Application Process
The Social Enterprise Program is an 12-week competition that runs annually during Semester Two of the Australian tertiary calendar. The start and end dates of the Program are released prior to the application period commencing.
Program dates: 6 August – 26 October 2018
Program dates: 6 August – 26 October 2018
Applications are now open.
Closing date for applications: 13 July 2018
The Social Enterprise Program is open to any interested tertiary student enrolled at a university within New South Wales, Western Australia, Victoria and Queensland. Students from all disciplines are encouraged to apply.
Students are required to submit their application, which requires responses to three (3) questions and a submission of resume, prior to the application period closing. Applications are reviewed and the top 10-15 candidates are selected within each State. All candidates will be contacted within a week of the application period closing, to be notified of the next stage in the application process.
The Program
Once chosen, successful candidates will form teams of two (2) or three (3) within their State at the discretion of Program staff. Candidates may nominate a partner to work with, should both candidates be successful in securing a position in the Program. This opportunity is given to candidates when they are notified of their successful application.
You interact with industry professionals at each of three events held throughout the program. We encourage teams to form continuing relationships with these professionals as strong connections often help teams achieve even greater results.
The industry professionals for the Social Enterprise Program are within a variety of sectors, including: banking, accounting, investment and advisory, marketing, legal and management. They are experienced and skilled business professionals who offer their student teams an invaluable perspective and opportunity for connecting with industry.
The funds raised by each student team are directed to On My Feet; a not-for-profit organisation that assists homeless people in Australia and South Africa through running communities and by offering pathways to education and employment.
Student teams are not provided a marketing or administrative budget. Participants are encouraged to re-invest funds raised to create marketing material that will yield further sales and revenue.
Upon commencement of the Program, student teams are provided 100 socks to start their micro-business. It is expected that each team sells this amount as a minimum throughout the Program. Once the initial 100 socks are sold, further amounts can be provided to teams upon request.
The experience of each participant in the Social Enterprise Program is unique. What each participant gets out of the Program, is entirely dependent upon what they put in. The Mentors help to ensure that the time students put into their business yields the best return. Past participants have suggested that between 3-4 hours on average per week is required to perform to a high standard in the Program. Click here to see what else past participants have to say about the Program.