Collective Leisure becomes Australia’s first social enterprise leisure management company and forms partnership with ACPE

Collective Leisure has become Australia’s first social enterprise leisure management company, having been officially certified by Social Traders.

With a social purpose to enable well-being without boundaries, Collective Leisure believes that being able to access education, services and opportunities is vital for everyone to enable their well-being.

Explaining this mission is to reduce chronic disease using a systems approach and the businesses latest milestone, Collective Leisure Chief Executive, David Burns (pictured above) advises “this is another milestone for Collective Leisure. Being officially recognised as a company intentionally trading to tackle chronic disease, build resilient communities and provide access to employment and training for people from marginalised communities.

"This is the next step on our path to managing leisure facilities.
Helping communities rebuild social capital and providing services for those that need it most in the wake of Covid-19.”

“A key focus of ours right now is creating training and employment opportunities and providing education and services for developing well-being. We see ‘whole of person’ well-being as directly linked to resilience and a move towards prevention rather than cure for many Australians.”

Social Traders certification assures stakeholders that a social enterprise has a social, cultural or environmental purpose as its primary objective, that a substantial portion of its revenue is derived from commercial trade, and that the majority of the organisation’s efforts and resources are invested into the social purpose.

Mark Daniels, Social Traders’ Executive Director notes “Social Traders are pleased to welcome Collective Leisure into our community of certified social enterprises - businesses that intentionally trade to deliver a social purpose. We’re excited by the potential of the Collective Leisure model, showing that it’s possible to deliver social impact and build community wellbeing in any sector of our economy”. 

This news comes less than a week after Collective Leisure was announced as the official well-being partner of the Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE).

Commenting on this, Burns added “(we) are thrilled to be appointed as the official well-being partner of ACPE. It’s inspiring to us and a demonstration of how forward thinking ACPE are, that the well-being of their students, alumni, faculty and communities they reach, has become an even greater focus for the College. Our work in collaboration with the College, aims to educate and empower individuals and groups across their communities on ‘whole of person’ well-being and support them to realise their potential.”

The scope of the partnership includes well-being sessions with follow up support to different groups of students; guest lectures; work experience opportunities; professional development for teachers and as a compliment to the school program.

Maureen Rocha, Director of Student Services and Well-being at ACPE went on to state “student and staff mental health and well-being is a number one priority for ACPE. We are adopting a holistic approach and are excited to be partnering with Collective Leisure.

“In particular, I’m excited for students being able to access a range of well-being strategies and resources provided by this great organisation. We are proactively trying to achieve and sustain the best possible outcomes for the well-being of our students."

As feature in Australasian Leisure Management Magazine