Edition 6. August 2025

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Social Enterprise Schools Quarterly Newsletter

Image: Cathedral College students sharing their social enterprise products with visiting students from St Joseph’s, Echuca at Market Day. 

Peer Learning Through Social Enterprise Market Day 

Cathedral College Welcomes St Joseph’s Echuca 

Cathedral College Wangaratta recently hosted Year 9 students and staff from St Joseph’s College, Echuca, who are beginning their Social Enterprise Schools journey in 2025. With Cathedral College embedding the program for over a decade, the visit offered valuable insights into what’s possible when social enterprise becomes part of school life.

The timing was ideal as the visit coincided with Cathedral’s vibrant pop-up Social Enterprise Market Day, giving St Joseph’s a firsthand look at students leading change in their community through social enterprise. 

Click here to check out more transformative Market Day stories from 2024. 

📹 VIDEO:

Meet the Social Entrepreneur

Meet the Social Entrepreneur - Judy Brewer

The Farm Mudgegonga: Growing Good Things

The Farm Mudgegonga is a social enterprise and care farm in Victoria’s High Country, where farming is about more than food—it’s about people, place and purpose. Through regenerative practices and a strong commitment to community, the Gill family creates opportunities for connection, inclusion and healing.

As a care farm, it provides meaningful experiences for people of all ages and abilities, supporting wellbeing through hands-on work in nature. Profits are reinvested into programs that foster resilience, belonging and local food systems—making this small farm a powerful force for social and environmental good.

Explore more here

  3 Reasons Schools Are Choosing Self- Guided  

More and more teachers across Australia are choosing the Social Enterprise Schools – Self-Guided program, and it's easy to see why. We've been listening, learning, and gathering feedback—and three key reasons consistently stand out. 

1. Flexibility to Fit Your School Context

Teachers love the flexibility of the self-guided model. It allows them to embed the program in a way that suits their timetable, their teaching style, and most importantly, their students. Whether it’s delivered in a single term or across the year, the self-guided option supports creativity and adaptability in how the learning unfolds.

“I am working with a VCE class for the social enterprise projects, so I have to make sure students are meeting the requirements of the course along with having space to create projects.” Euroa Secondary College  

2. Focus on Student Capability Development

At the heart of the program is the opportunity to grow real-world skills in young people. From critical and creative thinking to teamwork, leadership, problem-solving and entrepreneurial mindset, the self-guided program empowers students to take ownership of their learning journey. Teachers tell us that students walk away more confident, more connected, and more capable.

“Our students develop a range of skills from the Social Enterprise program, including social and personal capabilities, business and economic understandings, team work, organisation, critical thinking and creativity. They also develop a strong awareness of issues and needs in their local and broader community.”

Myrtleford P-12 

3. Free Resources and Support Network

The self-guided model is supported by a comprehensive toolkit of lesson plans, templates and step-by-step guides—completely free. Educators are never alone in the process. With access to a growing network of like-minded teachers and schools, it’s easy to find inspiration, ask questions, and share the wins.

Ready to explore how the self-guided program could work in your school? 
Learn more here OR register for self-guided now.

Image: Surf Coast College Students showcasing their "Surf Coasters" at the Queen Victoria Market Purpose Precinct Social Enterprise Schools Pop up. 

Around the Globe

Strontian Community Builds Its Own School

In a powerful display of community leadership, the village of Strontian in the Scottish Highlands has built its own primary school—proving what’s possible when local people come together with a shared vision.

After being presented with limited options for replacing an ageing school building, the community decided to take action. Through a mix of community shares and grants, they raised over £900,000 to fund the project. The result is a modern, flexible learning space built entirely through local initiative and led by Strontian Community School Building Ltd.

Designed with long-term benefit in mind, the building can be converted into affordable housing if it’s ever no longer needed as a school—ensuring lasting value for the community. Head teacher Pamela Hill praised the new space for its potential to better support students and their learning.

Strontian’s success has inspired neighbouring communities across the Highlands, showing that social enterprise can be a practical, people-led solution to local challenges.

This story is a reminder of the power of community action—where innovation, determination, and strong local leadership can deliver meaningful change.

[Read the full story on the BBC]

Image: The new school in Strontian (Image from BBC Website: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-45639102)

We acknowledge the traditional custodians of the lands on which we work and pay our respects to First Nations people across Australia. We acknowledge the deep and enduring care and connection to the land, waterways and culture for over 2000 generations.

Have a story to share? Email info@acre.org.au