The Nambucca Valley has long been recognised as one of Australia's most disadvantaged communities. in 2011 local service providers including TAFE NCI produced the highly successful national conference Social Enterprise for Wellbeing and Mental Health. The conference highlighted the social enterprise entities in the Nambucca Valley and provided delegates with the opportunity to think about how social enterprise can be utilised as a tool for community engagement and empowerment.
Audit:
The following is an audit of social enterprise in the Nambucca Valley as it exists at April 2011. The audit identifies social enterprise which is organisationally led (that is, feed into the objectives or income models of existing organisations).
MiiMi Creations- auspiced by MiiMi Aboriginal Corporation: A textile production and design business located in Bowraville. The business creates Aboriginal design inspired garments for the women's fashion and home furnishings market. (Charitable Business Ventures)
Autumn Lodge and Riverside Gardens - one of the Nambucca Valley's largest social enterprises providing aged care in Nambucca Heads and Macksville (Community Enterprise)
Nambucca Valley Phoenix: Phoenix operates two op-shops, a green team and a kitchen. Phoenix is one of the longest serving social enterprises in the Nambucca Valley. (Australian Disability Enterprise)
Ngurrala Aboriginal Corporation - commenced the first 'Green Team' which undertake land management activities through the Nambucca Valley under contract. Ngurrala has also undertaken other social enterprise activities and currently operates as a Job Services Australia (JSA) in this context would fit the 'Intermediate labour market company' typography (Hybrid)
PRIDE Cafe: PRIDE Cafe is owned by NORTEC and operates as a training kitchen in Nambucca Heads. The Cafe serves fresh healthy meals to its customers and has a membership database of over 600 people who are entitled to discounted healthy meals. (Charitable Business Venture)
Nambucca Valley Family Daycare: Operated by the Nambucca Valley Children's Group the entity provides coordinating and monitoring services to family daycare providers throughout the area. (Community Enterprise)
Social Enterprise entities currently working towards trading models
Macskville Community Garden: production horticulture both for food and seedlings. (Charitable Business Venture)
Frrresh Mobile Youth Cafe: The Frrresh Mobile Youth Cafe is a component of the overall Frrresh program operated by the Nambucca Valley Youth Services Centre. It is early days for this entity, however the process of business planning is currently being undertaken and this will steer the organisation to a new phase. (Charitable Business Venture)
The Men's Shed: Established primarily as a respite service for men, the Nambucca Valley Men's Shed has at times sold a variety of timber and metal products. The Shed has the capacity to undertake further commercial ventures and often supports community based projects (such as building the Frrresh Mobile Youth Cafe which was also developed as a TAFE Outreach course).
