Be inspired by a thriving sector in Melbourne that puts people and planet first, with the aim of creating a brighter, fairer future.
The Victorian social enterprise sector contributes significantly to the economy and social wellbeing of the State.
The sector boasts over 3,500 social enterprises, employs around 60,000 people and generates $5.2 billion annually.
Social enterprise businesses operate across various industries, with a strong presence in the service sector.
The social enterprise industry as a whole is also relatively young, with a median organisation age of just 10 years.
Grants to support social enterprise
The City of Melbourne supports social enterprises as part of our yearly Small Business Grants, including HoMie and Meals with Impact. This year's grants awarded $700,000 in funding to 31 recipients. To see all the winners, visit Small Business Grants.
Hear from a sector leader
Ishani Chattopadhyay is the Chief Executive Officer of Social Enterprise Network Victoria, commonly known as SENVIC.
“Melbourne is home to a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem, underpinned by a strong infrastructure of support, mentorship, and camaraderie,” Ishani said.
“This energy extends across Victoria, including regional areas where social entrepreneurs, while often operating in different contexts, are just as driven and innovative as their metropolitan peers.
“What makes Melbourne and Victoria’s social enterprise sector so special is its values-driven foundation – these are businesses that put people and planet first."
“They tackle pressing local challenges like unemployment, social exclusion, and environmental degradation, all while blending the rigour of business with a deep social or environmental mission," Ishani said.
“What excites me most is the alignment between the goals of the social enterprise sector and Melbourne’s broader aspirations to be inclusive, sustainable, and community-focused and lead the way as a purpose-driven economy.”
HoMie – making a difference for people experiencing homelessness
Among Melbourne’s social enterprise sector movers and shakers is the passionate team at HoMie.
HoMie is a social enterprise that uses fashion and retail to support young people affected by homelessness or hardship. They provide opportunities for these young people, including work experience, training, and free clothing, while also producing and selling stylish streetwear.
The organisation is a recent recipient of a City of Melbourne Small Business Grant.
Jack Howes, Head of Funding and Research at HoMie, said the organisation is motivated by stark statistics.
“Every four days in Australia a young person dies in homelessness – most of the time by suicide,” Jack said.
“We know that young people are uniquely vulnerable to homelessness because the leading cause of homelessness is domestic and family violence.
"And the fastest rising cause of homelessness is lack of affordable housing.
“There are a few things contributing to the rise in youth homelessness right now. Rental vacancies are currently at 1% – almost rock bottom. Of that 1% of rentals that are actually available, rental prices are the least affordable they've ever been. And young people are unemployed at more than double the rate of the broader population.
“So, there are virtually no properties available to rent. The ones that are available to rent are unaffordable to young people. And if you’re unemployed, paying rent is close to impossible. It's the perfect storm.”
Meals with Impact – empowering migrant and refugee women through food
Meals With Impact is a not-for-profit social enterprise that empowers women from migrant and refugee backgrounds through training and paid employment.
The organisation operates a cafe, provide food-relief services, and offers catering, creating opportunities for meaningful work, while also addressing skill shortages.
Nikki Blanch is Meals with Impact’s Co-founder, and its Programs and Social Impact Manager.
“The social enterprise sector is a really collaborative and supportive space, while the traditional business sector can be quite competitive,” Nikki said.
“At the heart of it, everyone working in the sector is here to create some sort of social or environmental impact.
"There are so many great people with really good intentions and, as a collective, you feel like you can make a difference in the lives of others," Nikki said.
“In particular, I’m passionate about the work I get to do with women from migrant and refugee backgrounds – it’s rewarding to see the actual impact on people’s lives that can be made through the provision of employment.”
Meals with Impact is another recent City of Melbourne Small Business Grant recipient.
Working amid a supportive sector
While the social challenges that HoMie and Meals with Impact address are significant, Melbourne’s social enterprise sector is well-placed to support those people with changemaking ideas.
“Melbourne's got such a well-developed social enterprise sector – it means you end up getting to know everyone pretty quickly,” Jack said.
“It’s a great community with a lot of shared values and experiences, working towards similar goals on different paths.”
Nikki agreed that being headquartered in Melbourne is of great benefit to Meals with Impact.
“Melbourne has the richest social enterprise sector of any place in Australia,” Nikki said.
“We love seeing the diversity of social enterprises out there and being part of this ecosystem.”
“I love that I get to be part of a community of practice with amazing colleagues who are always willing to share skills and knowledge collectively, working together to strengthen the sector here in Melbourne.
