Key Dates
31 March 2023
Registrations open
May – June 2023
Workshops + webinars
Mid May – End June 2023
Call for accelerator applications
Mid July 2023
Accelerator cohort announced
August 2023
Preparation and pre-work for accelerator
4 – 8 September 2023
Accelerator forum held at Old Beechworth Gaol
Early June 2024
Rejuvenate showcase
About REJUVENATE
Opening new doors of opportunity for your rural community
- Can you see a way to fix a local problem or create an opportunity for your rural community but don’t know where to start?
- Are you hungry to learn from other rural communities who are building a new future from within?
- Do you want to find ways to balance a community and business model?
REJUVENATE is a new way of connecting, supporting, and guiding rural people who want to build and sustain community-led initiatives that address a local problem or create an opportunity.
In 2023 REJUVENATE will unearth, support and accelerate community-led initiatives in East Gippsland and North East Victoria. REJUVENATE is being offered across six Local Government Areas: Alpine, East Gippsland, Indigo, Towong, Wangaratta, and Wodonga.
Thanks to funding support from Emergency Response Victoria, there is no cost to join.
How REJUVENATE works
Bring your community-led initiative to life
REJUVENATE was designed by ACRE using world-best practice. It brings global and local knowledge, know-how and networks together to walk alongside communities determined to find a better way.
Join place-based or digital workshops where you can meet and learn from rural people who are behind community-led initiatives operating across Australia and internationally.
Contribute to benchmarking and mapping that will help you understand what resources and assets are already available in your community and what gaps might need to be addressed.
If you want to go deeper, apply to join the REJUVENATE accelerator – Australia’s first dedicated accelerator and capacity building program for community-led initiatives, running from September 2023 – May 2024. Up to twelve initiatives will be selected for the Accelerator.
Key benefits
What you will get out of REJUVENATE
It’s time to move away from doing things to rural communities and instead find ways to work with and alongside rural communities to open doors of opportunity. Community-led rejuvenation is the key. By building entrepreneurial capability and capacity we can release new opportunities to rejuvenate rural communities. The power of place is here to stay as rural communities demand long-term solutions to the complex issues they face.
By joining REJUVENATE you can:
- explore ways that rural communities in Australia and across the globe are using community-led initiatives to create and build a new future
- discover how to use enterprise models to start, sustain and grow a community-led initiative
- baseline and benchmark the strengths and assets in your community and identify gaps
- discuss and identify what might work for and in your community
- understand the possibilities for your community and the barriers you may face
- share the story of your community with others who are interested in community-led approaches to change
- join immersive learning opportunities with Social Enterprise Academy, ACRE’s international learning and development partner
Our commitment to you
A journey partnership
REJUVENATE is not a course! It is about developing a new mindset, new skills, new behaviour and new trusted networks. At each stage of REJUVENATE, you will be supported with facilitated discussions, practical resources and offered access to skills, knowledge and know-how to bring your community-led initiative to life.
By joining REJUVENATE, you will be:
- introduced to a dynamic network of social entrepreneurs who will unpack what it takes to lead and grow a community-led initiative – the good, the bad, the tricky
- exposed to new ways of thinking about rural entrepreneurship, social enterprise and community buy-backs
- asked to reflect and explore tricky questions to help you build strong foundations and clarifying your purpose and impact. You will explore governance, techniques for building support for your initiative, managing growth and identifying untapped resources
- offered independent guidance and support to launch and grow your community-led initiative.
If you want to be part of the REJUVENATE accelerator, here’s our eligibility criteria. It’s pretty straight-forward:
- you understand the problem you want to solve or the opportunity you want to create for your rural community
- you can identify how the community-led initiative you plan to start or grow will benefit your community
- you can commit time and energy by attending onboarding and preparation (approximately eight hours), an in person Forum at Old Beechworth Gaol (4-8 September) and actively contributing to a follow up capacity building program (minimum of three hours per month)
- a team of at least two is recommended to help pollinate and grow your initiative
- you can apply from anywhere across these Local Government Areas in Victoria: Alpine, East Gippsland, Indigo, Towong, Wangaratta, and Wodonga.
Traits we’re looking for:
- willing to learn and accept guidance and feedback
- good communication skills
- great listeners
- ability to work at pace and with agility
- strong team work skills
Interested?
Register your interest here and we’ll keep you updated.
Who is behind REJUVENATE?
Established in 2013, ACRE ‘s purpose is to drive the renewal of rural communities so that future generations can thrive. ACRE has more than a decade of experience working alongside rural communities who want to thrive.
Social Enterprise Academy is ACRE’s learning and development partner.
