What we’re
learning
We’re impatient for change, so we don’t keep what we learn to ourselves.
Every pilot, every program and every enterprise we build generates evidence and practical insights. We work with independent evaluators, including the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University and Taylor Fry, to understand what works, where the challenges lie, and what others can learn. This is where we bring it all together: what we’re learning, what we’re building, and what we’re seeing across the sector. You’ll find our latest announcements, research, evaluations, interviews, case studies and practical insights from across the jobs-focused social enterprise sector. Because the fastest way to build a stronger sector is to share what works.
Featured
- Blog, Evolve
EOIs open for Evolve Lighthouse: Expanding inclusive employment through growth and acquisition
Expressions of Interest are now open for Evolve Lighthouse, supporting disability enterprises to explore mergers and acquisitions to expand their impact...
- Advisory, Blog, Evolve
White Box launches the ‘Evolve Program’ for Disability Enterprises.
White Box launches new Evolve Program designed specifically for Disability Enterprises who aspire to transform their business model to align with social enterprise best practice.
- Advisory, Blog, PBO
New data shows social enterprise delivers better outcomes for long-term unemployed.
As the federal government considers an overhaul of its national employment services system, White Box Enterprises has released a new report that presents a strong case for social enterprise to be an integral part of the solution.
- Advisory, Blog
The double-edged sword of social procurement
Social procurement is often celebrated as a cornerstone of social enterprise success in Australia. What’s discussed far less is that it can also be a double-edged sword. When it works well, it can help build an impact organisation. When it doesn’t, it can destroy one, writes White Box COO Mark Daniels.
- Advocacy, Blog, PBO
New report backs social enterprises as key to long-term employment success for jobseekers with complex barriers.
White Box has released its second year independent evaluation of the federal government Payment By Outcomes (PBO) Trial.
- Advocacy, Blog
Truly understanding WISEs is critical to employment system reform
White Box's submission to DEWR's employment reform Discussion Paper: Shaping the Future of Employment Services.
- Advocacy, Blog
What WISEs told us about employment system reform
White Box opened the floor to jobs-focused social enterprises from across Australia to share their experience of the current employment system and their views on how it could better support people facing complex barriers to work.
- Advocacy, Blog
Employment services reform – what you need to know and what’s next
A once-in-a-generation reform to Australia's employment system has just been announced, and social enterprises are named in it. Here's what you need to know, and what to do next.
- Blog, Evolve
A second Beacon Laundry opens in Adelaide
White Box has joined forces with Bedford Group to transform a large-scale commercial laundry in Adelaide’s south into a jobs-focused social enterprise under the Beacon Laundry brand, creating up to 50 new jobs for South Australians who face barriers to work over the next three years.
- Blog, Evolve
Transforming good disability enterprises into great social enterprises
White Box Enterprises is excited to announce the three disability enterprises selected for the Disability Enterprise Evolve Program: genU, Waverley Social Enterprises, and Intelife.
- Blog, Evolve, Learnings
Evolve Community of Practice: sharing what works to fast-track change
The latest Evolve Community of Practice event has reinforced just how powerful collaboration can be in transforming Australian Disability Enterprises.
- Blog, Evolve, Learnings
Five key learnings from the Evolve Disability Enterprise program so far
White Box is running an early innovation transformation pilot program called Evolve with three ADEs – genU, Waverley Social Enterprises, and Intelife – here is what we've learnt so far.
- Financial Wellbeing
Financial Wellbeing Program continues to empower employees in Year Two
A Year Two evaluation has found the Financial Wellbeing Program continues to generate significant benefits for both social enterprises and their employees.
- Blog, Financial Wellbeing
First year of Financial Wellbeing Program delivers promising results
A financial wellbeing program created for, and with, jobs-focused social enterprises is delivering incredible returns for employees – giving them the confidence and skills to better manage their money.
- Blog, Finance, Property
$1.8M property acquisition unlocks CERES’ capacity for growth
CERES’ expansion in Brunswick East is a great story of the social enterprise sector coming together to unlock further potential of one of the longest standing sustainability-focused social enterprises in Australia.