“We’re also lucky that we’re in a really vibrant food, arts and culture-based city where there are lots of opportunities for people to find future employment. We’re already such a foodie city, and the hospitality sector is having a big resurgence.”
New initiatives to deepen social impact
Over the coming months, there are some big things in the works for HoMie.
The team recently launched its Hoodies for Homelessness campaign, where for every limited-edition HoMie hoodie sold, one will be donated to a young person affected by homelessness.
Following that, HoMie will celebrate its 10th birthday and open its new store in the Melbourne CBD – a project that has been supported by the recent City of Melbourne Small Business Grant.
This is just one more step on the path to HoMie’s clear vision – not being needed at all.
“I think like any charity, social enterprise, or for-purpose business, the vision is redundancy. In an ideal world, we wouldn't need to exist."
“But as we work towards that, our vision of the future for HoMie, and the sector at large, is considered growth," Jack said.
"Expanding our programs to sustainably support more young people, while bringing more and more partners along for the journey.”
Likewise, Meals with Impact has some exciting initiatives on the horizon. The organisation is using its City of Melbourne Small Business Grant to modernise its online platform. The team is also about to launch a new social impact kiosk.
“The kiosk is all about creating access to culturally diverse, healthy ready meals in workplaces and public spaces,” Nikki said.
“In these spaces, diverse communities often struggle to access meals appropriate to their culture – such as healthy halal and traditional cultural recipes.
“We aim to get the kiosk into diverse worksites – from hospitals to construction sites.”
Making social enterprise the norm, not the exception
Ishani’s vision for the future of the social enterprise sector is for its model to become the norm across the business world.
“I believe the future of business lies in models that prioritise ‘people and planet’ alongside profit,” she said.
“Social enterprise has the power to fundamentally reshape our economy by embedding purpose into every transaction and decision.
"The potential for cross-sector, cross-regional collaboration is immense."
“Whether it’s government, business, or community, we have a shared opportunity – and responsibility – to build systems that are equitable, sustainable, and inclusive.
“What draws me to this sector is that it’s not just about clever ideas or innovation for its own sake—it’s about meaningful impact, deep integrity, and a collective drive to create lasting change," Ishani said.
“Being part of a movement that is reimagining the role of business in society is both inspiring and urgent, and I am here for it!”
Looking to the future, Nikki agrees.
“It really is about co-creating the world that we want to live in,” she said.
Top tips for people seeking to work and innovate in social enterprise
Jack said that working in the social enterprise sector requires a values-driven mindset, and long-term commitment.
“Do it for the right reasons,” Jack said.
“Ask yourself: is the program or organisation actually servicing a community need?
"Are you ready to wear a lot of hats? Are you in it for the long haul?”
Nikki said some of the keys to success are surrounding yourself with values-aligned support, and learning to balance business essentials with social impact focus, to ensure long-term sustainability.
“The sector is fairly new and quite volatile, so it can be really hard work to survive financially. You definitely need to have strong resilience and optimism, and find the right support,” Nikki said.
“Professional services like legal and financial are things that emerging social enterprises can’t generally afford, so finding values-aligned organisations that really want to be part of your journey – who can offer pro bono support – is very helpful.”
Ishani encourages people who are passionate about making a difference to join the social enterprise sector.
“Today, more than ever, purpose and meaning are non-negotiable for many of us."
“Social enterprise offers a powerful way to turn those values into action – whether as a founder, by contributing your skills to an existing enterprise, or by supporting the broader ecosystem," Ishani said.
“At SENVIC, the peak body for social enterprise in Victoria, we’re here to help you connect, learn, and grow in this space.
“You can get involved by becoming a member and joining our events," Ishani said. SENVIC delivered a workshop in partnership with the City of Melbourne in June 2025.
“Our mission is to build a thriving, connected social enterprise ecosystem across Victoria. So if you’re passionate about impact and entrepreneurship, we’d love to hear from you.”
About the Small Business Grants program
The City of Melbourne Small Business Grant program recently announced 31 recipients who have been awarded funding in 2025.
Along with HoMie and Meals with Impact, there are a further six social enterprises receiving grants: Amplify Bookstore, Amplifier Collective, The Creative Co-Operative, Leadership Victoria, Shapes and Sounds, and Local Transit.
For more information about these great social enterprises and their funded projects, visit Small Business Grants.
Get support to start, grow and go global
The City of Melbourne offers tailored support for businesses and organisations in every stage of development – from grants and sponsorships to our dedicated Business Concierge service, international business missions, and much more.
