Important announcement from SENVIC –
Paid membership launch
As of March 31st 2025, SENVIC has introduced a new tiered, fee-based membership model, which brings us in alignment with federal and state peak bodies. This is a great step towards growing the social enterprise movement and creating a more sustainable, people and planet first economy.
Join Social Enterprise Network Victoria
Reciprocal Membership
We are also excited to offer reciprocal membership that allows you to apply to join Social Enterprise Network Victoria and Social Enterprise Australia simultaneously, at no extra cost. If you would also like to apply to any additional participating peak bodies (Queensland and Tasmania – with Northern Territory planning to join soon) where you have a registered address, you can apply at half price.
How we got here:
To ensure strong governance and enable SENVIC to fulfil its role as an effective, member-led organisation, we launched an open survey in October 2024 to gather feedback from our subscribers and supporters. This survey helped us understand the benefits that members hope to see in the updated membership structure.We want to express our sincere thanks to everyone who took the time to share their valuable insights and feedback. Your contributions are vital in shaping the future of SENVIC, and we are committed to ensuring that the new membership model meets the needs and priorities of our community.
Who can be a member?
Applications for Social Enterprise Network Victoria membership are open to:
- Social Enterprise Members – any Australian-based entity verified to meet the global standards.
- Associate Members – any organisation or individual aged over 18.
Voice and Vote
All Social Enterprise Network Victoria Members have a voice in our organisation and are invited to our Annual General Meetings.
Social Enterprise Members have voting rights in accordance with our Constitution.
Membership Offerings
Our membership benefits include, but are not limited to:
- Member-only learning opportunities
- Subsidised events and priority tickets
- Member listing and support
- Membership engagement and advocacy
- Reciprocal membership
- Access to Social Enterprise Australia membership
- Access to other participating peak body membership at half price (Queensland and Tasmania, with Northern Territory joining soon)
We’re excited to embark on this new chapter together and would love to hear your thoughts on our membership offerings. Your input is invaluable as we continue to grow and evolve. Please feel free to share your ideas and feedback with us at hello@senvic.org.au. We look forward to hearing from you!
Become a Social Enterprise Network Victoria Member:
Social Enterprise Member
For verified social enterprises
Associate Member
For any organisation or individual aged over 18
Are you a social enterprise but not yet verified? Apply to be a Social Enterprise Member – we will provide a link to get verified at the right point in the process. The cost of verification is covered by your membership application fee.
While you are being verified, your membership application will be assessed as an Associate Member. If approved for Associate Membership, once you are verified, your membership will be converted to a Social Enterprise Member. If you don’t pass verification, you will remain an Associate Member.
FAQs
How much does it cost to become a member?
The application and annual renewal fees for Social Enterprise Members are:
Annual Turnover <$500k
$150
Annual Turnover $500k – $2m
$250
Annual Turnover $2m – $5m
$350
Annual Turnover $5m – $10m
$500
Annual Turnover >$10m
$750
Your fee includes:
- The cost of your verification if you are not yet verified.
- The cost of your verification extension or renewal if you are verified.
- The cost of your membership application for Social Enterprise Australia.
The application and annual renewal fees for Associate Members are:
Individual or Annual Turnover <$500k
$150
Annual Turnover $500k – $2m
$250
Annual Turnover $2m – $5m
$350
Annual Turnover $5m – $10m
$500
Annual Turnover >$10m
$750
Your fee includes the cost of your membership application for Social Enterprise Australia.
Why is People and Planet First Verification required for Social Enterprise Members?
Social Enterprise Network Victoria and all the national, state and territory social enterprise peak bodies endorsed the five global standards for social enterprise in 2024. State and territory peak bodies also became local verification partners for People and Planet First – which coordinates verification worldwide.
Social Enterprise Network Victoria endorses the standards because they are:
- Independent: No single organisation sets the standards and verifies social enterprises. The standards are collectively owned by a global network. In Australia, state and territory peak bodies use the standards to verify social enterprises.
- Clear: The standards set the bar on what a social enterprise is, in a way that is visible and easy to understand.
- Collective: The standards are collectively governed by an Official Partner Network. Social Enterprise Australia is an Official Partner and a benefit of being our member is having a voice in them.
- Global: The standards cross borders and mean recognition and opportunities within and beyond Australia.
For Social Enterprise Members, the cost of verification is included in your Social Enterprise Network Victoria annual membership fee.
What is involved in verification when joining Social Enterprise Network Victoria?
First, apply to become a Social Enterprise Member of Social Enterprise Network Victoria.
We will provide a unique link that you can follow to get verified (the cost is covered by your membership application fee). The link will prompt you to:
- Create a public profile on the Good Market website. Good Market is the independent platform that manages the verification process. This step will take about 30-60 minutes. It is relatively straightforward but requires access to broad-ranging information about your enterprise. You can save a draft and return later, and edit responses after submission. Make sure to check the box for People and Planet First verification on the last page of the form.
- Complete the People and Planet First verification form. Go to your account page on Good Market, open the verification form and answer questions for each of the five standards. Keep answers direct and aligned with the standards. You must score a minimum of 1 out of 5 for each question to be verified. This step will take 1-2 hours to complete. You can save a draft and return later. You will need access to financial, business and governance information about your organisation, including evidence to upload in support of your application – for example business plan, policies, financial reports.
Your application will then be assessed. Local verifiers (state and territory social enterprise peak bodies in Australia) will review your application and support you through the process. If your application meets the five standards, you will receive a welcome pack with verification certificate and badge, and you will be listed on the global directory of verified social enterprises.
My organisation is already verified – do I still need to pay for membership?
Yes – but renewal of your verification will be extended to align with your membership renewal. For example, if you were verified on 1 March 2025 and you become a Social Enterprise Member on 1 April 2025, your verification renewal will not be due until 1 April 2026.
Why should I join Social Enterprise Network Victoria and Social Enterprise Australia?
By joining both the national peak and your state or territory peak, you are involved at the national and state or territory level.
Social Enterprise Australia advocates for and connects the sector, Australia-wide. State and territory social enterprise peak bodies advocate for and connect the sector in their areas. Members of Social Enterprise Australia have a voice on national issues, while Members of state or territory peaks have a voice on state or territory issues.