Beyond People and Planet
Earlier this month, Social Enterprise Australia (SEA) advised of a conscious uncoupling from the Social Enterprise World Forum (SEWF) People & Planet First (PPF) Certification. It has been less than a year since SEA and the state-based social enterprise peak bodies endorsed this as the standard for Australian social enterprises to be validated under. Moving forward, the PPF global standards will be used as the foundation for each peak body to conduct their due diligence.
No details have been provided on this, but Greatest Good is a member of all state peak bodies (we are currently joining Impact North in the NT, following a broadening of membership to include non-indigenous social enterprise members). We remain cautious as to what this announcement brings and the level of consistency and uniformity that will be applied when assessed at a state level. This is based on our recent experience with one of the state peak bodies, where, despite being PPF certified for the second time (and also B Corp certified), the data requirements to renew our membership were more onerous that the actual PPF certification itself. We are still awaiting explanation as it seemed like a data grab, so we look forward to a standardisation agreed to by all state bodies.
To us, the term “People & Planet” has always seems like a marketing catchphrase that dumbs down the tremendous impact the sector makes. So, we are thrilled not to limit the social, environmental and community impact of Australian social enterprises in these terms.
We have long taken the view that there are 5Ps:
- People - and all living creatures
- Place - including Country, culture, communities, where you are connected with your tribes, and wherever you feel safe and grounded
- Planet – the environment and the planet on which we live
- Profit – whilst “profit” often gets a bad rap, even charities and not-for-profits need to make a profit to survive (it’s called a surplus instead of a profit)
- Purpose – purpose is the core reason for Greatest Good existing. Whether it is living your values, connecting with those aligned with your values, being inspired and inspiring others, and so much more
You can read about our 5Ps and definitions on our blog post.
Meanwhile, if you are still after a Mother’s Day gift for that special person in your life, check out our Australian Mother’s Day Gift Guide. Or you can shop the entire range of 240+ gift hampers, gift boxes, gift packs, gift cards and other products, with prices starting at $7. Every purchase on Greatest Good supports a female owned/led Australian social enterprises B Corp, charity or not for profit.
As always, please reach out if you have any queries or suggestions on how we can do more good.
Jenni Harding - Founder/Managing Director, Greatest Good
Inspiration from our members
Member news
- Congratulations to Be Hers, who were awarded $300,000 in grant funding to enhance their multicultural community programs. General Manager Allison Levinson also recently spoke at the Standing in Solidarity - No More 2026 rally, calling for urgent systemic reform to end domestic and sexual violence
- The Reconnect Project was featured on Channel 9 News during the launch of a report by Minister Houssos and Business Sydney highlighting the significant economic and social power of social enterprises
- Celebrating their 10-year anniversary, Mosaik Experiences has been reflecting on a decade of growth and the social impact they have achieved as a social enterprise
- The Christie Centre, the Mildura region’s longest-serving disability service provider, is consolidating its operations by closing three social enterprises: the Mildura Chocolate Company; Document Destruction; and SPARK Kiosk. They continue to maintain their core personal care programs and their remaining sustainable businesses
- In partnership with Asylum Art, Space2b is hosting The Raw Art Exhibition at their St Kilda gallery, showcasing bright and hopeful works from 24 artists, including 21 currently in offshore detention, to provide a platform for connection and support through their creative expression. They are also running a design competition, ‘A Million Stories’. Apply here by May 4th
- Verity White, Founder & Chief Contract Enthusiast of Checklist Legal, has also been announced as a guest speaker at the Legal Innovation & Tech Fest Australia 2026 in Sydney. Checklist Legal is now accepting applications for its Pro Bono Program for registered Australian charities, offering a limited number of pro bono places each year for structured, fixed-scope support
- Rounding off a big month, Andrea Comastri, co-founder/ CEO was interviewed on SBS discussing Hotel Etico’s Long Run To Inclusion 2026. They are seeking support workers in Leura, Sydney, and Canberra
- In a new partnership, SisterWorks and Hockey Australia are repurposing retired match kits through their CircularWorks program to create high-quality products, providing paid employment and skill development for migrant and refugee women while significantly reducing textile waste. The first pilot generated over 70 hours of employment and up to $9,000 in social return on investment
- Celebrating a decade since moving into their first office, Creative Plus Business reflected on their growth from a small team to a flourishing organisation, proving that affordable creative spaces and timely support are vital catalysts for long-term success
News and Updates
For-purpose sector news
Staff appointments and changes
- The Mercy Foundation has announced the appointment of Maeve Brown as Chief Executive Officer, bringing more than two decades of leadership experience across the not-for-profit, community, and social justice sectors
- After a decade of combined leadership, Philanthropy Australia Co-Chairs Amanda Miller OAM and Lisa George are stepping down, concluding a significant era for the organisation
- Kevin Robbie has been appointed as the new head of the Australian Philanthropic Services Foundation
- Dr Ruth Higgins has been appointed as the first female federal solicitor-general, with her term set to begin in June
- Australian actor, Hugh Jackman, has joined the global ticketing not for profit Humanitix in the key role of Head of Impact
- Jennifer Duncan leads the inaugural Foundation SA board as chair, joined by members
- Michael Dawson, Lisa Tarca, and Andrew Plastow, with Stacey Thomas serving as board adviser
- Sally Hines has been appointed as the new director of engagement and advisory at Australian Communities Foundation
- Bianca Stern has joined the Funding Network Australia as a non-executive director, replacing Melissa Abu-Gazaleh who has departed the board
- Impact Investing Australia (IIA) Chair, Richard Brandweiner, has been appointed Chief Investment Officer of the Future Fund and will continue as Chair at IIA
Other sector news
