Hello from our CEO
As we pass the halfway mark of 2021, it feels like an appropriate time to reflect on Sefa’s work this calendar year. Firstly, we were delighted to hear the recent news that Sefa and Sefa Partnerships co-founder, David Rickards, had been awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for service to the not-for-profit sector, and the environment. David continues his long-standing commitment to Sefa and Sefa Partnerships on our Board. We greatly appreciate his ongoing contributions and legendary networking skills.
Last month I took part in a Pro Bono Australia online masterclass to explore a new philanthropic impact investment model. In an Australian first, the recently launched Living Learning outcomes investment raised $4 million exclusively from philanthropic investors to support a three-year, tailored support program for young people with mental illness and who are disengaged from school.
This new investment structure was developed by Sefa and Latitude Network with, and on behalf of, Melbourne City Mission (MCM). I was buoyed by the strong engagement of the webinar participants and the fantastic questions the panel received. The post-webinar pack is now available for download through Pro-Bono.
The joint strategy between Sefa and Sefa Partnerships continues to flourish as our complementary skillsets provide unique insights and learning for our clients and ourselves. The strategy enables us to pitch for a greater volume and range of work and successfully navigate the various stages of development and styles of social impact organisations.
Sefa's engagement with the sector continues with Federal advocacy efforts led by Impact Investing Australia (IIA) on the back of the Government’s announcement of a Social Enterprise Foundation to improve the economic security of Indigenous women. We have actively contributed to the new Victorian Social Enterprise Strategy, are working with the Queensland Social Enterprise Council and the sector on the Queensland's Social Enterprise Grants Program, and participated in conversations with the practitioner-led Social Enterprise National Strategy movement.
On a grassroots level, it was fun to be part of the inaugural social enterprise bus tour across Sydney organised by Social Enterprise Council of NSW & ACT (SECNA), of which Sefa is a member. A big shout out to SECNA and a recommendation to all other NSW-based players to join their membership program.
Finally, we wanted to show our support for our long-standing partners, Nightingale Housing, following recent attention in the media. We acknowledge the challenges social enterprises face in securing appropriate resources, models, and governance and we support Nightingale, along with all our clients, as they continue to evolve.