Social Enterprise

Denmark CRC's social enterprise journey is still quite new but it has grown from a very real community need. Every consultation they have run in recent years has highlighted the same issue: the lack of transport. Many people in Denmark, especially seniors, youth, people with disability and those living outside town, struggle to access shops, services and social activities.

In response the CRC partnered with the Denmark Community Foundation to pilot a Community Bus service. Passengers are invited to make a recommended donation towards their trip, but if someone cannot afford it they are still transported. This ensures the service remains inclusive and open to everyone while still working towards sustainability. The bus has already shown its value. It is the only vehicle in town that can transport a passenger in a wheelchair, thanks to its rear wheelchair access. They are also seeing opportunities to use the bus for youth outings to Albany, where there are more youth friendly activities on offer.

The project has not been without challenges. While the need for transport is clear, finding the right balance between available volunteer drivers and the individual needs of passengers has been difficult. It takes careful coordination and persistence to match people with drivers while still providing flexibility. Even with these hurdles the bus is making a real difference to a very small percentage of our community. It is reducing isolation, helping people regain independence, giving volunteers purpose and opening the door for more inclusive community participation.

Their story shows how they can build our own solutions by combining collaboration and determination and how the profits from the income generating activities of the CRC are being used to create impact in their community, beyond the outcomes or activities directed by government contract funding.

Denmark CRC will be telling the story of people in their community, the difference the bus makes and have documented a written case study of their journey to making this self-sustainable into the future.

Download the Denmark CRC Community Bus Case Study (PDF)

Milligan hosted a consultation day with the Nixi group in partnership with the WA Social Enterprise Council (WASEC), bringing together participants to explore the future of the Nixi social enterprise. The day focused on listening to the voices, ideas, and lived experiences of the women involved in the program, ensuring that the direction of Nixi is shaped by those at the heart of it.

WASEC facilitated discussions and activities that helped unpack what a social enterprise could look like for the group, exploring possibilities around products, skills, values, and the kind of impact the women want Nixi to have in the community. Social enterprises are businesses that operate with a social mission, reinvesting profits back into people, community, or environmental outcomes. 

Throughout the day, participants shared their insights, strengths, and aspirations. The consultation created space for creativity, reflection, and collaboration, while also building confidence and ownership in the process. Importantly, the session helped identify the values and priorities that will guide Nixi as it grows into a sustainable social enterprise.

A short video was captured during the day, documenting the conversations, energy, trust and contributions of the women involved. It highlights the powerful role that community-led ideas and lived experience play in shaping meaningful opportunities.

This consultation marks an important step in the ongoing journey of Nixi, moving toward a model that supports skills development, creativity, and economic participation, while staying grounded in connection, empowerment, and community. We hope this is the start of a social enterprise at Milligan.

Watch the video

Download the report

Perth City Farm is a 31 year old organisation that funds itself as a social enterprise. Their Founders were enterprising and that has been part of the organisational culture as we’ve evolved from a volunteer driven initiative to a million dollar operation in 2025. At times this has been the only way to self fund, but its also been the smartest way to self fund so they can deliver on their purpose of people living more sustainably.

Perth City Farm have tried many different enterprise activities over the years and learnt a lot about what does and doesn’t work and why. They would love to share theses lessons to help other organisations find the right enterprises and make them profitable faster. And they would also like to document this to reflect on their journey and celebrate how far they have come.

They have developed a written case study and two videos

1. Written case study focusing on 'Perth City Farm as a Social Enterprise.
   This talks about the origins of the organisation and its values and culture that have influenced its development as a community organisation funding itself as a social enterprise. It touches on the different enterprise activities trialled over the years and what worked, what didn't and why. The study focuses on the current business model and two operating enterprises and why they have been chosen as our focus moving forward covering things like use of existing resources, alignment with target impact and organisational values.
   
   The document is intended to share learnings that be useful to other people or organisations considering enterprise activities, especially when they are in the planning stages of starting a new enterprise. It is useful to boards and senior staff considering the strategy of enterprise investment.
   
   Download the case study
2. Two videos (both approximately 1-2 minutes long) suitable for a LinkedIn type audience:
   
   • Perth City Farm as a social enterprise – what does it mean that they are a social enterprise, and what does it look like in practice.
   • Sustainability Education as one of their enterprises- What is it, how does it create impact whilst generating income.
   Watch the videos

What started three years ago in Pingelly as a local program has grown into a powerful movement. 

Staying In Place (SIP) is built on a simple, yet profound belief: that everyone deserves the right to age with dignity in the community they call home.

Today, SIP is much more than a service—it is an economic and social engine for our community and region, and growing! The program now accounts for approximately 40% of the Pingelly Community Resource Centre’s income, a surplus that has allowed us to dream bigger and give back more. This growth has directly fuelled local employment, expanding employment through the SIP program to the equivalent of 14 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) positions right here in Pingelly.

Because of this success, we’ve been able to collaborate on vital community initiatives, including:

• The Forget Me Not Cafe: A space dedicated to connection and combating social isolation.
• The Aged Care Equipment Hub: A resource providing essential equipment for community members with short-term needs or those who don't yet have access to formal aged care packages.

As SIP expands across the Wheatbelt and Western Australia, and even interstate, we are seeing transformation take shape in every town it touches. In this video, "A Story that Continues to Grow," we invite you to hear from the coordinators, clients and contractors at the heart of this journey. We’ll explore the lessons we’ve learned, the lives that have been changed, and the bright, resilient future we are building together.

Watch "A Story that Continues to Grow"

Serpentine Jarrahdale CRC's new income stream – the SJCRC Community op shop. They re-purposed their board room which only earnt income of around $50 a month to an op shop that is generating $500 in sales per opening.

The CRC have put together a written case study of the story from start to finish which includes sponsorship proposal, method of execution, the importance of a sub committee, volunteer induction pack and what is in there, business plan. It also includes social media posts and photos of before and after as well as signage for the op shop which has a story behind it.

Download the SJCRC Community Op Shop Case Study (PDF)

The Tambellup CRC wants to share the story of their Staying in Place Program, a small but growing initiative that began with just one client and now supports five local senior residents not only in Tambellup, but neighbouring towns too.

The program was first implemented as a way to help older community members remain in their own homes and connected to their community, but over time they have come to see it as the foundation of a social enterprise.

Thinking about the program as a social enterprise is a new concept for the CRC, but one that excites them. The aim is to build sustainability over the next 12 months so the program can generate income that is reinvested directly back into the community. This would allow them to run more events, reduce barriers to participation, and make activities accessible for everyone.

Through this project, Tambellup CRC want to tell the story of their journey so far... the lessons they are learning along the way, and the vision for the future. They hope their experience can inspire other communities who are considering similar paths.

The CRC have documented their story through a mix of written and visual storytelling that captures both the growth of the Staying in Place Program and the voices of those involved. A key part of this was a community morning tea, where clients, support workers, and potential new participants came together. This event provided a natural opportunity to collect stories, quotes, and images in a relaxed setting.

From this, they developed a digital storytelling resource — a presentation that combines client case studies, photographs, quotes, and simple visuals such as timelines and impact graphics. This resource highlights the journey from a single client to a growing program, their learning around social enterprise, and their vision for building sustainability into the future. The final product is a professional, engaging, and flexible presentation that can be shared at community events, with other CRCs, and with potential partners or funders.

Growing Local Care: Tambellup's Staying in Place Journey

Client Case Study: Restoring Independence Close to Home

Growing Local Care: Tambellup's Staying in Place Journey (Presentation)