Australian National University (ANU) is partnering with ACRE to baseline and track change across the Local Government Areas that are part of REJUVENATE. Together we will research the role social cohesion plays in building new localised rural economies. In particular, we are focusing on community led rejuvenation through social connectedness and enterprise development.
Like to know more about REJUVENATE?
Frequently asked questions
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FAQ 1
The Breakout Accelerator is a program for people with innovative business ideas, international ambition and a commitment to the future of rural and regional Australia.
Through the Breakout Accelerator, a new generation of businesses from rural and regional Victoria and southern New South Wales will be mentored by and connected with national and global networks to drive their ideas forward whilst staying in the communities they love.
The concept was co-developed by the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) and SecondMuse, a global leader in innovation. The partners will work together to identify and bring national and international networks, experience and expertise to the doorstep of rural and regional innovators who join the Breakout Accelerator.
Innovators who are selected for the program can build new connections, access know-how, and receive guidance and support to grow new business opportunities. A key focus is assisting existing businesses and start-ups to develop the capabilities required to achieve commercial success in international markets.
FAQ 2
The Breakout Accelerator is a program for people with innovative business ideas, international ambition and a commitment to the future of rural and regional Australia.
Through the Breakout Accelerator, a new generation of businesses from rural and regional Victoria and southern New South Wales will be mentored by and connected with national and global networks to drive their ideas forward whilst staying in the communities they love.
The concept was co-developed by the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) and SecondMuse, a global leader in innovation. The partners will work together to identify and bring national and international networks, experience and expertise to the doorstep of rural and regional innovators who join the Breakout Accelerator.
Innovators who are selected for the program can build new connections, access know-how, and receive guidance and support to grow new business opportunities. A key focus is assisting existing businesses and start-ups to develop the capabilities required to achieve commercial success in international markets.
FAQ 3
The Breakout Accelerator is a program for people with innovative business ideas, international ambition and a commitment to the future of rural and regional Australia.
Through the Breakout Accelerator, a new generation of businesses from rural and regional Victoria and southern New South Wales will be mentored by and connected with national and global networks to drive their ideas forward whilst staying in the communities they love.
The concept was co-developed by the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) and SecondMuse, a global leader in innovation. The partners will work together to identify and bring national and international networks, experience and expertise to the doorstep of rural and regional innovators who join the Breakout Accelerator.
Innovators who are selected for the program can build new connections, access know-how, and receive guidance and support to grow new business opportunities. A key focus is assisting existing businesses and start-ups to develop the capabilities required to achieve commercial success in international markets.
FAQ 4
The Breakout Accelerator is a program for people with innovative business ideas, international ambition and a commitment to the future of rural and regional Australia.
Through the Breakout Accelerator, a new generation of businesses from rural and regional Victoria and southern New South Wales will be mentored by and connected with national and global networks to drive their ideas forward whilst staying in the communities they love.
The concept was co-developed by the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) and SecondMuse, a global leader in innovation. The partners will work together to identify and bring national and international networks, experience and expertise to the doorstep of rural and regional innovators who join the Breakout Accelerator.
Innovators who are selected for the program can build new connections, access know-how, and receive guidance and support to grow new business opportunities. A key focus is assisting existing businesses and start-ups to develop the capabilities required to achieve commercial success in international markets.
FAQ 5
The Breakout Accelerator is a program for people with innovative business ideas, international ambition and a commitment to the future of rural and regional Australia.
Through the Breakout Accelerator, a new generation of businesses from rural and regional Victoria and southern New South Wales will be mentored by and connected with national and global networks to drive their ideas forward whilst staying in the communities they love.
The concept was co-developed by the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) and SecondMuse, a global leader in innovation. The partners will work together to identify and bring national and international networks, experience and expertise to the doorstep of rural and regional innovators who join the Breakout Accelerator.
Innovators who are selected for the program can build new connections, access know-how, and receive guidance and support to grow new business opportunities. A key focus is assisting existing businesses and start-ups to develop the capabilities required to achieve commercial success in international markets.
FAQ 6
The Breakout Accelerator is a program for people with innovative business ideas, international ambition and a commitment to the future of rural and regional Australia.
Through the Breakout Accelerator, a new generation of businesses from rural and regional Victoria and southern New South Wales will be mentored by and connected with national and global networks to drive their ideas forward whilst staying in the communities they love.
The concept was co-developed by the Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship (ACRE) and SecondMuse, a global leader in innovation. The partners will work together to identify and bring national and international networks, experience and expertise to the doorstep of rural and regional innovators who join the Breakout Accelerator.
Innovators who are selected for the program can build new connections, access know-how, and receive guidance and support to grow new business opportunities. A key focus is assisting existing businesses and start-ups to develop the capabilities required to achieve commercial success in international markets.
Contact us
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