The University of Newcastle


Centre of Full Employment and Equity

Social Entrepreneurship: whose responsibility is it anyway?

Today's time is 04:54:25 on Saturday, September 6, 2008
Although difficult to define, the concept of Social Entrepreneurship has gained increasing support in Australia and elsewhere. Notably, it involves collaboration between business and community welfare groups in developing initiatives which are transforming welfare support and delivery. There is considerable controversy surrounding this collaboration and the role, influence and effects of social entrepreneurship. Advocates maintain that improved collaboration can bring benefits to all parties and particularly, improve circumstances at a local level. Opponents believe that it condones the abrogation of government responsibility in the provision of welfare services and job creation. Issues such as the proper role of government, business and community groups in the provision of welfare services and employment opportunities are relevant. The Centre of Full Employment and Equity takes a critical stance on the trends encouraging corporatised and market-driven outcomes in welfare provision. Tbe Centre emphasises that job creation leading to full employment is the first essential step in a equitable society.

CofFEE hosted a one-day workshop on November 21 2001 to present this debate. The workshop speakers (click name to download paper) were as follows:

  • Mel Gray, Penny Crofts, Department of Social Work, University of Newcastle, and Karen Healy, Department of Social Work, Social Policy and Sociology, University of Sydney - Download paper
  • Peter Tregilgas, Social Enterprise Manager, Adelaide Central Mission and Board member of the Social Entrepreneurs Network - Download paper
  • Catherine McDonald, School of Social Work and Social Policy, University of Queensland Fixing the Niche? Rhetorics of the community sector in the neo-liberal welfare regime - Download paper
  • Claire Field, Senior Policy Officer, Research and Social Policy, Mission Australia will outline Mission Australia's concept of Social Entrepreneurship - Download paper
  • Beth Cook, Chris Dodds, and Bill Mitchell, CofFEE, University of Newcastle The false premises of Social Entrepreneurship - Download paper

Past Events

CofFEE Home

The Centre of Full Employment and Equity, The University of Newcastle, Callaghan NSW 2308 Australia
Telephone: +61-2-4921 7283 Fax: +61-2-4921 8731, © Copyright 1998-2008     E-mail: coffee@newcastle.edu.au