Message from the Chief Executive Officer Hi folks, what a year! It’s been cathartic to pause and reflect on the achievements across the organisation. We remain focused on our work to unlock the power of social enterprise and entrepreneurship to forge a thriving future for rural Australia. I’m really proud of the progress we’ve made towards delivery of our strategic priorities and continuing to deepen our impact. There are a few highlights in particular that I would like to call out: Manifesto for Rural Social Enterprise The Manifesto serves as both a policy roadmap and a global call to action for rural social enterprise. I’m proud of the stewarding role we have played in partnership with Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF), from its origins in rural Australia with Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) Local Leads to the SEWF Rural Gathering that ACRE hosted in Beechworth in 2022. In 2023 the Manifesto was presented at the World Forum in Amsterdam and has since been strengthened by voices from over 100 organisations and 37 countries, making it a truly global document. The Manifesto was expertly launched by Mary-Anne Scully at the SEWF Policy Forum. Community Asset Ownership There are currently over forty rural communities across Australia that are either actively progressing or interested in community asset ownership. Our experience advising and guiding a number of communities, together with our first-hand experience leading a consortium of local families and philanthropic investors to purchase the Old Beechworth Gaol in 2016, has proved invaluable for rural communities wanting to retain essential services. This year, we have delivered more Community Asset Ownership Workshops as interest continues to grow. For the Old Beechworth Gaol (OBG), the site is fast becoming an Action Learning Centre for Social Entrepreneurship – a sign of the potential of Community Asset Ownership projects, when the conditions are right. We’re excited to be working with partners on the potential of a national advisory service for this work. Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs This year more young people took part in Social Enterprise Schools, than any other year. We also worked in more rural communities than any previous year. I want to highlight the pivotal role of educators who embrace entrepreneurial learning and welcome our Social Enterprise Schools team into their schools and communities. We continue to be the proud delivery partners of Social Enterprise Schools in Australia, part of the global Social Enterprise Academy Network, where its great to progress global learning exchanges with students around the globe including Malaysia, South Africa, UK and Egypt. Advocating for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia In September 2024 we launched a campaign calling for the co-design of a Rural Social Enterprise Network for Australia - in partnership with Social Enterprise Network Victoria (SENVIC) and endorsed by Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF). The campaign is a unified effort to ACRE 4
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