Work with us

The Purpose Precinct is a one-stop shop for homewares, clothing, food and gifts supporting businesses who do good. Thousands of jobs are created within the social enterprise sector in Victoria, employing disadvantaged young people, priority job seekers, people living with disability and people who have experienced hardship or trauma.

There’s a focus at the Purpose Precinct on both social and environmental good, it's in the DNA of social enterprise. When you buy from our social enterprise shop, you’re making the world more green, more community focussed and all round more good, with every purchase.

Located in Melbourne’s iconic Queen Victoria Markets, this shop is designed to give you a taste of the amazing work being done by social enterprises throughout Victoria, and more broadly throughout Australia.

Download our pocket guide to our first 25 social enterprises in the Purpose Precinct.                                                                                            

What is a social enterprise?

Social enterprises put thriving people, places and the planet at the beating heart of their businesses, reinvesting between 50-100% of their profits into doing good.

This includes:

  • People − providing services, training and employment pathways for people who are often shut out of the labour market,
  • Places − building and strengthening local communities,
  • Planet − caring for the environment.

With a lot of spin, green-washing and spray-on good happening all around us, it can be hard to find the truly good businesses out there. So we’ve done the hard work for you. All of the social enterprises you’ll see stocked at the Purpose Precinct sit under one of our six pillars of good:

  1. Work Integrated Social Enterprise (WISE)-employing priority job seekers,
  2. Victorian-based social enterprise,
  3. Doing social good,
  4. Doing environmental good,
  5. Doing cultural good,
  6. Circular products/service.

What next?

Now you’ve found us we’d love you to keep sharing the love. Here’s how:

  • Follow us on socials (@PurposePrecinct), and visit us when you’re next in Melbourne's CBD,
  • Jump online and read inspiring social enterprise stories − many will also be registered Australian charities which means any donation over $2 is tax deductible for Aussies,
  • Support social enterprises wherever you can − right around the world you’ll find amazing social enterprises making their patch of the world (and beyond!) better. Give them a hand by buying, donating or even volunteering,
  • Introduce others to the world of social enterprises − encourage your family, friends and colleagues to also support these game-changing businesses.
Thanks for choosing to purchase with purpose.

Do you want to join us?

If you’re a social enterprise and interested in joining the precinct, get in touch with our team.

 

The Purpose Precinct has been developed by leading social enterprises STREAT and Good Cycles. Supported by the Social Enterprise Network of Victoria (SENVIC). Funded through the Victorian Government Social Enterprise Strategy 2021-25 and the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund.