Stay Grounded is WASEC's new program helping WA social entrepreneurs build resilience before burnout takes hold, through peer circles, clinical support from WA-based psychologists, and lived experience from people who understand founder life from the inside. It runs over six months with 2 in-person days and 2 online sessions, with limited spaces so the depth stays real.
Founders in the social enterprise sector carry a particular kind of load – building a viable business while holding the emotional weight of working closely with people in crisis. That dual accountability, mission and commerce, is exhausting in a way that’s rarely named.
A recent StartupWA Report confirms entrepreneurs across the state are burning out, and the pressure lands hardest on women, older women, regional founders, migrants, and founders with disabilities. This tracks with national data showing three-quarters of Australian founders felt overwhelmed in just the past six months, with high stress, anxiety, physical exhaustion, burnout and loneliness among the most common symptoms founders report. WASEC’s new program, Stay Grounded, exists to help founders avoid burnout – because when they burn out, it impacts the teams and communities they exist to serve.
How it works
Built on three things: peers, clinical evidence, lived experience
This isn’t a generic wellness offering. Every session is shaped by people who understand founder life from the inside – alongside WA-based psychologists bringing evidence-based tools for burnout, resilience, and leading through uncertainty.
- Month 1 – EOIs open. Tell us you’re interested, no lengthy application.
- Month 2 – Cohort confirmed. We select up to 10 founders and reach out directly to lock in your spot.
- Months 3 & 5 – Two in-person days, with lived experience, clinical input, and peer circles that carry you through.
- Months 4 & 6 – Online check-ins to keep momentum and connection going.
- Month 6 – By the end: a framework you keep – practical tools and a peer network that outlasts the program.
Is this for you? Who WASEC are looking for.
- You’re leading a social enterprise or purpose-driven organisation in WA – metro or regional.
- You’re at a stretched or critical point in your leadership journey, and honest peer support isn’t something you’ve had much access to.
- You’re open to a small, closely-held group – this cohort is capped at 10 so the depth stays real.
- You can commit to the six-month arc, in-person days and online sessions included.