the Victorian Curriculum F – 10 making it easy for teachers
to navigate delivery and assessment of student achievements against core capabilities.

Social Enterprise Schools Programs

NEW! Self-Guided Online Program

A flexible, interactive, and engaging online learning experience

Tap into interactive, curriculum-aligned online resources. Free to access and flexible to use, the new self-guided option features:

Professional learning modules for teachers
A suite of videos, resources and lesson plans that align with the Social Enterprise Schools 10 stage learning journey
Coaching videos presented by experienced Social Enterprise Schools facilitators
Membership to a virtual Community of Practice
Inspiration and information via a regular e-newsletter

Click here to register for the self-guided journey.

Immersive Program

Place-based support to develop Entrepreneurial Mindsets, Skills and Behaviours

Embark on a three-year journey with dedicated guidance and support. Unlock and accelerate student agency and peer learning, activate place-based trading and build connection with your broader community. This fee-based model includes all Self-Guided Journey features, plus:

Place-based support, including two incursions to your school per year that align with key steps in the program. Each session will be co-designed with you and led by an experienced Social Enterprise Schools facilitator
Invitations to experiential, peer learning and exchange opportunities, including opportunities to connect with other immersive schools and members of our international network.
Dedicated support and guidance designed to support and accelerate student trading, including access to the online Social Enterprise Schools e-marketplace, place-based trading support and invitations to join pop-up trading opportunities convened by the Social Enterprise Schools team.
Build connections with your community – encourage student citizenship and community wellbeing by inviting young people to share what matters with your community, co-design trading opportunities
Impact reporting for your school, backed up by a personalised dashboard.

If you are interested in bringing the immersive journey to your school, please get in touch to discuss details and funding options. Contact sheree@acre.org.au.

‘Taster’ Resources

Introductory open-access resources

Designed to give teachers and students a flavour of the program, ACRE and Social Enterprise Academy Australia have developed introductory resources available through cool.org.

Register Your Interest

Use our form to register your school's interest in participating in the Social Enterprise Schools programme in Australia.