More than 30% of Mallacoota P-12 College students have now completed the Social Enterprise Schools program, which was introduced by local social enterprise The Wilderness Collective in 2023.
The entrepreneurial skills of students were evident as they proudly traded their products at the Community Market held in December, selling lip balms, a calendar, hair accessories, tea towels, tote bags and insect bite balm.
“Entrepreneurial education in our remote coastal town of Mallacoota is a powerful catalyst for community development and economic sustainability for generations to come. It equips the next generation with the skills to innovate, solve local challenges, and create businesses that cater to their unique needs.
Entrepreneurial education through Social Enterprise Schools enables young people to envision and build their future within their own community, reducing the need to permanently relocate to a city centre.”
Paris Brooke, Executive Officer – The Wilderness Collective
Since implementation, the program has been made possible by the support of Helen Macpherson Smith Trust, Bendigo Bank Mallacoota, FRRR, Gippsland Community Foundation, Mallacoota Sanctuary Youth group and the Victorian Department of Jobs, Skills, Industries and Regions.
ACRE is proud to have partnered with The Wilderness Collective since 2019, when invited by the community-led initiative to guide and support their journey to build a thriving new economy. The partnership has focused on leveraging entrepreneurship to create place-based social and economic resilience.
Social Enterprise Schools is proudly delivered by ACRE (Australian Centre for Rural Entrepreneurship) and is part of the global Social Enterprise Academy Network. The program provides practical, student-led learning that develops citizenship and enterprise capabilities. Through the process of setting up their own social enterprise, the program effectively re-engages young people with learning, bringing students, teachers, local entrepreneurs and community together to make a positive social impact.
“A huge congratulations to this year’s cohort of Social Enterprise School students, with special thanks to the incredible teaching team at Mallacoota P-12 College who enable and support the development of essential entrepreneurial skills.”
Tom Colcott, ACRE Social Enterprise Schools Coordinator
The 2025 calendar produced by Mallacoota P-12 students is available to purchase from The Wilderness Collective, Hub 56 Maurice Avenue, Mallacoota.