Social Traders respond to Productivity Commission Draft

In its response to the Commission’s Draft Report on the Contribution of the Not for Profit Sector, Social Traders says that social enterprise can play a vital role in the future success of the NFP sector through the development of new and innovative approaches to trading and service delivery, mixed economy approaches to NFP income sources, and the application of new business models within the NFP sector.

Social Traders says that the starting point for the NFP Sector should be the development of an agreed NFP Strategy across all critical stakeholders. 

It says this strategy should be developed and delivered through the Commission’s proposed Office for Not for Profit Sector Engagement and contain strategic priorities, mechanisms and processes to support the proposed approach, and an action plan that sets out the key tasks to be undertaken over an agreed timeframe. 

Social Traders has proposed a Social Enterprise Action Plan, similar to the plan established in the UK in 2006, to unearth the true potential of the sector here in Australia. 

It says that a coherent action plan, developed across a range of critical stakeholders, would provide a framework for sector activity through a set of agreed strategic priorities and subsequent actions. 

The submission says Australia has some great examples of effective collaboration involving the Public, Business and Community Sector and Social traders strongly support the Productivity Commission’s recommendation on new models of engagement between Australian governments and the NFP Sector and that this is another step forward in strengthening their commitment to continuous improvement in the way services are delivered to individuals and communities across Australia.

Find the report at:http://www.socialtraders.com.au/sites/www.socialtraders.com.au/files/Submission%20to%20the%20Productivity%20Commission%20into%20the%20contribution%20of%20the%20not-for-profit%20sector%20(Research%20Report).pdf