The Paul Ramsay Foundation is inviting budding and existing social entrepreneurs to apply for a six-month residency at its new precinct for social purpose, Yirranma Place, located in Darlinghurst, Sydney.

The residency will provide individuals and enterprises with a dedicated workspace to collaborate, explore and evolve their social impact ideas and offerings alongside a community of others with a common social purpose.

This unique opportunity is part of the Foundation’s evolving work to enhance the social enterprise sector, with a strong focus on individuals and organisations with a shared commitment to breaking cycles of disadvantage in Australia.

The residency space includes 14 workspaces that will be offered to successful applicants for between one and five days per week, starting from July 2022 for up to six months. Regional, rural and interstate individuals and enterprises are encouraged to apply as successful applicants from outside the Sydney metropolitan area will have bookable access to the residency workspace.

“The six-month residency reflects the vision and purpose of the building, to bring together a diverse range of people committed to breaking cycles of disadvantage in Australia,” said Paul Ramsay Foundation COO, Cindy Penrose.

“The residency community will be able to connect and collaborate with others who are on a similar social impact mission and at similar points of their journey, as well as learn from more established enterprises.

“The residency is also an opportunity for the Foundation to actively engage the social entrepreneurship community as we co-design a longer-term program to enhance the social enterprise sector.”

Applications for the residency close at 11:59pm AEST on Tuesday 5 July and can be made at https://paulramsayfoundation.org.au/socialenterpriseresidency. Application criteria is available at the same link.

About the Paul Ramsay Foundation

In 2006, Paul Ramsay AO established the Paul Ramsay Foundation. A leading Australian businessman, Paul was a generous benefactor throughout his life to a variety of educational, cultural, artistic and sporting organisations. Following his death in 2014, the Foundation has
continued through his generous bequest.

We continue Paul’s philanthropic legacy through a shared commitment to break cycles of disadvantage in Australia by investing in partnerships for potential. Initiatives supported by the  Foundation reflect the humility, integrity and values of our founder.

About Yirranma Place

The Foundation’s new home, Yirranma Place, was purchased in 2019 and sits within the historic former Church of Christ, Scientist, in the centrally located and culturally rich and vibrant Darlinghurst area of Sydney.

The building’s name, Yirranma (yeer-rahn-ma), is a Gadigal word meaning “many create” and was carefully chosen through extensive consultation with local Aboriginal leaders and organisations including local Gadigal Elders as a strong representation of the precinct’s vision and purpose of sharing place and ambition.