The finalists for the 2026 Queensland Social Enterprise Awards have been announced, with organisations shortlisted across 10 categories that showcase the diversity and impact of Queensland's social enterprise sector.
The finalists for the 2026 Queensland Social Enterprise Awards are:
Catalyst for Change Award
Reef Catchments
SEFA
Social Impact Hub
The Freedom Hub
Environmental Impact Award
- Bin Bypass
- Reef Catchments
- Sustainable Lithium Cells Australia
- The Nest Community
Impact Through Innovation Award
- Happy Paws Happy Hearts
- Nundah Community Enterprise Cooperative
- The Nest Community
- TradeMutt
Indigenous Social Enterprise of the Year Award
- Adapt Mentorship Indigenous Corporation
- Deadly Coders
- Fire and Wattle
- WV Technologies
Jobs-Focused Social Enterprise of the Year Award
- Ability Enterprises
- Australian Spatial Analytics
- Brick and Block Careers
- Human Quotient Group
One to Watch Award
- Aqua Ubique Systems
- Bloom Cycle
- Olive Express
- Stationery Aid
Regional & Remote Impact Award
- Ability Enterprises
- Aspire Cairns Community
- Neurokindred
- Strong Communities
Social Enterprise of the Year Award
- Ability Enterprises
- Lighthouse Care
- Nundah Community Enterprises Cooperative
- Wounded Heroes Association
Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Zoe Black, Co-Founder & CEO – Happy Paws Happy Hearts
- Nikki Phillips, Café Manager – Lovewell Café
- Geoff Smith, Co-Founder & CEO – Australian Spatial Analytics
- Claire Torkington, CEO – Ability Enterprises
Youth-Led Social Enterprise of the Year Award
- By Chloe and Younpreneur Markets By Chloe
- Croc Candy
- Futurum Education
- Thadus Group
The awards recognise organisations that reinvest profits to deliver meaningful social, cultural and environmental outcomes, while demonstrating strong business performance and innovation.
Finalists span metropolitan, regional and remote Queensland, with representation across industries including environmental sustainability, workforce development, technology, community services, and First Nations enterprise.
Winners will be announced at the Queensland Social Enterprise Awards Gala Dinner on Friday, 21 August 2026. The event will bring the sector together to celebrate impact, collaboration and growth.
The inaugural Queensland Social Enterprise Awards are an initiative of the Queensland Social Enterprise Council (QSEC) and made possible thanks to the support of partners, including Queensland Government, The University of Queensland, Cape York Partnerships, QUT, Social Enterprise Finance Australia (SEFA), Hand Heart Pocket, Future Anything, The Connection Table