- After 10 years, Social Change Central is closing down, selling its resource library and news archive assets to Social Enterprise Australia. SCC have been instrumental in building and growing the social enterprise sector and we are grateful for their support of Greatest Good
- A new national report, co-produced with the social enterprise sector and led by May Miller-Dawkins, Shaping & Fuelling Change, examines the role of philanthropy in social enterprise. The report calls for a shift towards longer-term and more flexible approaches that support systems change
- Opening the CPA Australia Profit for Purpose conference in Melbourne, Federal Charities Minister Andrew Leigh delivered a keynote titled 'Bequests, belonging and the long future', highlighting how philanthropic bequests from the projected $5.4 trillion intergenerational wealth transfer can transform the for-purpose economy and strengthen Australia’s social fabric
- A newly released second edition of the Ethics in the Boardroom Guide, jointly developed by the Australian Institute of Company Directors and The Ethics Centre, provides directors with a practical framework to navigate complex ethical terrain and emerging challenges like AI to build more resilient and trusted organisations
- Social Ventures Australia has released 'Impact investing needs clearer labels', a paper that unpacks why language matters and the potential benefits of developing a shared approach to labels in the impact investing market
- Following a six-month co-design process involving hundreds of contributors, including Greatest Good, Social Enterprise Australia has released a draft of the updated Social Enterprise National Strategy, which is set for a final member vote in late April 2026 to trigger its official implementation
- The AICD Not-for-Profit Governance and Performance Study 2025/26 study has been released, revealing that while governance maturity and director remuneration are on the rise, NFP boards are facing an unprecedented workload and potential burnout due to increasing personal accountability and the escalating complexity of risks involving AI, cybersecurity, and climate change
- Celebrating over a decade as a cornerstone of the Australian impact ecosystem, the Social Impact Hub’s 12 Years of Impact Report reflects on its role since 2014 in bridging purpose-driven organisations with capital and government while establishing a strategic roadmap for using capability and funding as primary levers for future social change
- Drawing on a systematic review of 137 academic studies, the Social Traders and RMIT University report, "What Works: The Global Evidence on Social Enterprise Success Factors," identifies that long-term resilience and scale depend on the strategic alignment of six key dimensions: policy, markets, finance, support, human capital, and culture
- The Paul Ramsay Foundation has updated its Investment Policy Statement, marking a significant milestone in its shift toward a "Total Impact" approach
- The annual Edelman Trust Barometer Report highlights a significant shift in the Australian social fabric toward insularity, driven by economic and technological anxieties. The report urges a shift toward restoring the connections and collaboration necessary for workplace and societal progress
- A landmark moment for the future of First Nations philanthropy, with Australia’s first-ever Indigenous-led philanthropy conference, Blak Loungeroom, declared a major success
- The Australian Government has reinforced its commitment to the social enterprise sector, including an additional $3.3 million dedicated to First Nations social enterprises and $3.4 million to other social enterprises to extend the Social Enterprise Development Initiative grant through to June 2027
- The Wyatt Trust has released its latest report, Perspectives on Investing, offering insights from more than a decade of impact investing experience
Opportunities to do your greatest good
We are updating the Events/Courses and Paid/Volunteer work pages weekly, so keep checking back to find new events and job opportunities throughout March and beyond.
Asks/offers and resources
We now have over 120 free resources in our Asks/Offers & Resources section designed to help you and your organisation maximise your impact - everything from offers to grow and develop, free guides and toolkits, through to expert advice and services. Use our filters and search bar to quickly find what you need to do your greatest good. Here’s a handful of things we’ve added recently:
- Take part in the Impact Investing Australia and UNSW Centre for Social Impact 2026 Benchmarking Impact Survey, a key national study helping shape the future of impact investing in Australia
- Charities are invited to complete the World Charity Insights Survey 2026 through Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) to help understand how charitable organisations in different countries operate
- Registrations are now open for the 2026 Climate Ambition Accelerator, a six-month UN Global Compact program
- Applications are now open for UNSW’s 10x Accelerator Program
- WA Social Enterprise Awards: nominations are now open
- Applications are also open for the WA Social Enterprise Council Social Impact Incubator
- Search the free Victorian Government online tool, Savings Finder, to find rebates, discounts and benefits you may be eligible for
- Access the ATO’s Business Viability Assessment Tool to check how financially healthy your small business is
- Read the Anti-Corruption Ethics and Compliance Programme for Business: A Practical Guide (2nd Edition) an updated practical guide by The UN Global Compact and the UN Office on Drugs and Crime
Regulatory updates
Our regulatory updates provide a summary of the key regulatory updates, guidance and announcements affecting the for-purpose sector.
Legislative announcements and changes
Key legislative items include:
- Credit and debit card surcharging comes to an end on 30 September, resulting in reduced costs for both small business and consumers. The 3-part reform package from the Reserve Bank offers greater transparency and costs savings
- ASIC and the Australian Accounting Standards Board are hosting free workshops to help companies prepare for sustainability reporting. This is in addition to the 8 free online modules available to everyone around climate disclosure, risk management, reporting and more
- Ahead of payday super changes coming into effect on 1 July, the ATO has issued guidance on 3 things every employer needs to know about super fund stapling
Guidance and updates
You can find more on these items and other regulatory updates in ourmonthly regulatory updatesand other updates posted on theBlog Pages(use the Regulatory Updates filter). We can't provide legal advice but you can find proposed and upcoming legislative changes and other insights to discuss with your legal advisers.