- Blog, Finance, Property
Could you see your social enterprise in Queensland?
Together with a few key partners, we're determined to grow the jobs-focused social enterprise community in Queensland. Are you up for an interstate expansion?
- Blog, Learnings
Reflections on five years: What I’ve learnt leading White Box
White Box founder and CEO Luke Terry reflects on the organisation’s first five years and the things he wishes he’d known at the start.
- Blog, Learnings
The laundry that almost never happened.
We talk to Coralie Nichols from the Ian and Shirley Norman Foundation, about the challenge of raising capital —and the role the foundation played in helping Beacon Laundry come to fruition.
- Blog, Learnings
Why ASA flew: Lessons from a successful social enterprise
With Australia Spatial Analytics becoming the poster child for social enterprises that are innovative and commercially viable, we reflect on how it all began.
- Learnings
Five lessons we’ve learnt building social enterprises
Through our experiences—both successes and setbacks— we’ve gained invaluable insights about what it takes to build sustainable social enterprises. Here we share the lessons that have shaped how we operate at White Box.
- Blog, PBO
From little things big things grow
One of White Box's first employees, Angharad Lubbock, reflects on the evolution of the Payment By Outcomes Trial and her journey with the organisation.
- Blog, PBO
New data reveals individuals earn more and stay employed longer in a social enterprise
According to a new report commissioned by White Box, social enterprise outperforms Disability Employment Services (DES) on retention, individual earnings and cost savings to government.
- Blog, PBO
PBO Trial exceeds expectations in its first year
White Box Enterprises has released its first year independent evaluation of the Payment By Outcomes Trial for social enterprise in collaboration with Centre for Social Impact Swinburne.
- Blog, PBO
Landmark trial underway to explore alternative employment support services for people living with a disability
A landmark $3.8M trial has commenced exploring the effectiveness of jobs-focused social enterprises in delivering long-term employment outcomes for people living with a disability.
- Blog, Property
White Box & the Bennelong Foundation partner to launch new hub for social enterprises
White Box partners with the Bennelong Foundation to open new space for employment focused social enterprises in Melbourne.
- Blog, SELF
The state of social enterprise finance and why it needs to change
White Box Enterprises COO Mark Daniels outlines how the current state of social enterprise finance in Australia is a barrier to growth and impact.
- SELF
White Box launches first-of-its-kind loan fund to fuel growth in social enterprises
White Box Enterprises launches innovative new loan fund with backing from philanthropy and government to provide social enterprises the right capital at the right time.
- SELF
Five reasons you need to know about the SELF
The Social Enterprise Loan Fund (SELF) is a gamechanger—offering low-cost, flexible loans to help you grow and create jobs. Here’s why you need to know about it.
- Blog, SELF
New loan fund for social enterprise to unlock more jobs for disadvantaged Australians
White Box is determined to bridge the gap between social enterprise and social impact investors, announcing today its plans to create a new $5 million loan fund specifically for jobs-focused social enterprise.
Featured
- FW case study
Chris’ story
Participating in the Financial Wellbeing Program gave Chris the confidence he needed to lodge his first tax return...
- FW case study
Lynette’s story
How the Financial Wellbeing Program is helping Lynette learn to manage her finances later in life.
- FW case study
Jacob’s story
Read how the Financial Wellbeing Program helped Jacob confront a problem with debt
- Blog
Our year in review
2024 was a year of significant milestones for White Box and its social enterprises. Take a look at the progress we're making to mainstream jobs-focused social enterprise.
- Blog
A new era for social enterprise in Queensland begins
With a change of leadership in Queensland over the weekend, White Box Enterprises is excited by the opportunity this new government brings for social enterprise and impact investing across the state.
- Blog, Learnings
Media alert: White Box royalty model x SEWF
Kasia Kotlarska from SEWF interviews COO Mark Daniels about White Box’s innovative royalty-based model that aligns financial success with social impact.
- Blog
‘Everything is quite perfect now’: Roma’s road to Toyota
Roma Gawhari, a 21-year-old refugee from Afghanistan, found a job with Toyota through a partnership with Civik People. This is her story.