Classifying social enterprise models in Australia

Purpose – This paper aims to document the nature of social enterprise models in Australia, their evolutionand institutional drivers.Design/methodology/approach – The paper draws on secondary analysis of source materials and theexisting literature on social enterprise in Australia. Analysis was verified through consultation with keyactors in the social enterprise ecosystem.Findings – With its historical roots in an enterprising non-profit sector and the presence of cooperative andmutual businesses, the practice of social enterprise in Australia is relatively mature. Yet, the language ofsocial enterprise and social entrepreneurship remains marginal and contested. The nature of social enterpriseactivity in Australia reflects the role of an internally diverse civil society within an economically privilegedsociety and in response to an increasingly residualised welfare state. Australia’s geography and demographyhave also played determining roles in the function and presence of social enterprise, particularly in rural andremote communities.Originality/value – The paper contributes to comparative understandings of social enterprise andprovides the first detailed account of social enterprise development in Australia.Keywords Australia, Social enterprise, Institutional driversPaper type Research pape