Eight of Australia’s best social enterprises have been named as winners at this year’s Social Enterprise Awards.

Adjudicated as the best applicants across eight categories, the winners were announced at the Social Enterprise Awards ceremony last night. Selected by an independent panel of judges from a finalist pool of 26 social enterprises, each of the winners will attend and participate in the Social Enterprise World Forum hosted in September 2017 in Christchurch NZ.

Managing Director of Social Traders, David Brookes said the winners highlighted the opportunity for social enterprise to play a leadership role in strengthening Australian communities.

“Increasingly we’re seeing social enterprises playing prominent roles in providing employment and training opportunities for those most marginalised in society, as well as providing community solutions where the market has failed. These winners represent the innovative nature of social enterprise at finding new ways to solve old problems,” he said.

The winners include:

ASRC Catering, VIC – Social Enterprise of the Year (Small)

Soft Landing, NSW – Social Enterprise of the Year (Large)

MYC Painting Services, NSW – One to Watch Award

Vanguard, QLD – Capital for Impact Award

$40K PLUS, NSW – Social Enterprise Innovation Award

Brisbane City Council, QLD – Buy Social Award

Walter Villagonzalo, VIC – Social Enterprise Champion Award

Tjanpi Desert Weavers, NT – Women’s Impact Award

Ben Robb from ASRC Catering said he was very proud, surprised and honoured at winning an award.

“It is a great recognition of the years of hard work and a great recognition of social outcome that we have been able to achieve,” said Robb.

“Winning this award was great for lifting our profile. It will have a great impact to help us grow as a business.”