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Social enterprise models have great potential to generate innovative benefits for remote Indigenous communities, an Indigenous business conference was told today.

Delegates at the Indigenous Business, Corporations and Entrepreneurship Conference 2011 , hosted by the Centre for Social Impact at The University of Western Australia Business School, heard about a unique social impact approach underway in Alice Springs.

The Social Enterprise Hub at the Desert Peoples Centre provides support and resources to ventures that balance social purpose and community outcomes with an enterprise philosophy.

The Centre has been developed by the Centre for Appropriate Technology (CAT), a 30-year-old national organisation based in Alice Springs.

With a  goal of fostering happy and safe communities, CAT seeks to secure sustainable livelihoods through the use of appropriate technology.  Areas of expertise include water and waste management, telecommunications, housing, energy and transport.

Jason Quin, Social Enterprise Hub Manager, Desert Peoples Centre, said the term social enterprise was difficult to define but had at its core initiatives that had social purpose and delivered social impact.

He said the Centre was working on methodologies to measure and assess social enterprise impact.

Peter Renehan, Chairman CAT and Board Member, Desert Peoples Centre, said the ongoing success of CAT was due to a thorough understanding of bush and desert issues.

"This is fundamental," Mr Renehan said.  "Our one constant is a very strong Board.  Most of our Board members have been together 15 or 20 years.  They understand bush issues and they know what needs to be done to help communities."

One of CAT's initiatives is Bushlight, which provides power technology in 130 communities that previously lacked access to electricity.

CAT has partnered with organisations in India to implement the Bushlight model in remote Indian villages.

Media references

Sonia Nolan , Community Engagement and  (+61 8)  6488 8562  /  (+61 4) 01 034 103
Corporate Affairs Manager, Centre for Social Impact
Michael Sinclair-Jones (UWA Public Affairs)  (+61 8)  6488 3229  /  (+61 4) 00 700 783