B Corps kicks goals!
Happy October!
During the month, I attended B Corp Assembly 2025. Held over 3 days on Darkinjung Country in regional NSW, it was an inspiring and memorable event. It left me excited above the changes being made to challenge “business as usual” in both Australian and Aotearoa New Zealand. There were so many highlights, but two things stood out above the rest:
- North Melbourne AFL/AFLW club has become the first sporting club in Australia to become B Corp certified. They join Vitasoy, Lion (brewer of many well know beer brands), Blackmores, Princess Polly, and a range of other new organisations getting certified over recent months
- 16 year old Ruby Rodgers provided so much hope about future generations taking care of our planet and tackling climate change. After appearing in Damon Gameau's acclaimed climate documentary "Future Council”, she has gone on to join the Future Council and sign a record deal. She mixes her high school studies with singing, environmental work, advocacy and appearances, leaving us in awe.
Meanwhile, the Social Enterprise World Forum has just wrapped up in Taipei, as we look ahead to World Social Enterprise Day in less than 3 weeks. The Social Enterprise Council of NSW and ACT (SECNA) is leading the charge, with a massive 10 online and in person events to celebrate, which you can find on our Events page.
With Halloween over this week, you can expect to be inundated with Black Friday and then Cyber Monday marketing in all forms of media. You can learn more about the effects on your brain (amygdala highjack) on this onslaught in a post I previously wrote on this topic. We know that times are tough and it’s easy to be overwhelmed and succumb to buying cheap and nasty items from global firms who have questionable employment and manufacturing processes. We’d prefer you didn’t buy anything at all during this time (Buy Nothing Day is also on the same day as Black Friday). If you do have to buy, why not do it in a mindful way that aligns with your values. We’d love that to be from us or others that also support Australian social enterprises, B Corps, charities and not for profits.
As always, please share your with feedback, thought, comments and suggestions with us, to help us to help you do your greatest good.
Jenni Harding - Founder/Managing Director, Greatest Good
Inspiration from our members
- Karuna Dawn capped off a busy Melbourne Fashion Week feature at Collins Square by becoming People & Planet First certified
- Exciting news from Hotel Etico who are expanding, with two new Academy of Independence locations for Canberra and Leura on the horizon for January 2026
- The Christie Centre Inc said goodbye to Executive Officer, Florence Davidson after 13 years and welcomed Nadiene Lynch to the leadership team
- B Corp members Good4Business and Checklist Legal joined Greatest Good last week for the 2025 B Corp Conference by B Lab (the charity that sits behind B Corp), providing a rare opportunity for B Corp members from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand to learn and network in person
- Ember Connect has been awarded a LinkedIn ad grant to support their mission in reaching more First Nations women and Allies across Australia
- Monica Davidson from Creative Plus Business finished the NSW Business Connect project after 9 years of supporting NSW creatives through education and mentoring about entrepreneurialism. She also presented at SXSW Sydney
- The Reconnect Project has won the Bank of Sydney 2025 Grant for Good, helping to fund replacement batteries for the laptops provided to disadvantaged high school students
- SisterWorks released their 2025 Annual Report reflecting a successful year and a story of resilience, community, and empowerment in action
News and Updates
- The NFP Resilience Report 2025 reveals that Australia's not-for-profit sector faces significant financial challenges, with many organisations struggling to achieve long-term sustainability. The report calls for a strategic shift towards diversified income streams and better financial planning to ensure the sector's resilience
- A group of 33 funders have signed an open letter in support of Victoria’s Treaty legislation
- The Scanlon Foundation's latest report highlights the enduring strength of communities amidst global challenges proving that Australia's social cohesion remains strong, with everyday Australians quietly contributing to societal harmony
- Key findings from latest Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) report give insight into a changing Australia, showing that: older Australians are delaying retirement; a growing gap between homeowners and renters in retirement; a drop in desired family size; and a rise in bodily pain compare to two decades ago
- Pitcher Partners released their latest Charitable Committee Report highlighting over $1.25 million in community impact to local charities and community initiatives in the last financial year
- Media legend Ray Martin’s demanded action on greater social justice for Indigenous Australians as he delivered the 15th annual Joan Kirner Social Justice Oration
- Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation has unveiled a new operating name, Greater Melbourne Foundation, marking the next chapter in its 100-year history. Their new identity marks an important enabler in bringing this vision to life
- Regional Development Australia Northern Territory (RDA NT) has announced the appointment of four new Committee Members, further strengthening and diversifying its regional leadership. Congratulations James Morgan, Angela Sammon, Sid Vashist, and Belinda Urquhart!
- Frankston Social Enterprise Hub held their Annual General Meeting and welcomed three new board members to their leadership team. Dr Zara Lasater has been appointed as the new Executive Officer
- The latest SDG Action Plan: Restoring Hope spotlights rising inequality and conflict, outlining key strategies to advance the Sustainable Development Goals
- UN Global Compact identifies Ten Key Principles to a framework for responsible business practices across human rights, labour, the environment, and anti-corruption
- Leaders convened in New York for 80th United Nations General Assembly and discuss Insights from CEO Study
Opportunities to do your greatest good
Events/Courses
We have added a range of events this month. Here’s just a few of the highlights:
- The Centre for Social Impact (CSI) is offering a new round of Social Impact Scholarships, investing $100,000 to support changemakers across Australia and is holding an education event for those considering applying
- Justice Connect is hosting two AI workshops. The first will explore how non-for-profits can take their first steps in AI, build internal confidence, using AI in ways that align with their mission and values. The second workshop will unpack the key legal risks and safeguards of using AI tools for non-for-profits
You can find these events and a range of curated for-purpose events on our Events/Courses page.
Volunteer/Work
- Our friends at Social Impact Hub are seeking an Advisory Services Coordinator
- We are seeking a Marketing Assistant/Coordinator 10-15 hours per week
You can find more paid and volunteer roles on our Jobs page.
Asks/offers and resources
Explore 100+ 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 just a few of the resources we’ve add this month:
- EY Entrepreneurial Winning Women Asia-Pacific Program
- Telstra Best of Business Awards
- Atlassian announces discount for social enterprises
- Runway HQ Startup Incubator Program
- Philanthropy Compass Launched
- Current state of Sustainable Procurement
- Cyber Health Check Tool
- Mentally Healthy Workplaces Program
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 this month include:
- Various obligations become effective or cease on 31 October for charities and not for profits
- The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) has updated its Regulatory Focus areas for the 2025-26 financial year
- From December 2025, Victorian OHS laws will require managing psychosocial hazards like job demands and job control
- The Federal Government has announced reforms to the low income superannuation tax offset (LISTO)
Guidance and updates
- The Australian Government's Annual Cyber Threat Report for 2024-25 is out now. It includes information about changes to the cyber threat landscape and current advice for businesses on how to stay secure
- The National AI Centre (NAIC) has released AI guidelines with six key steps to help Australian businesses plan, manage and use artificial intelligence (AI) safely and responsibly
You can find more on these items and other regulatory updates in our monthly regulatory updates and other updates posted on the Blog 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.
