On Thursday 26 September, 200 students from four schools joined local mentors for the inaugural Social Enterprise Schools ‘Musterclass’ Pitch and Mentoring Day held on Bundjalung Country – Murwillumbah, NSW.
This innovative event brought together students from Bogangar Public, Duranbah Public, Fingal Head Public, and Kingscliff Public, alongside their dedicated teachers. The day was designed to connect young learners with local social entrepreneurs and businesses, fostering an
enriching exchange of ideas, experiences, and mentorship.
“Bringing these schools together could not have
happened without the dedication of their teaching teams and collaboration with the Coastal Academy of STEM Excellence. It was inspiring to see the potential of this program as a STEM initiative, and the support from local social entrepreneurs was a testament to the change these young innovators will bring to their community.”Rebecca Iliffe – ACRE Program Coordinator
Social Enterprise Schools is proudly delivered by ACRE and is part of the global Social Enterprise Academy network.
This student-led program empowers young people to address issues they care about, turning their ideas into real-life trading social enterprises. Profits generated go directly to their chosen cause.
The ‘Musterclass’ allowed students to practice the entrepreneurial skills they had been developing, including pitching their ideas to a panel of mentors. In return, local entrepreneurs shared insights from their own journeys, creating a dynamic dialogue between the two groups.
Participating local enterprises included Brett St Café, Raven Place, Kakes and Biscuits, Good Intentions – Gold Coast, Stone and Wood, Ingrained Foundation, Spangled Drongo, Valley E-Bikes, Beacon Laundry and Southern Cross University.
“Today was truly inspiring – listening to the
students pitching their business ideas and gaining more confidence with each pitch and adapting their speeches with the relevant feedback. The kids loved it. You wouldn’t think that at their age [7 – 12 years old] they would understand the concept of business. A fantastic hands-on way of putting together their learning at school.”Teaching team – Bogangar Public School
The event was part of the 2024 Social Enterprise Schools NSW program, delivered by ACRE and funded by the Department of Education’s Student Wellbeing and Innovation Fund.
Discover more about Social Enterprise Schools here.
Join the growing number of schools and students taking part in entrepreneurship education across Australia – register your interest.
