About the Sector

The sector engages hundreds of thousands of volunteers and provides most social and community services at a cost saving to the state. This social economy creates jobs while fulfilling the need for essential services, promoting social inclusion, and enhancing community health and wellbeing. It positively impacts millions of lives here and abroad.

Despite the differences in size and structure among organisations in the sector, they share some key traits. They are all:

• Governed by boards of unpaid volunteers
• Operated for the public good on a nonprofit basis, prioritising the needs of people and communities.

This work creates significant social value, or ‘social capital,’ which sustains communities, fosters a sense of shared purpose, and builds trust in our society. The unique characteristics of charities, community and voluntary groups, and social enterprises include:

• Encouraging active citizenship in our democracy
• Providing essential health, social, and community services for those in need
• Responding with tailored, holistic approaches to meet community needs
• Offering flexibility, innovation, integration, and collaboration in service delivery
• Empowering service beneficiaries and the community in shaping supports
• Contributing to social capital and cohesion
• Employing committed and motivated staff
• Attracting additional assets and funding that wouldn’t otherwise be available to the state.